Gerald Ford: America’s Only Unelected President

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[BrandonJXN]

One of my favorite Gerald Ford quotes:

'I'm a Ford. Not a Lincoln.'

[Mushroom]

No mention of Willis Ward?

A black player at Michigan, he was also Ford's roommate. When Georgia Tech refused to play a game if Willis played, Ford threatened to quit the team. He was a staunch advocate for equal rights even in College.

[Foul_Ghoul]

He might’ve been President by dumb luck, but I think the USA got lucky that it was Ford.
We all know we could’ve gotten a lot worse on that dice roll

[pdennis]

"Well you voted for him Red"
"Kitty, nobody voted for him"

- that 70s show

[bethanyr]

I'm from Grand Rapids Michigan. We have the GR Ford Airport, presidential museum, GR Ford Freeway, and many other things named after the man. There is definitely a pride from having a president come from your hometown!

[santiagomagana]

Kitty: "How can you say that you voted for Gerald Ford."
Red: "Kitty no one voted for Gerald Ford"

[thorpeaaron]

Just imagine if Gerald Ford took the football contracts and went to be a famous football player

[liveride]

He got a whole super carrier class named after him. That’s a hell of a thing!!

[jeffreydudgeon]

If folks want a really telling story about the character of the man, watch the documentary Black and Blue. It is the story of how he almost quit the Michigan football team because during the 1934 home game against Georgia Tech there was a demand that Michigan bench their black starting running back Willis Ward. And Ford pretty much said "if you bench Willis you can count me out."

[RGC-gnnm]

Met him once as a young pfc in the army. Nicest man, he actually spoke to me. Very uncommon for the era.

[lionelmason]

I disagree with Ford on almost every political issue. But in terms of being a good person, he's in the top 3 best human beings to ever hold the office.

[Finny]

My aunt was his secretary after his presidential term. My grandpa and Ford used to golf together a lot.

[nigel_saxon]

Gerald Ford: Say, Homer, do you like football?
Homer Simpson: Do I ever!
Gerald Ford: Do you like nachos?
Homer Simpson: Yes, Mr. Ford.
Gerald Ford: Well, why don't you come over and watch the game and we'll have nachos, and then some beer.

[eventhat]

I had the opportunity to shake hands with President Ford not once but twice. First was during the 1976 Election Campaign. I found out he was going to have a rally at the Rochester, NY airport and begged my parents to take me (A two hour drive round trip). It was pouring rain, but an estimated 10, 000 supporters were there cheering as Air Force One landed. We were right up at the front of the receiving line, and for a 12 year old kid, I was thrilled beyond belief when he passed by and grabbed my hand.

24 years later, I attended a dinner in his honor at my undergraduate alma mater. I sat at the next table. As soon as the dinner was over, I thrust my Kodak disposable camera into the hands of the University President and said "Take my picture with President Ford." I introduced myself, telling him I was a fellow left-hander and Eagle Scout, and reminded him of the Rochester event. He recalled it fondly, and now on my wall, I have a cherished photo of the both us looking at each other and shaking hands.

In addition, I have a signed photo and a signed letter he sent me in response to a letter I had written to him years earlier, thanking him for getting me interested in a public policy career.

He was the right man at the right time.

[knutthompson]

He was by all estimations a good guy. And loyal almost to a fault. Also, he was probably the most athletic president.

[anarchyantz]

Can you do one on Joe Medicine Crow. He was a Native American writer, historian and war chief of the Crow Nation and the last Plains Indian war chief, which he managed to achieve while serving in WWII completing all four tasks required to become a war chief: touching an enemy without killing him (counting coup), taking an enemy's weapon, leading a successful war party, and stealing an enemy's horse and this is only part of this True Native American Badass.



No bone spurs here.

[SuzysRedStripes]

I remember when he died. I had a president obsession, and when I saw that the flag was half-staff at school, I asked my dad if one of them had died. My parents are still upset to this day over the fact that the teacher didn't tell us. I still don't have the heart to explain to them that it's probably not standard kindergarten protocol to talk about a dead president. (If they can avoid it, at least.)

[adamcahoon]

My grandfather had a saying: “Ford was the best president we ever had. Because after watergate we didn’t let him do a damn thing.”

[jeremyronald]

As a native Michigander, I have been to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum a good number of times. If you ever get the chance to go to it, I highly recommend going.

[allanlank]

Bonus Fact: While playing for the University of Michigan, Gerald Ford threatened to quit if the university acquiesced to Georgia Tech and not play Willis Ward, a black player on the Michigan team. Mr. Ward did not play in that game but convinced Mr. Ford that defeating Georgia Tech on the field would be better than quitting. Michigan won the game 9-2.