Wednesday - December 27, 2006

Obituary

My memories of Gerald Ford center around two key events: (1) his pardon of Richard Nixon and (2) the evacuation of Saigon and the official end of the Vietnam War. Both of which were key turning points in our nation’s history.

Pardoning Nixon effectively brought to a halt the witch hunt being carried on by the Democrats in Congress and the media, both of whom had an enduring hatred of Nixon and would have torn the country apart if they had been allowed to continue.

It was also on his watch that the country watched the last helicopter leave Saigon with refugees as the country fell to communist invaders thanks to the Democratic controlled Congress cutting off all aid funds to the South Vietnamese government.

I was in the Air Force at the time and I recall it as a bleak time for the military and for the country as a whole. Gerald Ford was a good man with all the right intentions. It was not his fault that he had the Congress against him, the military morale at rock bottom and the Arabs cutting off the oil supply.

He did the best he could with the mess he was given and his efforts probably saved us all from a lot of grief. If he had only defeated Carter for re-election in 1976, the world would probably be a much better place. We’re still paying the price for that.

Our prayers and sympathies go out to his wife Betty and his family. Rest in peace, Mr. President.

Gerald R. Ford (1913-2006)

When Gerald R. Ford took the oath of office on August 9, 1974, he declared, “I assume the Presidency under extraordinary circumstances.... This is an hour of history that troubles our minds and hurts our hearts.”

It was indeed an unprecedented time. He had been the first Vice President chosen under the terms of the Twenty-fifth Amendment and, in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal, was succeeding the first President ever to resign.

Ford was confronted with almost insuperable tasks. There were the challenges of mastering inflation, reviving a depressed economy, solving chronic energy shortages, and trying to ensure world peace.

As President, Ford tried to calm earlier controversies by granting former President Nixon a full pardon. His nominee for Vice President, former Governor Nelson Rockefeller of New York, was the second person to fill that office by appointment. Gradually, Ford selected a cabinet of his own.

Ford established his policies during his first year in office, despite opposition from a heavily Democratic Congress. His first goal was to curb inflation. Then, when recession became the Nation’s most serious domestic problem, he shifted to measures aimed at stimulating the economy. But, still fearing inflation, Ford vetoed a number of non-military appropriations bills that would have further increased the already heavy budgetary deficit.

Ford obtained his bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, where he was a football star. He went on to obtain a law degree from Yale University before serving in the United States Navy during World War II. Returning from the war a confirmed “internationalist”, Republican Ford defeated the incumbent in the party primary and was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1948, representing the Grand Rapids, Michigan area.

He was elected House Minority Leader in 1963 and served in the House until 1973. When Spiro Agnew resigned, Ford was appointed Vice President of the United States at the height of the Watergate scandal, which eventually led to Richard Nixon’s resignation. On November 12, 2006, Ford officially became the longest-lived President, surpassing Ronald Reagan. He had the second-longest post-presidency after Herbert Hoover.

Gerald Ford died at the age of 93 on December 26, 2006 of a severely impacted bowel obstruction at his home in California. At 11:49 p.m. EST, it was reported that Ford’s wife, Betty, has confirmed his death.

“My family joins me in sharing the difficult news that Gerald Ford, our beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather has passed away at 93 years of age,” Mrs. Ford said in a brief statement issued from her husband’s office in Rancho Mirage. “His life was filled with love of God, his family and his country.”

“Laura and I are greatly saddened by the passing of former President Gerald R. Ford. President Ford was a great American who gave many years of dedicated service to our country. On August 9, 1974, after a long career in the House of Representatives and service as Vice President, he assumed the Presidency in an hour of national turmoil and division. With his quiet integrity, common sense, and kind instincts, President Ford helped heal our land and restore public confidence in the Presidency. The American people will always admire Gerald Ford’s devotion to duty, his personal character, and the honorable conduct of his administration. We mourn the loss of such a leader, and our 38th President will always have a special place in our Nation’s memory. On behalf of all Americans, Laura and I offer our deepest sympathies to Betty Ford and all of President Ford’s family. Our thoughts and prayers will be with them in the hours and days ahead.”—President Bush

Officials Prep for Ford to Lie in State
_{WASHINGTON (AP) - December 27, 2006, 12:40 PM EST}

Officials were preparing tentative plans for President Gerald Ford’s body to lie in state this weekend and expected a funeral service after New Year’s at National Cathedral capping days of mourning in the capital.

U.S. Capitol Police officers said they were told to prepare for Ford’s body to come to the Capitol Rotunda on Saturday, and congressional officials who have been briefed on plans said a public viewing would begin after an arrival ceremony. The cathedral service was expected Tuesday.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the Ford family had not yet signed off on that schedule. The hallmarks of a presidential state funeral began falling into place a day after the 38th president died at his Rancho Mirage Calif., home, at age 93.

The public was expected to get a first chance to pay respects at a church near Ford’s California home, then at the U.S. Capitol and finally in Grand Rapids, Mich., home of his presidential museum and his anticipated place of interment. But funeral plans were not complete.

A senior Republican leadership official said all events related to Ford’s funeral in Washington would be finished by Jan. 4, opening day of the 110th Congress, meaning no delay was anticipated in the hand-over of congressional control to Democrats. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because funeral plans were not complete.

Planners are guided by the wishes of the family and any instructions from the president himself on how elaborate the events will be, how much of it takes place in Washington and more. Ford’s collegial character and unassuming style in the White House are expected to be reflected in his presidential funeral arrangements.

Posted by The Skipper     on 12/27/2006 at 04:02 PM   
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Not that very many people ever read this far down, but this blog was the creation of Allan Kelly and his friend Vilmar. Vilmar moved on to his own blog some time ago, and Allan ran this place alone until his sudden and unexpected death partway through 2006. We all miss him. A lot. Even though he is gone this site will always still be more than a little bit his. We who are left to carry on the BMEWS tradition owe him a great debt of gratitude, and we hope to be able to pay that back by following his last advice to us all:

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It's been a long strange trip without you Skipper, but thanks for pointing us in the right direction and giving us a swift kick in the behind to get us going. Keep lookin' down on us, will ya? Thanks.

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