The left saw to it that Jerry Ford was portrayed as a bumbling idiot. He lost the election because of it. The pardon of Nixon was a hurdle he could have overcome, but the constant replay of him slipping (here he is being a gentleman focused on his wife’s comfort) made him a laughing stock. Pure Alinsky tactic. BTW, in case you don’t know, Ford was a gifted athlete all of his life. And was my favorite President in my lifetime. In two years, he vetoed more legislation than any other modern President, i.e., refusing to expand the size and scope of our once limited government.
How many times did Chevy Chase mercilessly parody this? Former Pres. Ford (he was the first President I voted for) has a trick football knee and that is part of the problem with his falling when he did.
Was this why the Press and Saturday Night Live made fun of Gerald Ford?
He was trying to keep the rain off his wife while holding an umbrella and walking down slick stairs. I’ve never seen the footage but that’s completely unfair.