RIP President Gerald Ford

chipster55 · Post by **chipster55** » Wed Dec 27, 2006 1:42 pm

Amen, sir. I haven't seen a politician who kept his ego in check the way President Ford did in a long time. My prayers go out to his family.

tofu · Post by **tofu** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 3:51 pm

the elephant wrote:

One of those Presidents who will be respected and treated far better a half century after they left office then they were in office. Ford handled an uncharted extremely difficult & tricky situation about as well as it could be done. I find it amusing that some have portrayed him as naive. One doesn't get elected and serve 13 terms in Congress and be naive. He wasn't a bumbler who accidently got a nation back together. Just like the media liked to portray him as a klutz - you don't play football for the Univ. of Mich. even back then and be unathletic.

The one thing Ford really didn't handle well was the economy - the WIN buttons pretty much symbolizes that failure. Partly that can be blamed on his and his advisors economic inabilities and partly on the overwhelming domestic political difficulties as well as the international situation including Vietnam. It would have been incredibly difficult for any Presdient to have all this on their plate and devote the full attention each demanded.

I give Ford high marks for doing a remarkable job and being a good guy. He pretty much symbolizes the American we all should strive to be in my mind.

Ave Atque Vale

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 4:24 pm

Gerald Ford did an amazing job of getting this country to get over Viet Nam and get on with life. Even though the press portrayed him as inept, always falling down, and at odds with the economy, he did an incredible job of moving this country's focus back to where it should have been. Something the next president will be required to do, as well.

And God help them do it AS WELL!

tubaguy9 · Post by **tubaguy9** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 7:48 pm

Yeah...it was sad he died...I guess he was from Nebraska

But let's keep this thread from being political...

RyanSchultz · Post by **RyanSchultz** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 2:19 am

Well written, Mr. Elephant.

ken k · Post by **ken k** » Sat Dec 30, 2006 7:29 pm

I just saw a very interesting show on PBS about his life and presidency. It was nothing like I remembered growing up. As was mentioned the press always portrayed him as a buffoon, and the Nixon pardon sure seemed bartered at the time. But in the PBS special it really showed how he truly felt it was the only right thing to do in order to get the country to move on. Unfortunately that single act cost him the 1976 election (and he knew it would!). Definitely a great man, who did what he felt was best for the country no matter what it would cost him politically in the future. How many others would the same?

His wife was also very liberating in getting the country to face two major problems in people's personal lives, alchoholism/addiction and breast cancer. She put those two issues on the front burner and got people talking about two issues that previously had been swept under the carpet.

ken k