[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 98 (Monday, July 16, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7681-S7683]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE TO PRESIDENT GERALD R. FORD
Mr. LUGAR. Madam President, former Congressman, Vice President and
President Gerald R. Ford turned 88 on July 14. A birthday tribute to
our 38th President was written by White House correspondent Trude B.
Feldman for the New York Times Syndicate; and it includes reflections
by former Presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan, given to Ms.
Feldman for Gerald Ford's 80th birthday. I ask unanimous consent that
the article be printed in the Record.
President Ford was a healing force at a time of much greater
political upheaval than we have today. The lessons to us today are
that: disagreements should not become divisive; and political revenge
is a vicious cycle without winners.
Most important, as President Ford reiterates in this interview, is
that ``truth is the glue that holds government together--not only our
government, but civilization itself.''
He tells Ms. Feldman, who has also written numerous articles on Mr.
Ford and his family for McCall's Magazine, that his main ambition was
to become Speaker of the House of Representatives ``because the
legislative process interested me and was the kind of challenge I
enjoyed . . .''
Gerald Ford concluded this interview--which I recommend to my
colleagues and our staff--with his beliefs that during his 29 months as
President, he had steered the U.S. out of a period of turmoil, making
it possible to move from despair to a renewed national unity of purpose
and progress. ``I also reestablished a working relationship between the
White House and Congress, one that had been ruptured,'' he notes. ``All
that made an important difference. I consider that to be my greatest
accomplishment as President.''
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
[From the New York Times]
Gerald R. Ford At 88: A Birthday Tribute
(By Trude B. Feldman)
On July 14, Gerald R. Ford will celebrate his 88th
birthday. Having fully recovered from a stroke last August,
the former president says he is now in excellent health--
alert, active and keeping up with world affairs.
Asked--in a birthday interview--how he feels about turning
88, he says: ``Age doesn't bother me. I'm not as mobile as I
was 25 years ago, but I feel fortunate to still have my zest
for life. I have more enthusiasm now because of the care I
take of myself. I follow a good diet, I don't smoke or drink,
and I keep busy.''
In association with the American Enterprise Institute, one
of Washington, D.C.'s leading think tanks, Mr. Ford
established--in 1982--the AEI World Forum which he hosts
annually in Beaver Creek, Colorado.
The forum is a gathering of former and current
international world leaders, business and financial
executives and government officials who discuss political and
economic issues.
This year--in late June--the participants included Valery
Giscard d'Estaing, former President of France; former Vice
President and Premier of the Republic of China, Chan Lien;
and Richard Cheney, Vice President of the United States, who
was a former Chief of Staff to President Ford and Secretary
of Defense in the first Bush administration.
On May 21st, at the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum in
Boston, Mass., Mr. Ford was the recipient of the John F.
Kennedy Profile In Courage Award. Presented by the former
President's daughter, Caroline, and his brother, Senator
Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), the award cites President Ford's
courage in making the controversial decision of conscience to
pardon former President Richard M. Nixon.
Twenty seven years ago on August 9, 1974, Richard Nixon
resigned the presidency of the U.S. and Vice President Ford
became the 38th president. A month later (September 8),
President Ford granted a ``full, free and absolute pardon''
to Nixon ``for all offenses against the U.S. which he . . .
has committed or may have committed or taken part in'' while
he was president.
Today, Mr. Ford concedes that he did not expect such a
``hostile'' reaction. ``That was one of the greatest
disappointments of my presidency,'' he told me. ``Everyone
focused on the individual instead of on the problems the
nation faced. I thought people would consider Richard Nixon's
resignation sufficient punishment, even shame. I expected
more forgiveness.''
In accepting the Profile In Courage Award, Mr. Ford told
members of the Kennedy family and some 250 guests: ``No
doubt, arguments over the Nixon pardon will continue for as
long as historians relive those tumultuous days. But I'd be
less than human if I didn't tell you how profoundly grateful
I am for this recognition. The Award Committee has displayed
its own brand of courage . . . But here, courage is
contagious.
``To know John Kennedy, as I did, was to understand the
true meaning of the word. He understood that courage is not
something to be gauged in a poll or located in a focus group.
No adviser can spin it. No historian can back date it. For,
in the age old contest between popularity and principle, only
those willing to lose for their convictions are deserving of
posterity's approval.''
Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg said the award was inspired by
her father's Pulitzer Prize winning book, Profiles In Courage
(first published in 1955 by Harper & Row) and was
``instituted to celebrate his life and belief that political
courage must be valued and honored. And that Gerald Ford had
proved that politics can be a noble profession. . . .''
Sen. Kennedy said President Ford had ``withstood the heat
of controversy and persevered in his beliefs about what was
in our country's best interest. History has proved him right.
``At a time of national turmoil, our nation was fortunate
that he was prepared to take over the helm of the storm-
tossed ship of state. He recognized that the nation had to
get on with its business and could not, if there was a
continuing effort to prosecute former President Nixon. So
President Ford made a tough decision and pardoned him.
``I was one of those who spoke out against his action. But
time has a way of clarifying things, and now we see that
President Ford was right.''
General Alexander M. Haig Jr., Mr. Nixon's White House
Chief of Staff, concurs. ``The passage of time has once again
favored the truth and Gerald Ford has rightfully emerged as
one of our nation's most courageous leaders,'' he told me in
an interview, adding:
``Despite the risks, President Ford performed a singular
and selfless act of courage. Almost 30 years have passed
since ``Watergate'' and the scurrilous accusation that then
Vice President Ford had made or considered a secret deal with
President Nixon--
[[Page S7682]]
through me--which traded the presidency of the U.S. for the
pardon of Richard Nixon.
Gen. Haig, also one of Ronald Reagan's Secretaries of
State, went on to say that the source of this accusation came
from individuals who claimed to be acting in the best
interests of President Ford, but, that, actually, it was well
recognized at the time that the politics surrounding
``Watergate'' would lead to either the impeachment or the
resignation of President Nixon.
``Those who fed the rumors of a deal were actually damaging
the reputation, if not the judgment, of our nation's first
non-elected president,'' General Haig recalls. ``Having
personally informed Vice President Ford of President Nixon's
intention to resign, I knew then, and now, that rumors of a
deal were wrong-headed or worse. If believed, they would have
the consequence of belittling what I have since referred to
as a Cincinnatian act of moral courage by President Ford.
``Years later, the Nixon pardon must rank with the most
courageous acts of a sitting president. President Ford,
almost alone, notwithstanding the advice of some of his most
intimate advisors, recognized that the nation could not risk
further prolongation of the `Watergate' controversy and that
the very effectiveness of his presidency was at stake.''
Jack Anderson, long-time columnist for United Features and
Washington Editor of Parade Magazine, remembers Gerald Ford
from his days in Congress. ``He was never pumped up with self
importance,'' Mr. Anderson says. ``Even after he became
President, I was able to telephone him, leave a message, and
he would return my calls, without a secretary.''
Jack Anderson adds: ``Even though I was number one on
Richard Nixon's `enemies list,' I agreed with President
Ford's pardon of Mr. Nixon because I had learned that he was
then in poor psychological condition. . . . It took great
political courage to grant the pardon--against public will.
So President Ford did what was best for Mr. Nixon and our
country rather than what was best for himself. . . .''
Cong. Henry A. Waxman, (D. Calif--29th district), ranking
Democrat on the Governmental Reform and Oversight Committee
and on the Energy and Commerce Committee, remembers that when
he first came to Congress in Jan., 1975, Gerald Ford was
President of the U.S.
``At the time, I was critical of his pardon of Richard
Nixon,'' Rep. Waxman told me. ``But, looking back now,
President Ford took the right action for our country, and I
believe history will show him as a president who helped bring
the country together.''
As a freshman Congressman, Gerald Ford was presented with
the American Political Science Association's Distinguished
Public Service Award by Ambassador Max M. Kampelman, who
today recalls Mr. Ford's rise to the top--``where he well
served America at a time of crisis . . . and the `Profile In
Courage' Award is a late, but well-deserved recognition.''
Ambassador Kampelman, currently at the Georgetown
University Institute for Study of Diplomacy, was the head of
the American delegation to the Conference on Security and
Cooperation in Europe (1980-3).
During our interview at Washington, D.C.'s Willard Inter-
Continental Hotel, Mr. Ford was in an expansive mood while
reviewing his life's journey. He evaluated his achievements
and assessed the setbacks of his time in the Oval Office, and
he reflected on the highs and lows of his 53 years in
political life.
What does Gerald Ford most regret as he looks back over a
long and distinguished career?
``Well, I wish I were a better public speaker,'' he allows.
``I would have liked to be able to communicate more
effectively. That is so very important.''
He also regrets not having fulfilled his ambition of
becoming Speaker of the House of Representatives. ``I lost
five times,'' he laments. ``There were not, then, enough
Republicans in the House. I wanted to be Speaker because the
legislative process interested me, and was the kind of
challenge I enjoyed. I was never as enthusiastic about being
in the executive branch. I even turned down the chance to run
for governor of Michigan.''
In fact, he had made plans to retire from Congress in
January, 1977. But in 1973, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew's
legal and campaign finance problems surfaced; and when he was
forced to resign, Rep. Ford was selected as vice president.
Two years ago at the White House, President William
Jefferson Clinton presented Gerald Ford with the Presidential
Medal of Freedom (America's highest civilian award) for his
legacy of healing and restored hope. ``From his days as a
student and athlete, Gerald Ford was destined for
leadership,'' Mr. Clinton noted. ``He was an outstanding
player on the Michigan football team in a segregated era, and
his horror at the discrimination to which one of his
teammates was subjected, spawned in him a life-long
commitment to equal rights for all people. He represents what
is best in public service and what is best about America.
``. . .When steady, trustworthy Gerald Ford left the White
House after 895 days, America was stronger, calmer, and more
confident . . . more like President Ford himself.''
Two months later, (October 1999) in a U.S. Capitol Rotunda
ceremony, both Gerald Ford and his wife, Betty, were
presented with the Congressional Gold Medal, Congress's
highest civilian honor. (He became the first former president
to be so honored during his lifetime, and the event marked
the first time a president and first lady were honored
together.)
Cong. Vernon J. Ehlers (R. Mich), who introduced the
legislation to award the medals, said they are a token of
appreciation from Congress for the former First Couple's
years of sacrifice and contributions . . . ``They are living
examples of truly great Americans. . . .''
Another speaker was President Clinton, who, after lauding
Gerald Ford for his achievements, turned to him and revealed:
``When you made your healing decision, you made the Democrats
and Liberals angry one day, and you made the Conservatives
angry the next day. . . . I was then a young politician
trying to get elected to Congress. It was easy for us to
criticize you because we were caught up in the moment. You
didn't get caught up in the moment . . . and you were right .
. . You were right about the controversial decisions you made
to keep the country together and I thank you for that.''
Donald H. Rumsfeld, U.S. Ambassador to NATO (1973) and one
of Mr. Ford's White House Chiefs of Staff and Defense
Secretary (1975-1977), who is now again Secretary of Defense,
told me that Gerald Ford's basic human decency ``helped to
replenish the reservoir of trust for our country and I'm
delighted that the enormous contributions he made are being
recognized.''
After a taste of the presidency, Mr. Ford still does not
hide his disappointment at losing the 1976 election to Jimmy
Carter. ``As you well know,'' Mr. Ford notes, ``I tried very
hard to win that election. That would have given me a chance
to expand individual freedom from mass government, mass
industry, mass labor, and mass education.''
Despite that election, former Presidents Ford and Carter
are close friends and co-sponsors of various conferences on
world affairs at the Carter Center in Atlanta. And, on the
occasion of Gerald Ford's 88th birthday, Jimmy Carter today
reflects:
``The recent Profile In Courage Award and the Presidential
Medal of Freedom are long overdue recognition of Gerald
Ford's importance to our nation. He was a strong leader
during a time of great challenge, and his just and noble
decisions may well have cost him the election. In the years
since then, he and I have worked together on a number of
issues. Each time we do so, I am reminded anew of our
country's good fortune to have been led by a man of such
principled convictions. Not only do we share the special
bonds of the presidency, but I am also proud to claim Gerald
Ford as my friend.''
Eight years ago, for my feature on Gerald Ford's 80th
birthday, another former president, Ronald Reagan, who
narrowly lost the 1976 presidential nomination to him, told
me: ``First, I can tell Jerry that turning 80 doesn't hurt at
all. Kidding aside, Jerry is an independent thinker and down
to earth. He is not impressed with his own importance. That
humility has stood him in good stead.
``He climbed to the top of his profession without wavering
from his principles. When respect for government officials
had begun to wane, he was, and still is, held in high
regard.''
For that same birthday tribute, former President Nixon told
me that he had met Representative Ford in 1949 when he was
sworn in to Congress. ``I was then a representative from
California, and for all these years, we remained good
friends,'' Mr. Nixon said. ``In an illustrious career, he
became an eminent statesman, and as my vice president, he was
an asset.
``Because he understood members of Congress, he was able to
encourage them, to appeal to their best qualities and to
unite them for the common good. He was admired for his
decency and his respect for each individual's rights. And so
this milestone gives me the chance to express my gratitude to
Jerry Ford for all the good he has done for our nation . .
.''
When Gerald Ford became president, he was faced with an
overwhelmingly Democratic Congress. He recalls that he
``struggled repeatedly'' over such issues as government
spending, presidential war powers and oversight of the
intelligence community. He also advocated reducing the size
and role of the federal government through cuts in taxes and
spending, paperwork reduction and government deregulation.
In foreign affairs, he recalls, his administration
emphasized stronger relationships with American allies,
encouraged detente with the Soviet Union, and made progress
in negotiating with the Soviets on nuclear weapons. With
French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing, he initiated
annual international economic summits of the major developed
economic nations. In the face of bitter opposition, President
Ford signed the Helsinki Final Act, for the first time giving
the issue of human rights a real ``bite'' inside the Soviet
bloc, which eventually led directly to Eastern Europe
throwing off the shackles of communism. His administration
initiated the second Sinai disengagement agreement, further
separating Israeli and Egyptian forces and reducing tensions
in the Middle East. It also directed the final withdrawal of
Americans and refugees from Indochina at the end of the
Vietnam War.
President Ford recalls that the saddest day of his
presidency was April 30, 1975, ``when we had to pull our
troops out of Saigon and withdraw from South Vietnam, which
soon surrendered to the North Vietnamese.''
[[Page S7683]]
Asked whether foreign affairs is more pressing today than
during his White House tenure, he says, ``I don't think it is
any more important than when we were faced daily with the
nuclear challenge from another superpower--the Soviet Union.
Those were tense days.
``Yes, we have problems today in Europe, the Mideast and
elsewhere. But they are no more serious than the Cold War
days--with all the challenges that then existed.''
Mr. Ford points out that President Nixon's skillful
maneuvering in the Mideast will go down in the annals of
great diplomacy. ``In foreign policy,'' he says, ``Richard
Nixon is unequaled by any other American president in this
century.''
How was the presidency evolved since Gerald Ford left the
White House 24\1/2\ years ago? ``The office changes with each
president,'' he says. ``Each occupant defines the role and
his responsibilities. In my case, I tried to make a
difference in my leadership.''
He went on to say that he learned about leadership and
making decisions while serving as an officer in the US Navy
during World War II. ``I think,'' he adds, ``I was a better
vice president and president because of that military
service.''
He notes that there is ``a majesty'' to the presidency that
inhibits even close friends and heads of state from telling
the chief executive what is actually on their minds--
especially in the Oval Office.
``You can ask for blunt truth, but the guarded response
never varies,'' he says. ``To keep perspective, any president
needs to hear straight talk. And he should, at times, come
down from the pedestal the office provides.
``I'm still convinced that truth is the glue that holds
government together--not only our government, but
civilization itself.''
From his experiences, he cautions future presidents about
general abuse of power and the dangers of over-reliance on
staff.
At the outset of President Bill Clinton's first term, there
was criticism of his staff and operation of his White House.
Mr. Ford then expressed sympathy for a president undergoing
periods of anxiety and disarray, even turmoil.
He noted that he, too, had problems with staff
mismanagement. Today, he is still concerned about the image
of the presidency, and still concerned that a solution has
not been found about overzealous White House employees who
are not instructed, from the outset, that they work for the
president and for the people--and not the other way around.
He maintains that staff assistants are not elected by the
people, and that the president himself needs to determine how
much trust to invest in his aides. ``Otherwise,'' he
emphasizes, ``the ramifications and the consequences of their
arrogance and abuse of power--particularly by secondary
and lower staff--can be dangerous.''
Mr. Ford concurs with one of President Lyndon B. Johnson's
press secretaries, George E. Reedy, who wrote in his book,
``The Twilight of the Presidency'': ``Presidents should not
hire any assistants under 40 years old who had not suffered
any major disappointments in life. When young amateurs find
themselves in the West Wing or East Wing of the White House,
they begin to think they are little tin gods . . .''
In his autobiography, ``A Time to Heal,'' Mr. Ford wrote:
``Reedy had left the White House staff several years before,
but he was predicting the climate that had led to
`Watergate.' And that is disturbing.''
Born in 1913 in Omaha, Nebraska, to Dorothy Gardner and
Leslie Lynch King Jr., Gerald Ford was christened Leslie L.
King Jr. His parents divorced when he was two years old. He
moved with his mother to Grand Rapids, Mich., where she
married Gerald Rudolph Ford, who later adopted the child and
gave him his name, Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr.
If he were able to relive his 88 years, what would he do
differently?
``I would make no significant changes,'' he says. ``I've
been lucky, both in my personal life and professionally.
Along the way I tried to improve myself by learning something
new in each of the jobs I held. I've witnessed more than my
share of miracles . . . I've witnessed the defeat of Nazi
tyranny and the destruction of hateful walls that once
divided free men from those enslaved.
``. . . It has been a grand adventure and I have been
blessed every step by a loving wife and supportive family.''
He says he will never forget one of the family's worst days
in the White House . . . six weeks after they moved in,
``Betty received a diagnosis of breast cancer,'' he recalls.
``But her courage in going public with her condition . . .
and her candor about her mastectomy increased awareness of
the need of examination for early detection, saving countless
women's lives.''
Six years later (1980), former President and Mrs. Ford
dedicated The Betty Ford Diagnostic and Comprehensive Breast
Center, in Washington, D.C. (part of Columbia Hospital for
Women). The Center's former director, Dr. Katherine Alley, a
renowned breast cancer surgeon, says today: ``As one of the
first women of note to go public with her cancer diagnosis
and treatment, Betty Ford helped women to face the disease
more openly and with less fear.''
Turning to his philosophy of life, Mr. Ford says: ``I've
always been an optimist and still am. Yes, I suffered a few
disappointments and defeats, but I tried to forget about
those, and keep a positive attitude. When I was in sports and
lost a game by error, or in the political arena, when I lost
by a narrow margin, no amount of groaning would do any good.
So I don't dwell on the past. I learned to move on and look
ahead.''
Much as he had yearned to be elected president in his own
right in 1976, Gerald Ford is confident that history will
record that he ``healed America at a very difficult time.''
He believes that his presidential leadership for 29 months
had steered the U.S. out of that period of turmoil, making it
possible to move from despair to a renewed national unity of
purpose and progress.
``I also re-established a working relationship between the
White House and Congress, one that had been ruptured,'' he
concludes. ``All that made an important difference. I
consider that to be my greatest accomplishment as president,
and I hope historians will record that as my legacy.''
____________________