Gerald Ford Interview: His Greatest Achievement and Disappointment in Office

President Gerald Ford recalls his “superb” family upbringing, his time in the Navy, and how being an athlete gave him perspective on winning and losing. He discusses Vietnam, the pardon of Richard Nixon, attempts on his life, and his greatest achievement and greatest disappointment as president.

Gerald R. Ford, 38th President of the United States, was born in Omaha, Nebraska, July 14, 1913. He attended public schools in Grand Rapids, Michigan; received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan in 1935; and an LL.B. from Yale University Law School in 1941. He received all-city and all-state football honors in Grand Rapids during high school, and he was a member of the University of Michigan's national championship football teams in 1932 and 1933. In 1934 he was named the University of Michigan's most valuable player. He served as assistant varsity football coach at Yale while a law student there. In 1942 he entered the U.S. Navy, serving almost four years during World War II and participated in 3rd and 5th carrier operations aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Monterey for two years. He was discharged in 1946 as a Lt.Commander and resumed the practice of law. He married Elizabeth Bloomer on October 15, 1948. They were the parents of four children. President Ford was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1948 and re-elected every two years through 1972, serving 25 years in the House. He was elected Chairman of the Republican Conference in 1963, and chosen Minority Leader in 1965, a position he held in the 89th, 90th and 1st Session of the 93rd Congresses. He also was permanent chairman of the 1968 and 1972 Republican National Conventions. In November 1963, he was made a member of the Presidential Commission investigating the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and authored (with John R. Stiles) the book, Portrait of the Assassin (1965). President Ford was nominated Vice President on October 12, 1973, to succeed Spiro T. Agnew, who resigned, and was confirmed December 6. He succeeded to the Presidency August 9, 1974, following the resignation of Richard Nixon. The Presidency of Gerald Ford is defined by his personal integrity and unbending adherence to the truth. President Ford won the Republican nomination for the Presidency in 1976, but lost the election to his democratic opponent, Jimmy Carter. On Inauguration Day, President Carter began his speech: “For myself and our Nation, I want to thank my predecessor for all he has done to heal our land. President Ford passed away December 26, 2006.

Gerald Ford, 38th U.S. President
Interviewed By: Hugh Sidey
Interview Date: October 22, 1996

Chapter Markers:
Political Ambition (0:35)
Committee on Public Works & Truman (2:16)
Dwight D. Eisenhower (4:43)
John F. Kennedy (5:40)
The Warren Commission (6:52)
Lyndon B. Johnson (8:33)
House of Representatives (10:06)
Richard Nixon & Watergate (11:24)
Becoming Vice President (15:44)
Difficult Times in the Nixon White House (18:29)
The Smoking Gun (20:24)
Becoming President (21:12)
Escorting Nixon from the White House (25:10)
Pardoning Nixon (28:31)
Dealing with Criticism (33:55)
Vietnam & Amnesty (35:32)
Election Against Jimmy Carter (42:07)
Early Life (45:15)
Joining the Navy (48:40)
Greatest Achievements & Disappointments (50:46)

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[travisdean]

He didn’t even want to be Vice President or President, but he took on the responsibilities. He did the best he could with the hand he was dealt. Someone on here left a damn novel for a comment that just beats Ford down. My question to that individual is this…..with the same circumstances, could you have done better? If so, get your name on the ticket and show us all how great you are.

[blinkzone]

The thing I admired about President Ford was that he was so laid back

[corinnehernandez]

This is interesting. I like listening to the perspective of former president's. I'm surprised more people aren't seeing these videos.

[Thorscauldron]

He was a decent American thrown into a dirty wash. God bless him and America.

[danielpennington]

My dad wrote President Ford a letter after he lost the 1976 election and Mr Ford responded to him. My dad still has the letter Ford wrote him hanging in his office.

[JohnRoland]

Ford was one of my all time favorite POTUS. A true man of integrity, humility and stability.

[TheCarpentersApprentice]

What a great interviewer. Ask question clean & concise then lets the President answer. Doesn’t take time to self aggrandize or make the interview about himself like so many do now. Lots to learn from both the men in this video.

[yellyman]

Thank you for posting this. Gerald Ford was a great man, and a good president.

[RobertGSwan]

President Ford was / is one of my favorite presidents - character, decency and integrity. President Ford would have detested everything about Trump and the MAGA Republicans.

[emmajohnson]

This is really interesting. I never really knew anything about Ford besides the fact that he took over after Nixon resigned and was the only president to never win an election. I’ve always looked him over but he’s certainly worth knowing. All of those stories, he was right in the middle of American history.

[SeanDiVsrco]

God Bless President Ford yes I respect and yes I need to do the right thing and yes it will be done by us and thank you for wisdom and knowledge and yes I need both, thank God Bless President Ford and thank.

[laurencebrooks]

President Ford was a great man who was well liked in Congress and could work bipartisan issues; this is the main reason President Nixon chose him to be the VP after Agnew resigned. History tells us the rest and how Ford became president.

[robertleitch]

President Ford sent a birthday card to my grandmother in the nursing home, wishing her a happy 91st birthday. That really made her feel good and proud that the potus sent her a birthday card.

[anthonydiana]

He placed in office during a difficult time he did a great job, He was giving a job during a scandal and a war and a bad economy .

[jeffearle]

A fine man who was president at just the right moment in our history.

[TomSanderson]

So Lloyd Bentsen did know jack Kennedy! I like the way Hugh sidey does these interviews he let’s them talk

[trannongoble]

Ford was a good man. He was thrown into chaos.

[BishopWalters]

Ford is my favorite President of the last 60 years.

[olgopine]

One of the best guys to be President. Bravo Jerry Ford

[matthewrider]

He... If it wasn't for his pardoning of former President Nixon, if he'd have just waited til AFTER the election of 1976, and to a lesser degree, Betty Ford's being so forthright abt abortion rights & her alcoholism... He would've almost certainly have won a term in his right. I nearly know he would've.