[Young Rhino]

That reputation was a bit of a bum rap

You are 100% correct. Although I disagreed with Ford's politics (too Rockefeller Republican), he was no bumbling fool from a physical standpoint...probably the most athletic president up to that date. Few remember that Ford was a star of the University of Michigan football team. He was a superb athlete.

[speedy]

Ford was captain of Michigan's football team (albeit a team that was winless!!) Kind of emblematic of his political career -- like Dole, he was perfectly happy being leader of the minority party. He seemed to always resent the Republicans who put the GOP in power. He was the Democrats ideal Republican.