Gerald R. Ford: 1913-2006

Last night, I was saddened to learn that Gerald Ford, our 38th President, had passed away at the age of 93.

I admired Ford. When he became President, I felt like he was the right kind of person to be in that office after the Watergate scandal, and my opinion never changed.

There are two excerpts from this AP article which express my feelings about Ford. George W. Bush was quoted as saying "The American people will always admire Gerald Ford’s devotion to duty, his personal character and the honorable conduct of his administration." For once, I agree with Bush. The second excerpt is a quote from Ford.

Asked at a news conference to recite his accomplishments, Ford replied: "We have restored public confidence in the White House and in the executive branch of government."

To say the least, that was not an easy task after Watergate and Nixon's resignation, but Ford approached the job with the grace and resolve that was needed--not just for the government, but for the country. This does not mean that he was necessarily one of our greatest Presidents. However, the greatest priorities when he became President were to help the nation heal and feel some trust toward the government again. And in that regard, Gerald R. Ford served our country with distinction.