Remembering Gerald Ford

Our Nation’s oldest living President turns 93 years of age later this week.

Gerald Ford is the only President in the history of our Nation to assume the office of President, and not be elected by the people. Following the resignation of Vice-President Spiro Agnew, President Richard Nixon nominated Ford for the Office of Vice-President, and was confirmed by the Senate. Following the resignation of President Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford became our Nation’s President. He took the oath of Office on August 9, 1974. Ford was the first Vice-President to chosen under the terms of the 25th Amendment.

A number of problems faced the Nation in 1974. The Watergate scandal, inflation, a depressed economy, and chronic energy shortages were all on the front burner for the new President.

Gerald Ford selected Nelson Rockefeller as his new Vice-President. Ford was the last of the “Rockefeller Republicans,” a group of moderate liberals within the Republican Party.

In the Senate Ford enjoyed a reputation of fairness and openness, which made him popular during his 25 years in Congress.

Ford was born in 1913 in Omaha, Nebraska, but he grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was very athletic, and starred on the University of Michigan football team. He later went to Yale and served as Assistant Coach while earning his law degree.

After college, Ford joined the Navy and served in World War II. He achieved the rank of Lt. Commander of the Navy. After the war, Ford returned to Grand Rapids and began his political career in the GOP. He married Elizabeth Bloomer, who would later found the Betty Ford Clinic.

It was during Ford’s presidency that two notable figures in today’s GOP entered politics. And it was mostly likely the single greatest reason for him losing the 1976 Presidential Election to Jimmy Carter.

Both Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney started their careers in the Ford White House. And they were directly responsible for encouraging Ford to dump Vice President Nelson Rockefeller off the ticket in 1976. Rumsfeld and Rove encouraged Ford to move more to the right and to distance himself from the liberals in the GOP.

That most likely cost him the election. Had Nelson Rockefeller remained on the ticket, Ford might have won Rockefeller’s home state of New York. On Inauguration Day, President Carter began his speech: "For myself and for our Nation, I want to thank my predecessor for all he has done to heal our land."

The Ford Administration oversaw the withdrawal of US troops from Vietnam and the Helsinki Accord. With the heavily Democratic Congress in power, Ford was unable to pass much in the way of legislation. His vetoes were often overridden. Ford was also criticized for his pardon of Richard Nixon.

Ford is credited for introducing a conditional amnesty plan for Vietnam War draft dodgers in Canada. Jimmy Carter modified that plan to an unconditional amnesty program when he was elected President.

Ford faced two assassination attempts while president. The second assassination attempt was in San Francisco when gay man Oliver Sipple deflected a shot from Sara Jane Moore meant for the President.

Ford appointed John Paul Stevens to the Supreme Court in 1975. To his credit, Ford has always maintained the highest level of respect for Stevens, who turned out to be one of the more liberal members of the Supreme Court.

Ford had to deflect an endless number of media attacks. But the “kiss of death” probably came when NBC launched a new variety show entitled “Saturday Night Live.” Chevy Chase portrayed Ford, and often mimicked his famous stumble off of a plane. This was ironic because Ford is probably the most athletic President in recent memory.

President Ford was awarded the Presidential Medal of Courage by President Bill Clinton in 2001 in 1999. Ford suffered two minor strokes at the 2000 GOP Convention. He is one of only two US Presidents to live to at least 92 years of age – President Ronald Reagon being the other.

Ford remains close friends with President Carter and his wife Rosalyn.

Ford is also the last surviving member of the famous Warren Commission.

Gerald Ford remains, to me at least, one of the most intriguing political figures of our era. And on this occasion of his birthday I would like to wish our oldest surviving President a very Happy Birthday!