Tuesday, December 26, 2006

Gerald R. Ford, (1913 - 2006)

So within the same couple of days that we bid a fond farewell to the Godfather of Soul, we also say goodbye to the 38th president, a man who had something of an FDR-ish role to fill in the White House.

Dad and I were just watching House when there was a newsbreak, I said, "It's probably something about flood warnings." As the words left my lips, I had a feeling I was probably wrong.

Ford was appointed to fill in after Nixon's resignation, left to clean up the mess of Vietnam and Cambodia, an energy crisis, rampant inflation and a depressed economy.

In his handling of these situations, Ford earned himself the respect of his fellow politicians. Jimmy Carter began his inaugural speech by saying, "For myself and for our Nation, I want to thank my predecessor for all he has done to heal our land."

I believe history will be kind to President Ford, the last good Republican that's come down the pike so far.

These things tend to happen in threes--I wonder who's next? (Sorry if that sounds morbid or disrespe