LIFE AFTER THE WHITE HOUSE, PART VI: Gerald Ford

» LincolnFan - Gerald Ford

John, I love the articles. (You know, of course, you have the same name as another eminent presidential historian.) I think it's very interesting about what presidents did after the White House. I am fascinated by the fact that TRUMAN --- like, only 50 years ago Truman --- was the one who petitioned Congress for their pensions! Before that, as you know, the presidents left the White House and it was "Asta la vista, baby!" (I don't know why I brought that subject up. It just occurred to me.) I agree with you that the pardon of Nixon hurt Gerald Ford most, but the Eastern Europe comment was a major major blunder. (I remember a Tony Auth cartoon that had a bunch of prisoners in leg chains, hitting rocks with sledgehammers, and one was labeled "East Germany" and the other was labeled "Poland." And one says to the other, "Pass it on. Ford says we're free.") I know appearances shouldn't matter but Ford's Eastern Europe comment added to Ford's image as a doofus. It all began when the poor guy fell down an airplane staircase and that was it. He was labeled a klutz. Chevy Chase blistered him on "Saturday Night Live." I just saw that Jimmy Carter PBS documentary and they showed Ford making that comment. The reporter who asked the question was so amazed to the point of sputtering that he asked him again and Ford REPEATED it. And they showed Carter just smiling as you knew he was going in for the kill. It was so sad because I thought Ford meant that the Russians couldnt break the satellites' spirits or something like that. And the outcome of the election was so close it must have done some damage esp since the media had a field day. But that's just my opinion. I am so glad that Ford was entered into Caroline Kennedy's book "Profiles in Courage" because the pardon truly truly was a stroke of courage that benefited the United States far more than Nixon. And to make it sweeter it was Bob Woodward who wrote the article, saying that he didnt believe in the decision then but thought it was the right thing to do.

Patrick

P.S. Keep up with the Presidents. It's great stuff!

-- posted by LincolnFan