The Way I See It - Remembering President Ford
The Way I See It
By Doug Dickerson
Remembering President Ford
The character of every act depends upon the circumstances in which it is done. - Oliver Wendell Holmes
The first presidential memoir I read was “A Time To Heal,” by President Gerald R. Ford. As a young teenager, I admired the way he stepped into roles not of his own choosing, and the way in which he unselfishly served his country.
Referred to by many as the “accidental” President, Ford’s goal was to become Speaker of the House, not President. But the call of destiny chose Ford for a time in history that would propel him beyond his own aspirations to serve his country with greater distinction.
President Ford helped restore confidence in government after the shame and disgrace brought upon our country by the Watergate scandal and resignation of Richard Nixon. “Our long national nightmare is over,” declared Ford as he assumed the Presidency. It was his strong character and decency that earned him the respect of Democrats and Republicans.
One month after he assumed the presidency, he granted Nixon a full pardon. That move was seen by many at the time to be the single event that cost him his chance at re-election two years later. Abraham Lincoln once said, “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” Ford demonstrated that the greatest use of power is not in the promotion of self-interest, but rather in the greater interest of the people you serve. In retrospect, the majority of Americans now believe the pardon was indeed the correct thing to do.
As a standout collegiate athlete, a star football player at Michigan, Ford developed a reputation as somewhat of a klutz. Be it falling down the ramp off Air Force One or those infamous tee shots on the golf course that invariably hit an innocent bystander, Ford was a man certainly comfortable in his element. I remember going to the Pro-Am at the St. Jude Golf Classic in Memphis one year when Ford played. I was standing at the first tee when Ford’s group, comprised of President Ford, Bob Hope and Phil Donahue, teed-off. Thankfully, I was not a victim of one of his infamous tee shots, but I vividly recall what a nice man he was as he spoke to several of us in the galley.
It’s been over 30 years now since Ford served as President. The tone in Washington since that time has grown increasingly more partisan, vindictive and divisive. Yet, in the passing of a man of Ford’s stature comes a refreshing reminder that character and decency are still the qualities that we admire in our public servants. The man who narrowly beat Ford in the 1976 election, President Jimmy Carter, in tribute said, “President Ford is one of the most admirable public servants and human beings I have ever known.” Carter further stated, “A man of highest integrity, his life-long dedication to helping others touched the lives of countless people. An outstanding statesman, he wisely chose the path of healing during a deeply divisive time in our nation's history. He frequently rose above politics by emphasizing the need for bipartisanship and seeking common ground on issues critical to our nation. I will always cherish the personal friendship we shared.”
The day Ford became President he said, “Our Constitution works. Our great republic is a government of laws, not of men.” A man of character, integrity and decency, Ford understood it perhaps better than most. The ‘accidental” President was truly the right man at a bad time in American history to remind us all, as he once said, that, “Truth is the glue that holds government together, not only our government but civilization itself.”
Thank you, President Ford.
©Summerville Journal-Scene 2006
By Doug Dickerson
Remembering President Ford
The character of every act depends upon the circumstances in which it is done. - Oliver Wendell Holmes
The first presidential memoir I read was “A Time To Heal,” by President Gerald R. Ford. As a young teenager, I admired the way he stepped into roles not of his own choosing, and the way in which he unselfishly served his country.
Referred to by many as the “accidental” President, Ford’s goal was to become Speaker of the House, not President. But the call of destiny chose Ford for a time in history that would propel him beyond his own aspirations to serve his country with greater distinction.
President Ford helped restore confidence in government after the shame and disgrace brought upon our country by the Watergate scandal and resignation of Richard Nixon. “Our long national nightmare is over,” declared Ford as he assumed the Presidency. It was his strong character and decency that earned him the respect of Democrats and Republicans.
One month after he assumed the presidency, he granted Nixon a full pardon. That move was seen by many at the time to be the single event that cost him his chance at re-election two years later. Abraham Lincoln once said, “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” Ford demonstrated that the greatest use of power is not in the promotion of self-interest, but rather in the greater interest of the people you serve. In retrospect, the majority of Americans now believe the pardon was indeed the correct thing to do.
As a standout collegiate athlete, a star football player at Michigan, Ford developed a reputation as somewhat of a klutz. Be it falling down the ramp off Air Force One or those infamous tee shots on the golf course that invariably hit an innocent bystander, Ford was a man certainly comfortable in his element. I remember going to the Pro-Am at the St. Jude Golf Classic in Memphis one year when Ford played. I was standing at the first tee when Ford’s group, comprised of President Ford, Bob Hope and Phil Donahue, teed-off. Thankfully, I was not a victim of one of his infamous tee shots, but I vividly recall what a nice man he was as he spoke to several of us in the galley.
It’s been over 30 years now since Ford served as President. The tone in Washington since that time has grown increasingly more partisan, vindictive and divisive. Yet, in the passing of a man of Ford’s stature comes a refreshing reminder that character and decency are still the qualities that we admire in our public servants. The man who narrowly beat Ford in the 1976 election, President Jimmy Carter, in tribute said, “President Ford is one of the most admirable public servants and human beings I have ever known.” Carter further stated, “A man of highest integrity, his life-long dedication to helping others touched the lives of countless people. An outstanding statesman, he wisely chose the path of healing during a deeply divisive time in our nation's history. He frequently rose above politics by emphasizing the need for bipartisanship and seeking common ground on issues critical to our nation. I will always cherish the personal friendship we shared.”
The day Ford became President he said, “Our Constitution works. Our great republic is a government of laws, not of men.” A man of character, integrity and decency, Ford understood it perhaps better than most. The ‘accidental” President was truly the right man at a bad time in American history to remind us all, as he once said, that, “Truth is the glue that holds government together, not only our government but civilization itself.”
Thank you, President Ford.
©Summerville Journal-Scene 2006
posted by Doug Dickerson | 7:51 AM
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