Goodbye, President Ford

I watched the funeral for President Gerald R. Ford, this morning. It was moving and fitting for the former President. The dignity and ceremony of these national rituals, I believe, are helpful and healing to us as a nation. They remind me of what is important in life: family, relationships, faith in God. As a political activist, it is easy to forget these values in the heat of partisan advocacy.

President Ford was a good example of political civility. President Ford was a loyal Republican. As a leader in the House and as President of the Senate, he "loved a good fight." At the end of the day, though, he could slap Democratic Speaker Tip O'Neill on the back and join him in a drink. President Ford understood that good men (and women) could disagree without being disagreeable. He realized bad ideas could come from good people.

Presidential funerals also give us review lessons in history. I remember being very upset, like most Americans, when President Ford pardoned President Nixon. At the time, I could not understand taking that action before a trial and conviction. Looking back, I can see President Ford's wisdom in quickly ending the "national nightmare" of Watergate. President Nixon resigned in disgrace, a punishment probably worse than prison to that prideful man. It reminds me to be cautious in being too quick to judge the presidencies of Carter and Clinton, whom I did not like, or today's President Bush, whom I do. Good historical analysis requires the perspective that only comes with the passage of time.

Watching the coverage of these funerals also supplies some good trivia, too. I don't think I ever knew that President Ford's middle name was "Rudolph." I didn't know that the casket stand used in the Capitol was originally built for President Abraham Lincoln's coffin. The fabric has been replaced but is draped exactly as it was when Lincoln laid in state. I had forgotten that President Ford had two assassination attempts. I remembered the one by Streaky Fromm, probably because a woman was the perpetrator which made it unusual. Does anyone remember who made the other attempt?