They always say death comes in threes, which really doesn’t make much sense because if you wait long enough, someone else is going to die eventually. This week I had written about the passing of Senator Robert Stafford. Then on Christmas day, soul legend James Brown passed away. Yesterday, I wrote my “In Memorium – 2006” blog for all those we had lost this year. As I pressed the button to save the blog, I thought to myself “Well, we do still have a few more days in the year – what if someone else dies?” But I convinced myself that it would be okay to go ahead and post the blog a few days early.
As it turns out, we lost a former president before the end of 2006. Former President Gerald Ford died yesterday at the age of 93. Gerald Rudolph Ford, Jr. became our Vice President in 1973 after Spiro Agnew resigned. Ford was the first to be appointed Vice President under the terms outlined in the 25th Amendment. That amendment says if the office of Vice President becomes vacant, the President will nominate a successor and it will be confirmed by a vote in Congress. When Nixon resigned in 1974 as president during the Watergate scandal, Ford became our 38th president, the only one never elected to office by the people.
Ford had his ups and downs as president. We saw our final withdrawal of troops from Vietnam while he was President. Inflation and recession continued to rise during his term. He had many votes overridden by the Congress, which was predominantly filled with Democrats. He also received flak when he pardoned Nixon for his role in Watergate. Ford was the target of two assassination attempts during his brief presidency. Manson follower “Squeaky” Fromme tried to shoot him (for which she was sentenced to life in prison). A mere 17 days later, Sara Jane Moore also attempted to shot President Ford. She too was sentenced to life in prison.
He sought to heal problems he did not create, but Ford only served three years before he lost the 1976 presidential election to Jimmy Carter. The two later formed a close, lifelong friendship.
Ford became the longest-lived President on November 12, 2006, surpassing Ronald Reagan. He is second in living longest past presidency with 29 years and 11 months. Herbert Hoover holds first with 32 years and 7 months.
Official statements about the passing of former President Ford:
In an address to the nation this morning, President Bush referred to him as a “true gentleman” and said ”With his quiet integrity, common sense, and kind instincts, President Ford helped heal our land and restore public confidence in the Presidency.”
Nancy Reagan said she considered him a “dear friend and close political ally.”
Former President Jimmy Carter said Ford was “one of the most admirable public servants and human beings I have ever known.”
Former President Bill Clinton and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton said, “Gerald Ford brought Americans together during a difficult chapter in our history with strength, integrity, and humility.”