The Final Word
Remembering President Gerald Ford
Putting Americans before politics
By Sid Radhakrishnan
From the February 2007 Print Edition
Over winter break as I walked out of Chipotle, I saw a bumper sticker that read, “Dissent is Patriotic.” I felt unsatisfied not only with my burrito but also with the sticker’s phrasing, since I feel it should have gone further to capture the true spirit of politics with “Dissent is Patriotic but Compromise is Divine.” Such a bumper sticker would probably be too verbose to sell, but the principle of reaching compromises is one of the very principles missing today in American politics.
In the recent congressional elections, politicians rallied around the cry of bipartisanship. As the 110th Congress moves further in the year I feel that the current political mood is that of people more focused on being conservatives and liberals rather than acting as centrists. These perilous times require our public servants to forge partnerships that move our country forward rather than divide us. Abraham Lincoln said it best, that “you serve your party best by serving our nation first.”
It seems almost providential that a president who once led our country through dangerous times passed away when the ideals embodied by his term appear most needed today. Gerald Ford, Michigan’s greatest son, was laid to rest on December 26. He presided over period of time in which all hope appeared lost in public servitude. After the ousting of Spiro Agnew and Richard Nixon, Ford was the first to become the unelected vice president and later the president of the United States. In fact, there were many firsts during Ford’s presidency. Among presidents, Ford was the first to win a national championship in football with Michigan in ’32 and ’33. He was also the first U.S. president earning the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest rank offered from Boy Scouts. The values former President Ford learned while growing up in the Midwest proved useful during the tumultuous times of the mid-1970s.
Nixon had just resigned over the Watergate scandal and America was treading dangerous waters. During a general loss of faith in politics, the war in Vietnam, and a war against Communism, no man could have been more successful at the helm than Ford. His first presidential act was to pardon Nixon, which went against the advice of cabinet members and party leaders. Yet many consider that moment today as the right thing to do since it brought Americans together, healed a nation, and ended “a long nightmare.” Although it may have cost him the presidency, Ford was a man of principles.
During his football days at Michigan, he similarly took a principled stand against racial prejudice before it was customary to do so. After back to back national championships, Michigan played Georgia Tech. The game was hosted at Georgia and opposing players would not play on the same field unless the African American player, Willis Ward, sat out. Ford was enraged by the prejudice and vowed to sit out if Willis, his roommate during road games, did not play. The former president played only upon the request of Ward but his stand against racism will forever be remembered.
Ford was a man not looking to become president and yet in some sense was more prepared to lead a nation then others. Confirmed by the Senate to become the vice president, Ford helped bridge party lines and welcomed dissent within the inner circles of his cabinet. During meetings, Ford let each member state their position while he attentively listened, mulling over each argument before taking action. He was a man with no agenda other than advancing the prospects of the American people. He did not feel compelled to secure a legacy as long as the right things were done. And when national affairs appeared most dangerous, Ford’s cheery spirit and steady hands steered this nation around crisis. This was a man who will always be remembered as someone who sought to move the country forward and take action without haste or regret.
American politics is once again embroiled with bitterness. It is important we remember Gerald Ford not only for what he did but for the ideals he represented. I hope that our elected leaders remember that “Dissent is Patriotic but Compromise is Divine” because after all we are Americans first. May you rest in peace, Mr. President, and may God Bless America and humanity.
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