Gerald R. Ford 1913-2006
 

America's oldest ex-President died lateish today -- Fox just broke the news.

His place in school history exams remains secure -- the single U.S. President who was never elected.

Oh thank you for opening that particular can of worms. We just got the darn things back in after 2004, and now they're going to come spilling out again ...

Rest in peace, Mr. President.

the single U.S. President who was never elected.
and beaned a person at a golf tourny !!!

Richard Nixon so prolonged the Vietnam war long enough that the defeat occurred during Ford's presidency. Vietnam was therefore not lost on Nixon's watch. Ford was the fall guy. Does history repeat itself every 30 years?

Given what he was handed to work with, Gerry did okay. He didn't break anything (either on his person or in the country), and he inspired one of the classic SNL running gags.

When Dubya goes, do you think he'll be remembered as benign?

I recall Dana Carvey anticipated that Ford would die being eaten by wolves...but that he would also be delicious.

...alert secret service agents wrestled the wolves to the ground...

He did a hell of a job given the situation he was in. Much better than he who followed. Liver pills anyone? Rest in Peace Pres

Would you mind explaining this to those of us who are not US citizens? Our news last night was full of this quote, but I do not understand. Why do they say he was not elected? What is the difference between Ford and Johnson, or Truman (in 1945 - I realise he won a subsequent election), or any of the other deputies who succeeded a dead/deposed president?

The difference is that he was not elected to the vice presidency or the presidency. Ford was selected to replace the elected Vice President, Spiro Agnew, who resigned. He then replaced Richard Nixon. This makes him the only US President not elected to the White House.

After Bush's reign, we will need someone like Ford. He really did help a nation recover from Nixon.

Of course, at this point I'd take Nixon back over Bush. The man was an arrogant snake, but at least he was smart enough to lead.

BTW, after the next president assumes the post, I will be changing my sig line to:

My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over.
Gerald R. Ford

Thanks Rich. It was so long ago, I had forgotten the details.

Did you forget the Mayaguez and Marines who were abandoned in a totally foolish attack on Kohl Tang Island? Those three Marines and a Navy Medic are reported to have surrendered to the Khmer Rouge a week later - having been completely left without even considering rescue by the Ford administration.

Jerry Ford was a good man who was totally overwhelmed by his job. He could not understand nor properly address massive inflation created by the Nixon administration's uncontrolled spending on everything - especially Vietnam (the dollar would depreciate by a factor of 5). His famous solution was WIN buttons. He had no agenda. Even the military, still used to lying as in Vietnam, would make fools of him (and the next president).

America was a defeated nation under Ford. American products - especially American cars - manufactured in that time were crap. America was selling off its overseas industries just to pay for its massive debts. Even used American construction equipment was being shipped in massive numbers overseas because construction in America stopped and we needed to sell anything possible to pay our debts. Interest rates needed to climb to 20% levels - and the Ford administration just could not be aggressive enough to consider what was necessary.

But Ford provided fun. The press would have a running pool on who could guess how long Jerry Ford could walk without tripping over his feet. Ford had a bad habit of tripping himself.

Ford does not go down in history as a candidate for worst president ever. This because his heart was into working for America - which is not the case with Nixon or George Jr. Many who were so opposed to his Nixon pardon and pardoning of conscientious objectors in Canada have, in hindsight, acknowledged both were necessary. America was that badly mauled by Nam and Nixon.

One final point. Ford did not want this published before his death. Ford was adamantly opposed to George Jr's "Mission Accomplished" fiasco at the same time and for some of the same reasons posted here (in 2002). But then all former US presidents have stated that in various degrees. Ford simply was more opposed to "Mission Accomplished" but did not want his opinions published until now.

And your perspective on Carter? I never said that he was a great President or that he didn't make mistakes. BTW I think American cars are still crap - relatively speaking..

It's bad for Bush that Ford died now. The last thing Bush needs is yet another comparison with a real president.

Ford did better than several Presidents elected. For instance appointing nominees for the Surpreme Court.