Gerald Ford, Patriot and Partisan Moderate
The Decency & Quiet Courage of Gerald Ford
What stood out about the late Gerald Ford, our 38th President, and what's missing from today's political scene, were his decency and humility. It shown through in his every word and deed.
And because of this innate goodness, he was enabled to make good, reasoned decisions. Yes, he was a loyal Republican, and yes, he certainly made many legislative moves that I fundamentally disagree with... but he was a respected colleague of all in Congress.
His courageous decision to pardon Richard Nixon was correct, although at the time, deeply painful to Democrats.
As Ford explained in the 1999 Larry King interview, consider the divisive impact of the alternatives on a nation still torn asunder by Vietnam:
* indictment of a President
* trial of a President
* conviction
* appeals lasting 1 to 4 years
* possible imprisonment
Senator Ted Kennedy articulated it well on May 21, 2001 as he presented the Profiles in Courage award to Gerald Ford:
"At a time of national turmoil, America was fortunate that it was Gerald Ford who took the helm of the storm-tossed ship of state. Unlike many of us at the time, President Ford recognized that the nation had to move forward, and could not do so if there was a continuing effort to prosecute former President Nixon.So President Ford made a courageous decision, one that historians now say cost him his office, and he pardoned Richard Nixon.
I was one of those who spoke out against his action then. But time has a way of clarifying past events, and now we see that President Ford was right. His courage and dedication to our country made it possible for us to begin the process of healing and put the tragedy of Watergate behind us. He eminently deserves this award, and we are proud of his achievement."
Ford's Republican Values
In Gerald Ford's later years in Congress, and when he occupied the White House, the Republican Party held the political center, and the Democratic Party, radicalized by Vietnam, was dominated by extreme leftwingers.
Today, Mr. Ford's values would belong in the Democratic Party.
In the 1999 interview, he proudly proclaimed that he and wife Betty are pro-choice with "no apology." However, he was adament that abortion should not be part of the partisan political debate, as it's a "private matter." In other words, government had no business meddling in personal matters.
He stated his view that "reasonable, responsible gun control legislation" is needed in the U.S.
And he firmly decried the recent drift of Republicansim into "an extreme rightwing party." He felt that the Republican Party's natural place was in the political center.
Gerald Ford, Patriot
I believe that Gerald Ford's decision to spare our nation years of bitter partisan division... and great national instability... over Nixon's illegal behavior was the right one. Richard Nixon had already left office in shame, and could do no further harm to the country.
But Ford's pardon came at great political and personal cost. He sacrificed both for the good of his nation.
That, my friends, is the very definition of a Patriot.
Related Reading
Former President Gerald Ford Dead at 93
Gerald R. Ford and U.S. Foreign Policy
New York Times, Dec 27, 2006: Gerald Ford, 38th President, Dies at 93
Comments
So you think letting a crook like Nixon off is justice,you nazi cow? Chapaquidick Ted’s words ring hollow. He should have done prison time for manslaughter.