[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 6 (Thursday, January 11, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E75-E76]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         MOURNING THE PASSING OF PRESIDENT GERALD RUDOLPH FORD

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. MICHAEL R. TURNER

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 9, 2007

  Mr. TURNER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support H. Res. 15, a 
resolution honoring the life of President Gerald R. Ford. As America 
remembers President Ford's leadership and service to the American 
people, I offer my condolences to the Ford family.
  While attending former President Ford's funeral, I had the 
opportunity to converse with Dr. David Mathews, a community leader in 
my district. Dr. Mathews served as Secretary of Health, Education and 
Welfare under President Ford and shared with my office some personal 
stories of the President's legacy. Dr. Mathews recalled:


[[Page E76]]


       Ford was a reconciler. While there was a great balance in 
     Ford, he was also tough as nails. He did what he believed the 
     country needed and was never motivated by polls.
       In 1976 one U.S. soldier stationed at Fort Dix died of the 
     swine flu. There was some concern that the potential for an 
     epidemic existed. A panel of the best and brightest 
     scientists of the day was convened. That panel included 
     Doctors Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin, who did much of his 
     research at the University of Cincinnati. Both were pioneers 
     in developing polio vaccines. Some of the panelists counseled 
     the president to quickly begin creating vaccine and getting 
     the word out to the nation. Others thought it prudent not to 
     risk a panic, and wait. President Ford was decisive and 
     unwilling to risk an epidemic, giving the order to produce 
     the vaccine. To emphasize the point President Ford and I 
     received the first and second doses of the vaccine.
       The working relationship and personal friendship between 
     President Ford and I continued after the Ford administration. 
     In the early 1980s, when I became president of the Kettering 
     Foundation, I suggested to Ford that he invite former 
     president Jimmy Carter to the first conference at the Gerald 
     R. Ford Presidential Library. That conference addressed the 
     public's reaction to proposals to strengthen the Nation's 
     Social Security program. The meeting was based on results 
     from a citizens' briefing book prepared for the National 
     Issues Forums.
       Characteristically, President Ford agreed, not just 
     begrudgingly, or acquiescing, he was enthusiastic about 
     inviting Carter . . . That was the first project Presidents 
     Ford and Carter did together. It resulted in a life-long 
     friendship.

  I am pleased to join my colleagues in supporting H. Res. 15 and 
honoring the life of President Ford.

                          ____________________