“I have not sought this enormous responsibility, but I will not shirk it.”
The quote could be from Bilbo Baggins. But it wasn’t. It was Gerald Ford. August 9, 1974.
I’ve always admired this man, who is, of course, the only President of the United States who was never elected as either President or VP.
It’s hard to picture him without thinking of Chevy Chase and Saturday Night Live.
But he was a person I always admired.
My senior year of high school, ‘73-’74, was such a turbulent time in our country. The headlines for a few years had been full of Vietnam, Spiro Agnew, Watergate, My Lai, and Richard Nixon. When Gerald Ford was sworn in, he said with a quiet assurance, “Our long national nightmare is over.”
In the summer of ‘74, it didn’t matter that occasionally he’d bumble a few words or hit a golf shot into the crowd. It mattered that he was a genuinely good man who seemed like he’d look straight into the cameras and tell you the truth.
Your comments about President Ford reminded me of how hard the Marshall University President had to work to find a replacement coach in the movie “We Are Marshall.” In fact, none of the coaches he calls wants the job and you can understand why with only 3 or 4 players left on the team and the entire Athletic Department including major boosters dead from the tragic plane crash.
It makes me wonder about the circumstances surrounding Gerald Ford’s ascension into a weaken White House following Nixon’s resignation. What ever they were it makes me think there must be a special place in Heaven for Gerald Ford.
Thanks for the thoughts Mike.
Mike, You have expressed my sentiments exactly.
A dear lady in our church worked for several Presidents including Ford. She handled all of the correspondence from children. President Ford was by far her choice of all the men she worked for. Her comments to me were that he was a “good, decent man who cared about those who worked in the White House”.
Had 9-11 not happened I wonder how different our President Bush would be thought of? His critics never factor in the effects of 9-11 on his job and the potential of his term in office. I believe Mr. Bush is too a good decent man.
Grace and Peace,
Royce Ogle
A former client of mine spent years with the Secret Service and was assigned to President Ford. He described him as an honorable man and a great athlete.
I always liked Gerald Ford a lot, too. Those were indeed very difficult days for our country when he became President and I always thought he was unfairly portrayed by many in the press and in the country itself.
He was a great family man, loving husband and father and just what this country needed. I voted for him in 1976 and was sorry he didn’t win. I think he would have had a good second term with his first election to the presidency.
He seemed to be a good Christian, as well, in all he did, just as Ronald Reagan was. The country came to appreciate Gerald Ford more fully by the time of his death with him having won what he considered to be his highest honest, the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage for his pardon of Richard Nixon.
Hail to the Chief.
There is much to admire about President Ford, including the fact that he was a Michigan Wolverine — playing on two National Championship teams.
If I may add to Dee’s comments, he also was a supportive and loving husband. The way he stood with and encouraged Betty to admit her addiction, help her through rehab and then the building of her rehab center is admirable, showing great strength in love for her. I always have admied Gerald Ford.
I pray God’s comfort and strength for his family in this time of grief, especially Betty!
I too think of Chevy Chase falling down the stairs when I think of Ford, which is ironic. He was probably one of the best athletes ever to occupy the Presidential suite in the White House.
How wonderful to be described as an “honorable man.” I can’t think of a better compliment.
Even though I wasn’t alive when this happened, I have had a great respect for Gerald Ford because he surprised my Boy Scout troop in Tulsa, OK in 1979 by making an appearance at our Court of Honor and presenting 13 boys their Eagle Scout award. Even though he became the leader of the free world, he always said that acheiving Eagle Scout was his finest accomplishment. He later contributed a letter to and wrote the forward for a book written by my Scoutmaster. These things have made him an honorable man in my sight.
I admire Gerald Ford because he did not dwell in the past. His father abandoned him at an early age and he was adopted by his mom’s new husband. He never knew he was adopted or had a birth dad, until one day while in college, working on a job, his birth father introduced himself to Gerald. Just knowing that could have broken many and changed their destiny, not Gerald Ford. He was a rare breed, and I greatly admire him and his entire family. Besides, he was the first president to have a Beatle visit the White House!
You know what’s refreshing about today’s remembrances of Ford? The fact that based on the things I’ve heard about President Ford today, I would never know what political party he was a part of. Nothing about controversial policies or “aisles” of any kind. Just glowing words about Gerald Ford, the man and leader.
Living in Michigan at the time, we were very proud of Gerald Ford. He was honorable. Hated it when the press made him look like a bumbling fool when he tripped.
Gerald Ford came to Harding a short time after Reagan had been shot. Someone had “stolen” all the songbooks out of the “new” Benson Auditorium but the Secret Service guys searched the auditorium so thoroughly in preparation for his coming that they found the missing song books safely hidden in a ventilation duct! I got within about 20 feet for Ford that evening. He is the only president (though he was no longer in office at the time) that I have ever seen personally. I respected him and will mourn his loss. How did he get to be 93? Has it been that long?
Living in West Michigan, the imprint of Gerald Ford’s life and career are everywhere in this part of the country. He has been - and will always be - a revered and respected man who never forgot his roots. He brought calm and healing in his role as President at such a critical juncture in our nation’s history. He had a rare ability to “reach across the isle” and appeals to those with differing political views. Even though the Chevy Chase character on SNL portrayed Mr. Ford as a bumbler on his feet, he was actually the most athletically accomplished President. He was a starting lineman on two University of Michigan national championship teams (thankfully pre-BCS).
Hopefully his historical legacy will be kind to such a wonderful man.
I like this quote from Gerald R. Ford to Americans after Vietnam:
As I rejected amnesty, so I reject revenge. I ask all Americans who ever asked for goodness and mercy in their lives, who ever sought forgiveness for their trespasses, to join in rehabilitating all the casualties of the tragic conflict of the past.
Peace.
And an even better quote:
I am acutely aware that you have not elected me as your President by your ballots, so I ask you to confirm me with your prayers.
Peace.
Gerald Ford was a good sport, a student of life and its pleasant and unpleasant experiences, a competitor who held no grudge beyond the going down of the sun. After his bitter 1976 defeat by Democrat Jimmy Carter, Republican Gerald Ford made fast friends with the new President. The two and their spouses were often seen together, visiting one another, working together despite ideological differences and their previous election combat. Such positive acceptance, a behavior of shaking hands and driving on amicably for the good of the American people, sets an example not only for today’s rancourously partisan nation’s capital but also for relationships within the church, among Christians. “This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35 NEB).
I agree with so many of the positive comments about President Ford, and it leaves me wondering how in the world did our country turn around and elect a President as bad as Carter. We still suffer today from many of the ultra liberal judges Carter appointed. I normally am not so negative, but I am in a bad mood and I was looking for a place to vent and I found it. Now I feel better. Thanks.
Ford was the first President I ever saw in person. While touring the Washington Monument I looked down at the White House through my binoculars and saw him getting out of the Presidential limo. Quite a thrill for a 10 year old boy. Years later I met him at Freed-Hardeman’s benefit dinner. He will be remembered for making the bold, and ultimatly right decision for pardoning Nixon.
Mike,
Just to clarify, there have been 5 people who have served this country as Presidents without having been elected to the office (Tyler, Fillmore, Johnson, Arthur and Ford). The desinction that Ford has is that he is the only person to have served this country as President without evr having recieved a single electoral college vote for President or Vice President. The others mentioned were VP that transitioned to the office by virtue of death.
As for President Ford, he was a man of deep conviction. The RIGHT thing to do was to pardon Mr Nixon, and many believe that was a big reason why he lost the 76 election. When his wife came out as an alcoholic, the right thing to do was to stand by her. I find this ironic, that Mr Ford is being lauded for his political conviction despite the political consequences, but Mr Bush is being lambasted daily for his political conviction to do what, at least he and many others believe, is right.
I heard yesterday a news reporter quote from a survey that said Gerald Ford was voted as the average president. It is interesting when a president takes our nation into a period of healing, he is considered average.
As I see it, his average was pretty good.
Those of you old enough to remember might recall that President Ford was mercilessly portrayed by the press as a stumbling, bumbling idiot who couldn’t walk and chew gum at the same time. Apparently they were mighty peeved over the Nixon pardon and took it out on Ford. Now he turns out to be wise with the benefit of our present-day 20-20 hindsight. Hmmm…
ReJoyce, a thought keeps popping up in my mind and your comment brought it back.
If anyone has any doubt about the mindbending and brainwashing the mainstream media accomplishes and many times, with no basis in fact, look what they did to President Ford.
I’ve stopped reading and watching their nonsense. However, I DO keep very well informed about what’s going on in this world through other sources . And - I’ve tried to watch Katie Courac, but simply can’t. She gives me heartburn from so much syrupy sweetness. Ugh!!!!