[HIDEK6]

PRESIDENT FORD: I don't believe, - Mr. Frankel that - the Yugoslavians consider themselves dominated by the Soviet Union. I don't believe that the Romanians consider themselves dominated by the Soviet Union. I don't believe that the Poles consider themselves dominated by the Soviet Union.

What WAS he thinking?

[Nevadan]

re: What WAS he thinking?

I know! It was an absolutely stunning display of ignorance on Ford's part. While I can appreciate the difficulty and stress involved in debating, Ford's response was so incredibly stupid that there is absolutely no excuse that can be made for him.

[Tanniker Smith]

What WAS he thinking?

Years later, I think I understood what he was trying to say although I'm not sure that I could put it into any better words.

Those countries might have been controlled by the Soviet Union, but the people did not believe that they were controlled by it. The culture was not dominated by Russia even as it was being oppressed by that nation. They were their own peoples, and they weren't going away. They wouldn't be absorbed by the domineering Soviets. At least, that's what I think the point was.