That's 2 (Gerald Ford) - Page 2

Alex · 12-27-2006, 12:03 PM

I don't think Nixon's pardon was the right thing to do. But in the end it was probably the best thing to do in terms of the "psychological" health of the nation.

RStar, I'd have to look again at which presidents died in June and July and where they lived at the time. Back in the age before AC, summers were hell for old people in many parts of the country.

Scrooge McSam · 12-27-2006, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lizziebith

All I remember was how annoyed I was at his pardon of Nixon.

Be comforted, lizziebith. Since the Kennedy's gave him an award a few years back, we're not supposed to be annoyed by that memory anymore.

I do feel sorry for Ms. Ford. I always liked her. She courageously kicked her own destructive addictions and then made it possible for others to follow.

innerSpaceman · 12-27-2006, 12:56 PM

Yes, hear, hear regarding Mrs. Ford. She was more admirable a first lady, imo, than Ford was a president. I remember his presidency quite well. The fact that, aside from the infamous Pardon, he really did nothing too egregiously aggravating ... that makes him, perhaps, the best president of my lifetime (which stretches back to Eisenhower, btw). For all that, I don't hold the man in paricularly high regard. It's not enough to do no harm. I expect much more than that from the President of the United States.

That "do no harm" is the best we've ever gotten does not make Ford our finest chief executive. But at least my natural feelings of sadness at his passing are not conflicted with the loathing and glee I'm likely to feel at the death of any given U.S. president.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

Ford is the second president to die the day after Christmas. Harry Truman did so as well back in 1972. The all time record for a date is three with Jefferson, Adams, and Monroe all dying on July 4. The only other date to have more than one is March 8 sharing Howard Taft and Millard Fillmore.

Jefferson and Adams died on the very same July 4 (in 1826) - probably a singular record. Thanks for all the pres-mortal trivia, Alex!

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Alex · 12-27-2006, 01:23 PM

Yes, and according to legend when Adams died his last words were "Jefferson survives." He, of course, was unaware that Jefferson had died hours earlier.

This is likely a bit of historical mythology, though. All that's known for sure is that he said "Thomas Jefferson" shortly before dying, the context was unintelligible.

innerSpaceman · 12-27-2006, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

This is likely a bit of historical mythology, though. All that's known for sure is that he said "Thomas Jefferson" shortly before dying, the context was unintelligible.

But mythology supported by more than mere conjecture. There was a vein running through correspondence between the two men about "holding on" until the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. It's likely as not to have been the subject of Adams' dying ponderances about T.Jefferson.

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Tref · 12-27-2006, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

Yes, and according to legend when Adams died his last words were "Jefferson survives." He, of course, was unaware that Jefferson had died hours earlier ...

Ironically, Gerald Ford's last words were, "the Godfather of Soul survives ..."

JWBear · 12-26-2006, 11:00 PM

Rest in peace, Mr President. I wish we had more people like you in office now.

mousepod · 12-26-2006, 11:05 PM

I was less than 10 years old when Ford became president. As sick as it sounds, whenever I think of Ford, the first image that pops into my mind is the back cover of a Mad Magazine (#172) from 1975:

Once I got a little older, it was Chevy Chase on SNL reruns that gave me another picture of Ford.
I honestly have no real first-hand memories of him as a president, while I have strong memories of both Nixon and Carter. Watching the coverage right now on MSNBC... I'm still not having any "oh yeah" moments - except that he was a member of the Warren Commission.

Bornieo: Fully Loaded · 12-26-2006, 11:15 PM

What I recall were mostly the "jokes." The David Fry "First Family" LP albums were huge for me as a kid. The biggest association with Ford, besides the Nixon "thing," was the fact he was always falling down (or at least so, according to the running jokes.) Well, I guess he's taken his final dive. RIP

sleepyjeff · 12-27-2006, 02:13 AM

http://writingcompany.blogs.com/this...ord_cheney.jpg

Ford with both his first and second Chief of Staffs......

12-27-2006, 01:23 PM	#4
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	Yes, and according to legend when Adams died his last words were "Jefferson survives." He, of course, was unaware that Jefferson had died hours earlier. This is likely a bit of historical mythology, though. All that's known for sure is that he said "Thomas Jefferson" shortly before dying, the context was unintelligible.
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12-26-2006, 11:00 PM	#7
JWBear Worn Romantic Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Long Beach California Posts: 8,435	Rest in peace, Mr President. I wish we had more people like you in office now. __________________ Unrestrained frivolity will lead to the downfall of modern society.
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12-26-2006, 11:05 PM	#8
mousepod You broke your Ramadar! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,635	I was less than 10 years old when Ford became president. As sick as it sounds, whenever I think of Ford, the first image that pops into my mind is the back cover of a Mad Magazine (#172) from 1975: Once I got a little older, it was Chevy Chase on SNL reruns that gave me another picture of Ford. I honestly have no real first-hand memories of him as a president, while I have strong memories of both Nixon and Carter. Watching the coverage right now on MSNBC... I'm still not having any "oh yeah" moments - except that he was a member of the Warren Commission. __________________ "Give the public everything you can give them, keep the place as clean as you can keep it, keep it friendly" - Walt Disney
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12-26-2006, 11:15 PM	#9
Bornieo: Fully Loaded Lego Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Disneyland, USA Posts: 3,704	What I recall were mostly the "jokes." The David Fry "First Family" LP albums were huge for me as a kid. The biggest association with Ford, besides the Nixon "thing," was the fact he was always falling down (or at least so, according to the running jokes.) Well, I guess he's taken his final dive. RIP
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12-27-2006, 02:13 AM	#10
sleepyjeff Go Hawks Go! Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Parkrose Posts: 2,632	http://writingcompany.blogs.com/this...ord_cheney.jpg Ford with both his first and second Chief of Staffs...... __________________ River Guardian-less
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12-27-2006, 12:03 PM	#1
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	I don't think Nixon's pardon was the right thing to do. But in the end it was probably the best thing to do in terms of the "psychological" health of the nation. RStar, I'd have to look again at which presidents died in June and July and where they lived at the time. Back in the age before AC, summers were hell for old people in many parts of the country.
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