He’ll be remembered as a good and decent man who came in at a difficult time in history. His biggest decision, pardoning Nixon, was his most controversial by far. I personally think he did the right thing. The nation had to put this whole sordid affair behind it and pardoning Nixon was an act of healing. Not the brightest president, not the most effective, but sometimes you just need someone honest in there to keep the seat warm.
I hope he’s remembered as the oldest president. By my calculations, if he makes it to Veterans Day he will be.
Yeah, at worst ANY President gets his entry into the ‘history’ data through having been President. Schools, Libraries, Post Offices, whatever will be named for him long after he’s gone.
So what the hell, it’s better than most of us will get 200 years hence, right?
One thing that might be remembered as a side note is his wife and the eventual creation of the Betty Ford Center. I think it changed how the country looked at substance abuse and treatment. While not directly a result of the Presidency, the stature of being First Lady played a big part of that.
I am suprised no one has mentioned that he also faced two assassinatin attempts within 2 1/2 weeks of each other. As far as I can recall he is the only president to be shot at by assassins twice, earning him one more piece of presidential trivia for the history books.
That’s not an inaugural address; it’s remarks made when he was sworn in. Ford did not have an official inauguration, which takes place on or about January 20th in the year after a presidential election.
Well I will remember him, since to date he’s the only president I’ve ever met. I think Ford has a lot of historical context, particularly in connection with Watergate. It’s not just that he became president without being elected; it’s that he became vice president after Agnew’s resignation, that he became president, and that he pardoned Nixon. Don’t most American history classes have a unit on Watergate?
Others have mentioned aspects of Ford’s legacy – inflation, Squeaky Fromme and Sara Jane Moore, Chevy Chase and the klutz image, Betty Ford and her focus on the issue of substance abuse, etc. I would add his post-presidency friendship with Jimmy Carter, but judging from the reaction to the Clinton-Bush friendship, that’s already been completely forgotten.
Taylor was also a Mexican War hero, IIRC.
Oh, and another thing-the assassins who shot at him were members of the Manson family. At least, Squeaky Fromme was.
A case could be made that the nation would have been better healed by the sight of Nixon hanging in chains from the White House portico. (Yes, I’m still holding a grudge. Why do you ask?)
That said, I think history’s judgement of Ford will be: mostly harmless. Presidents have had worse legacies.
I’ll always remember Ford as the guy who wore those ridiculous WIN (Whip Inflation Now) lapel buttons.
That and his boring speeched.
A footnote to history.
Nixon’s original VP, Spiro Agnew, resigned after pleading “no contest” to corruption charges in Maryland in 1973. Nixon was able to appoint a VP, subject to approval of both houses of Congress. He chooses Rep. Gerald Ford, the House Minority Leader. Ford had a good reputation and was confirmed with minimal trouble.
Cut ahead to Aug 9, 1974, Nixon resigns, Ford takes over as president. Ford pardons Nixon on 9/9/74.
People don’t like this.
Ford appoints Nelson Rockefeller VP. He is finally sworn in in December 1974. During the interim period, Speaker Carl Albert is next in line.
Ford decides to run for office in his own right in 1976. He barely edges out Ronald Reagan and then loses to Jimmy Carter in a very tight election.
Ford goes into retirement and becomes really wealthy serving on lots of corporate boards and making speeches.
Gerry: Hi! Pleased to meet you, I just moved in. My name is Gerry
Ford.
Homer: [gasps] Former President Gerald Ford? Put her there! I’m Homer
Simpson!
Gerry: Say, Homer, do you like football?
Homer: Do I ever!
Gerry: Do you like nachos?
Homer: Yes, Mr. Ford.
Gerry: Well, why don’t you come over and watch the game, and we’ll have
nachos? And then, some beer.
Homer: Ooh!
[they walk across the street]
Gerry, I think you and I are going to get along just –
[they both trip]
Both: D’oh!
I think Ford has a lot of historical context, particularly in connection with Watergate. It’s not just that he became president without being elected; it’s that he became vice president after Agnew’s resignation, that he became president, and that he pardoned Nixon. Don’t most American history classes have a unit on Watergate?