To those who remember : What kind of president was Gerald Ford ?

Question

Did you like him ?

Answer 1

He was a President who did the following that Liberals (and the other people answering) have failed to mention.

He gave complete amnesty to anyone who illegally fled the U.S. to avoid military service in Vietnam.

Doesn't sound very "neocon" to me.

Do you REALLY think that he would have been selected to replace Agnew, if they did not now that he would indeed become President and pardon Nixon?

The Washington elite, on both sides, had taken a beating for a decade between Vietnam and Watergate. And the last thing ANYONE on Capitol Hill wanted to see was a President go to jail. But it was a great thing to chastise Ford for being the man who actually had to do it.

Answer 2

Ford was a good, decent man. He was conservative. He was a quiet man, who didn't like drawing attention to himself, especially after he left office. He may be remembered most for pardoning Richard Nixon. That probably cost him the election against Carter. It was right for the country as it allowed us to move on from the Watergate scandal and not have to put up with a bunch of hearings, but it wasn't a popular decision. He knew it wouldn't be popular, but did it any way because he thought it was the right thing to do.

He had some foreign policy success as well, the greatest perhaps being creation of the G7 meetings.

He will be remembered as a good man, who brought the country together after Vietnam and Watergate. He wasn't a great president, but a good one.

Answer 3

Gerald Ford was a good president for ably leading the US after the Watergate fiasco. It was a time when Russia could attack the US knowing that there is a crisis in leadership but it was prevented because of President Ford.

Answer 4

I remember everyone joked about him falling down, so the press were always trying to catch pictures of him stumbling (poor guy). As a past football player, I doubt he was any more clumsy than anyone, truth be known.

I was too young to know more than the stereotype, though.

He pardoned Nixon, which as an adult I kind of understand. It let the country move on. However, it was a big deal at the time.

By the way, I just saw the article reprint of when Nixon resigned and Ford took over, if you are interested:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2002/06/03/AR2005033108821.html

Answer 5

I thought Ford was a nice guy and an adequate president.

I hated that he gave his boss Nixon a pardon though! That is why he was never elected president! I can't recall any others that served out a term of a president and was not ever elected.

He also got the untrue rumor that he was clumsy, though he did fall down the stairs of Air Force 1.

If it weren't for the Nixon pardon I would have voted for him!

Answer 6

A man that put his country before himself. A dignified man with a wonderful sense of humor. A man put in an impossible position by President Nixon. A man that did all he could do.

edit: President Ford HAD to pardon President Nixon. In the interest of National Security. NOT to save Nixon, to save America! Can you imagine Nixon on the witness stand?

Answer 7

Ford was a good president with Honor and Integrity....just the kind of President that Goerge Bush should be too....but you know what? Bush will never come close to Ford because he's too much of a "scumbag"

Answer 8

Less than average. But better than Nixon.

Answer 9

He was a great President, he did what was best for our country.

Answer 10

Im too young to really remember, but from what Ive heard I dont dislike him.

He was probably far better than jimmy carter.