President Ford died sometime yesterday and C-SPAN already was playing clips of examinations of his presidency by the evening. As with Reagan, one knew his time was short, and retrospectives were in the works ... perhaps, even mostly written. This is not crass, since the man was in his nineties and particularly weak for the last few months -- one account today noted that he looked frail at one of his annual staff reunion meetings even a few years back. Though the loved ones might not always think so, at a certain age, my philosophy is that a person can be thankful for whatever time is left (unless, perhaps, the time is particularly hard, health or otherwise), and s/he has not died "too soon" or in some sort of sad matter. This is surely the case once you live to ninety.
I was too young to recall it, my few memories of the time not political, but my basic understanding is that Ford was a good fit for the role he was asked to fill. Consider even his appointment, pursuant to a recently ratified amendment, to fill in as Vice President, after the funny name guy (Spiro Agnew) resigned. Ford was the Republican Minority Leader in the House of Representatives -- if you are going to appoint someone to be Veep, in a fashion, this is arguably the most democratic way to do it -- a representative sample of the President's party selecting him as their leader. Some suggest Ford was too much of a partisan hack/Nixon loyalist, down to the pardon itself. And, some -- though even with the pardon he barely lost in 1976 so talk about it ruining his chances (compared to let's say dropping Rockefeller, who might have brought NY) is a bit overblown -- felt he was unfit for the job.
But, most also agree he was a fair and honest man. I personally am glad (accord) he delegated and gave us John Paul Stevens as his one justice pick. Stevens seems to represent Ford in some ways -- Middle America, WWII vet, moderate Republican (fiscal conservative -- Stevens voiced his doubts about the minimum wage -- social moderate, represented in Ford by his outspoken wife Betty), hard working, and so forth. It is to be recalled that Reagan went after him from the right in '76, leading to the dropping of the sitting v.p. from the ticket in honor of Bob Dole.
Ford gave the country what it needed -- to call him a "caretaker President" might be deemed somewhat dismissive, but this would ignore the importance of the role. The NY Daily News discussion included an essay from a Ford expert who noted Cheney (with Rummy, a Ford man) noted this very fact. The nation was in trouble and needed a bridge to normalcy. I think we need one now -- a President who we can trust and respect, even if not agree with in various respects.*
Ford, again, barely lost in 1976. So, he very well could have been more. But, it was quite enough, and it seems appropriate that he did lose -- not as a party matter either, simply to move on. Unlike Carter, except for a few matters, Ford mostly did move on -- did not use his post-presidency days to try to do great things. He basically retired, fine enough after decades of public service. After he retired from his time on earth, if that doesn't sound too corny, I think it is fair to say the same applies. Great President? No. Helpful one? Quite so. Often, that is much more important.
[Democracy Now! reminds that there are some problems too (there always will be), suggested by the number of Ford people in the Bush Administration alone, but my immediate sentiments holds.]
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* I checked the NYT website to check the latest news, catching this:
Bush Praises Ford As 'Man of Complete Integrity': President Bush delivered a solemn tribute, hailing Gerald R. Ford as a "true gentleman who reflected the best in America’s character."
But, he lost in 1976, thus Bush thought it best to go another route.