President Gerald Ford is dead

Fox | 12/26/06

[Borges]

Just Announced on Fox

[tiredoflaundry]

Prayers for the Ford family.

RIP Mr. President.

[Hydroshock]

May God Have Mercy On His Soul. Amen.

[livius]

RIP, President Ford. He was a good man, and the press in general at that time went out of their way to make him look like an idiot and a bumbler every moment of his presidency. They were very fond of taking and publishing pictures of him stumbling or bumping into something or having any of the normal minor accidents that go with moving around a lot in crowded public places. This was supposed to indicate that not only was he a klutz, but he was a stupid right-wing capitalist pig, etc., etc., etc.

Most people have probably forgotten this, but I think that the Ford presidency was the very first one where the press felt they could get away with that level of disrespect and ridicule. It was, of course, because Nixon had been so thoroughly discredited, and they now felt it was open season on any GOPer. Furthermore, Ford was basically a nice guy, like Bush, so he was easy to attack.

[SoldierDad]

Amen.

[xzins]

RIP brother Ford.

The Lord used you at a critical time for the life of this nation. You discharged your job faithfully. You faithfully upheld the office of former President far better than others who survive you.

[SE Mom]

A devoted American and a gentleman. May you rest in the arms of God, President Ford.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Had a chance to meet him and talk one on one a number of years after he had left office.

I split-second figured when introduced to him, many people probably asked him about Watergate, probably way too many, so I just talked about the USS Mayaguez Incident with him.

I got five minutes of his precious time, and his rembrance of that 1975 crisis, and I will always remember that.

R.I.P.

[McGavin999]

God rest your soul President Ford.

[Roccus]

I was one of those who was dismayed at President Ford's pardon of Nixon. In later years I came to realize how wrong I was and how right he had been. Later yet, I saw an interview with him in which he explained clearly his thinking on the subject. He made me feel as if I had "come of age" as our thoughts coincided.

One my fondest memories of President Ford comes from after his term. I was watching some sporting event on the tube when the program was interrupted for a "Flash." The former President was playing in some golf tournament and had just shot a hole-in-one and he was beaming. I remember thinking, after all the crap he had gone through, "Good for him! He deserved it!" It just felt good to see him happy.

[Roccus]

IIRC, he was presented with the ship's wheel by the crew and he kept it in the Oval Office and was very proud of it.

[bmwcyle]

Thanks for reminding me of some history I had forgotten about. With limited news back then, items in history have can be forgotten easily.

[beyond the sea]

Great picture.

Thank you for posting it.

Gerald Ford/Leslie Lynch King, Jr. was a very decent man.

RIP

[beyond the sea]

Woulda loved to play in that foursome........ or just carry a bag.

:-)

[beyond the sea]

Hmmm. Will there still be a "Pelosi Coronation"? The country will be in official mourning, not to mention there may be a state funeral almost simultaneous with the swearing in of the new congress. How fittin' would that be?!

Interesting thoughts ......

Pelosi Galore may just have to wait a little.

[takbodan]

Sad news about a decent man. My favorite quote by President Ford:

""A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have."

[prairiebreeze]

I do hope that the Ford family has a modest burial, lest comparisons with Reagan's funeral be made.

I hope that the Ford family has whatever funeral they want to have including a full state funeral including procession, lying in state at the rotunda, procession to the graveside....if that's what they want.

I'll also take a moment to tip my hat to Betty Ford. I'll never forget her courage in going public about her alcoholism and the way she's handled her rehab including the Clinic. A strong woman who was married to a good strong man.

Lastly, thank you President Ford and God rest your good soul.

[bmwcyle]

So true.

[jehardy]

God Bless President Ford and his family.

[beyond the sea]

"Arlen Specter's still alive." ............... That's debatable.

Arlen Sphincter has been dead ever since he represented the "unicorn killer," Ira Einhorn back around 1970.

(http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/famous/einhorn/index_1.html)

Einhorn remained at large for years after Specter successfully argued that Einhorn should only pay 10% of his $40,000 bond. Specter dropped Einhorn as a client just before his run for DA.

****

A couple of beauties.

[Amelia]

RIP, President Ford. A long and full life.

I always admired him.