Posted on 04/23/2006 7:01:51 PM PDT by Sub-Driver
Bush Visits Ailing Former President Ford
12 minutes ago
President Bush paid a visit Sunday to the ailing former President Ford at his home in this resort town where Bush was spending the weekend.
Ford and his wife, Betty, were waiting with smiles outside their low-slung stucco home, which overlooks a golf course, as Bush's limousine pulled into the circular driveway. Bush gave Mrs. Ford a kiss on the cheek and had a handshake for the Republican former president.
Ford then linked his arm into Bush's and led him inside the home in a gated community near Palm Springs in the California desert.
The nearly hourlong visit, conducted out of public view and kept under wraps until the last minute, could be the last time Bush would see the oldest living former commander in chief. Ford, 92, was hospitalized with pneumonia for 12 days in January and has not been seen much in public of late.
After the meeting, Bush and Ford walked slowly out of the house holding hands. Ford was also leaning on a cane, and his wife trailed alongside.
"It's such an honor to be with President and Mrs. Ford," Bush said.
"You remember these characters, don't you?" he said, gesturing toward the waiting collection of news media.
"We solved all the problems, didn't we?" Ford said, smiling. Bush laughed and replied: "We sure did."
Ford thanked Bush for stopping by and wished him well.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
This is very nice.
Ford also spoke out against the generals demanding Rumsfeld's resignation.
ONE WORD,
CLASS!!!!!
Ailing or not, I'd say he looks pretty darn good for 92.
Wasn't Ford a critic of Bush? Good to see no animosity has hung on.
I remember how, during Ford's presidency in the 70's, the late-night comedians ripped Ford apart in their obnoxious routines, I'll never forgive them for that. The country needed healing after Nixon, and the entertainment establishment responded with sarcasm and back-stabbing.
Yeah some good news....for a change.
President Ford had something to many modern politicians seem to be in total lack of. HONOR.
i know a guy who used to work for Ford on the NSC staff. he said that Ford was a terrific athlete, and that he would ski down slopes for hours and the media would watch from afar. The one or two spills he would take on the way down would be the only picture to see the light of day. I hate the media. They're all socialist cowards.
"I'd say he looks pretty darn good for 92."
Yes, I was thinking that too!
Well it does sort of go with the territory. If I am not mistaken, Ford loved the Chevy Chase "stumblebum" routine on SNL and had the clips played for him at the White House. Best thing a president can do is laugh that kind of stuff off.
Remember the Mayaguez incident. Gerry Ford did the right thing then - a message that was not lost on our enemies.
The country needs positive news, we don't need to see our presidents torn down and disparaged.
I agree. Nice.
Republican past Presidents have so much more stature than the Democrat ones do. Carter and Clinton aren't worth a hoot.
Maybe that works for the Prez. As for me, when I see and hear the attack stuff, it makes me cringe.
George Bush is a good man. Pure class.
OH DAILY DOSERSSS well Dubya was in Ford hood
That's for sure! Reagan, GHWB, Ford, and Nixon all exited the stage quietly. LBJ didn't last long, but carter and clintoon have just proved that any American can be President. They're as low class as Americans ever get.
I got to spend a few minutes talking to Gerald Ford during the 1976 Presidential campaign. He was the most unassuming and approachable of men. It was hard to believe he was President, and I mean that as a compliment. He is not politically my ideal of what a Republican President should be, but he was perfectly suited for the transition during the ugliness of the Nixon resignation. And unlike Carter or Clinton, he is deeply patriotic and completely honest.
I agree all the way around. As for Clinton and Carter, for having stood at the pinicle of our nation, they are an absolute digrace to themselves and the nation.
Wasn't he a football player before he got involved in politics, or was that in college?
I voted for Gore. The day after the election, I decided I'd never vote Dem again. President Bush has been a gentleman since before he was inagurated. President Ford & his wife were both graceful, he an athlete, she a dancer. When President Reagan wrote that letter in 1994, my heart melted (I worked on the Mondale campaign, & thought at the time Reagan was a dangerous, hateful cowboy). I was still a liberal, but ever since then, my feelings for him warmed. I cried when he died.
Gerald R. Ford, Jr. fights for the tip-off during a basketball game on the forward elevator of the USS MONTEREY. As physical education director it was Mr. Ford's idea to create a basketball court on the elevator. 1944.
That bumbling personna was simply the left's attempt to denigrate him. If you're a Republican the left has to portray you as a bumbing idiot to have half a chance against you.
That was very nice of President Bush to stop and see President Ford.
I just hope he doesn't have to speak at his funeral some day soon. Come on - I know I'm not the only one thinking it.
Thanks, Sub-Driver. I just heard this on radio simultaneous with finding your thread.
Quite wonderful they could be together.
I'm just greatful that neither Reagan nor Ford passed while Clinton was still president. Watching Clinton preside over a state funeral would have been more than I could stand.
my wife and I want to stanford on friday afternoon and saw all the vermin so filled with hate, and it really made me realize that President Bush is probably as conservative that will be elected again.
this country is turning dangerously more liberal.
i know i dont want to think about ford dying either
Not one American ship was seized by a foreign enemy again.
Ford is a decent guy and he was a good if imperfect president...had he not pardoned Nixon he probably would have beaten Peanut Boy in '76 as he only lost by a small margin. You served your country with dignity, Mr. President, you've earned your rest.
This is just wonderful. Will we ever see this level of graciousness and class again? I wonder......
Maybe Ford should borrow Bush his veto pen.
Well I'm sure the Drive-By Media will think of something nasty to say about this event ...
Apparently there was a group of Democrats in Congress who wanted to stall the confirmation process when Ford was named to replace Agnew, hoping that if Nixon was forced out the reins of power would go to the Speaker of the House, Carl Albert.
LOL, too late. I really don't think of my comment as an attack on Bush though. But who could forget Ford telling NYC to drop dead when they requested a federal bailout? That's like the domestic version of Reagan's Berlin Wall speech.
All American in college.
I must confess...I voted for Ford over Carter in 1976. I blame it on ignorance and lack of maturity. I was in Kindy or 1st grade (the kiddie vote) and I voted for Carter because he shared my last name at the time. I'm still haunted by the memory. (Shuffling away) LOL
I thought Ford said that what the generals said concerned him; that is, I understood that Ford at least somewhat sided with them. I do not remember him speaking out against them.
Ford was more than decent. His pardon of Nixon was important for the country, and it was the end of his political career. And he knew it.
When we talk about patriots, he should be in the first tier.
LOL!!
"We solved all the problems, didn't we?" Ford said, smiling. Bush laughed and replied: "We sure did."
That's really nice.
Interesting this visit coincides with Ford's recent entrance to the news the past couple of days in defense of Rummy.
IMO, a better President than he is given credit. After all, to this day he remains gracious and has not tried to destroy this country following his departure from office. He could have taken the low road of Carter and Clinton. He has chosen not to do so. That shows good character.
Who was the last Good Democrat President? Ignoring policy, someone of decency and caring for this nation? I'm not sure of kennedy, though he was better than the crop today. Was it Truman? Pitiful we have to go back that far.
Never mind...I screwed that one up! LOL
Particularly as he is ailing.
I just love seeing people with class and style. The world is getting so tacky (and this forum is keeping pace with it), that it refreshes the soul to see people like George W. Bush and Gerald Ford who exhude class and character.
I was serious when I said that I wondered if we will ever see it again.
There are few boomers with the class of President Bush, and behind us, what's there to hope for?
Don't mean to be too negative, but I love honor, and it just doesn't happen that often any more.
Clean living does that for a person. They age gracefully!
He don't look too bad for 92.
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