Posted on 01/02/2007 1:09:38 PM PST by STARWISE
According to an ancient tradition, God preserves humanity despite its many transgressions because at any one period there exist 10 just individuals who, without being aware of their role, redeem mankind.
Gerald Ford was such a man. Propelled into the presidency by a sequence of unpredictable events, he had an impact so profound it’s rightly to be considered providential.
Unassuming and without guile, Gerald Ford undertook to restore the confidence of Americans in their political institutions and purposes.
Never having aspired to national office, he was not consumed by driving ambition. In his understated way, he did his duty as a leader, not as a performer playing to the gallery.
Gerald Ford had the virtues of small-town America: sincerity, serenity and integrity.
(snip)
In recent days, the deserved commentary on Gerald Ford’s character has sometimes obscured how sweeping and lasting were his achievements.
Gerald Ford’s prudence and common sense kept ethnic conflicts in Cyprus and Lebanon from spiraling into regional war.
He presided over the final agony of Indochina with dignity and wisdom.
In the Middle East, his persistence produced the first political agreement between Israel and Egypt.
He helped shape the act of the Helsinki European Security Conference, which established an internationally recognized standard for human rights, now generally accepted as having hastened the collapse of the former Soviet empire.
He sparked the initiative to bring majority rule to southern Africa, a policy that was a major factor in ending colonialism there.
(snip)
Gerald Ford was one of the founders of the continuing annual economic summit among the industrial democracies.
Throughout his 29 months in office, he persisted in conducting negotiations with our principal adversary over the reduction and control of nuclear arms.
Gerald Ford was always driven by his concern for humane values.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Is it noticed that the living presidents all spoke..... except Bill Clinton?
CSPAN rerunning the entire funeral coverage at 8:00 PM tonight.
It was wonderful and Mr Kissenger was exactly right.
Did Carter speak?
Carter won't speak until the private service tomorrow.
Unfortunately, President Bush will most likely not be given the proper credit for his vision and his steadiness at the helm for, say, 20-30 years.
Those of us who understand the danger that faces the civilized world, will know the truth about who has done the most to keep us safe.
Yes! And the impeached one SPIT ON HIS FINGER AND RUBBED HIS EYES! ---Didn't anyone else see this? I was sure that I would have seen the clip of this 'Ron Brown' like funeral moment. Of course I didn't tape it.....did anyone else catch it?
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