“And that’s why I hope that, I don’t know. . .please think about it.”

To commemorate the passing of Gerald Ford, here’s a repost of my favorite political ad of all time :




And while we’re talking about Ford’s legacy, let me echo what Atrios said :
As we all know, because everybody on the teevee will keep repeating it, Gerald Ford’s pardon of Richard Nixon was perhaps the wisest and awesomest thing anyone has ever done in the history of presidenting. Never mind that it wasn’t popular at the time. Never mind that it set an awful precedent which led to the pardoning of the Iran Contra figures and transformed corrupt Nixonites into distinguished elder statesmen and Bush administration officials.

We are told again and again that what they nation needed was “to heal.” That “the turmoil” needed to be over. That it was necessary to move on.

Ford’s presidency began by pardoning a criminal scumbag. It wasn’t “closure”, it was driving the getaway car. And while it may be impolite to point out Ford’s complicity in this shameful nadir in our nation’s history, it could be worse. When Bill Clinton dies, every obituary will contain the name “Lewinsky”.


posted by greg on December 27, 2006 @ 5:53 pm

6 comments »

  1. Ford probably lost the 1976 election in large part due to that horrible pardon.

    Unfortunately, memories fade with time.

    But compared to the White House’s current occupant, Ford was a statesman.

    Comment by Doobie — December 27, 2006 @ 7:36 pm

  2. He didn’t seem like a bad president once the pardon was behind him, but I didn’t have to live through his “term” in office.

    I will say, Bush One and Bush Two were both on the radio today telling how great it was that a nice likeable guy came along and pardoned evil old Nixon. It’s funny how transparent their “It’s good to pardon disgraced presidents” routine is.

    Comment by Scott — December 27, 2006 @ 9:04 pm

  3. Warren Commission!

    Warren Commission!

    Warren Commission!

    That is what I will remember about Gerald Ford. That is the first thing I thought of when I heard he had died. “The last Warren Commissioner is now dead.” Of course, he was the only surviving commissioner for about 25 years.

    Trust him? Not for a minute. Healing after Watergate? More like hiding the truth, something he had done before.

    No, it is nothing more than revisionist history to give this guy any props for greatness or leadership.

    Warren Commission!!!!

    Comment by Biff Usually — December 27, 2006 @ 10:35 pm

  4. Too shrill. Way too shrill.

    He’s dead. Cut him some slack.

    You’re not saving the world by criticizing this dead man from a desk chair.

    Comment by Chumly — December 28, 2006 @ 4:05 am

  5. Between Pearl Bailey’s ringing endorsement and Pam Spaulding’s observations about Ford’s support of gay marriage, I’m beginning to like the guy. A little late, I suppose.

    Comment by Cris — December 28, 2006 @ 7:27 am

  6. What really sucks was Ford’s insistence that a July 2004 interview–in which he voiced strong opposition to the Iraq war–not be published until after his death.

    He effectively put party loyalty over the lives of many.

    Comment by Doobie — December 28, 2006 @ 9:33 pm

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