    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book II)]
    [December 30, 2006]
    [Pages 2228-2229]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    December 30, 2006

        Good morning. This week, as Americans prepare to welcome a new year,
    we do so with heavy hearts and fond memories of our 38th President,
    Gerald R. Ford. We mourn the passing of a
    courageous leader, a true gentleman, and a loving father and husband. On
    behalf of all Americans, Laura and I send our
    prayers and condolences to Mrs. Ford and
    the entire Ford family.
        Gerald Ford was a great man who devoted
    the best years of his long life to public service. He fought for his
    country during World War II. After returning home, he won the first of
    13 elections to the United States Congress. The people of Michigan
    admired his dedication and decency, and so did his fellow Members of
    Congress. Gerald Ford rose to become a leader of his party, and he
    earned the respect and good will of all who had the privilege of knowing
    him.
        Gerald Ford always believed in the
    importance of answering the call to duty, and he was there for the
    Nation when we needed him most. In December 1973, he accepted the
    responsibilities of the Vice Presidency. And the following August, he
    became President of the United States without ever seeking the office.
    Providence gave us Gerald Ford's steady hand and calm leadership during
    a time of great division and turmoil. He guided America through a crisis
    of confidence and helped our Nation mend its wounds by restoring faith
    in our system of government.
        In his 2\1/2\ years as President, Gerald Ford distinguished himself as a man of integrity and selfless
    dedication. He always put the needs of his country before his own and
    did what he thought was right, even when those decisions were unpopular.
    Only years later would Americans come to fully appreciate the foresight
    and wisdom of this good man.
        In recent years, Americans have honored Gerald Ford with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Congressional
    Gold Medal, and the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award.
        Through it all, Gerald Ford stayed true
    to the values that first led him to a life of public service, and he
    helped share that spirit with a future generation of leaders. He served
    as a mentor for Vice President Dick Cheney,
    former Secretary of Defense Don Rumsfeld,
    former Chairman of the Federal Reserve Alan Greenspan, and many others. He brought out the best in those around
    him and in our whole Nation.
        To the end, Gerald Ford never lost the
    spirit that Americans grew to admire so much. This spring, I visited
    President and Mrs. Ford at their home in
    Rancho Mirage, California. At age 92 and battling health problems, he
    was still telling jokes and displaying the optimism that helped guide
    our Nation through some of its darkest hours.
        Now America will stand with the members of the Ford family in the
    difficult hours and days ahead. Across the country, there has been an
    outpouring of grief and

    [[Page 2229]]

    affection for President Ford. I've ordered
    flags to fly at halfstaff for 30 days in his honor. This weekend, his
    body will lie in state at the United States Capitol. And on Tuesday,
    Laura and I will join former Presidents
    Clinton, Bush, and Carter at a funeral
    service at the National Cathedral as part of a National Day of Mourning.
        Gerald Ford's life spanned nine decades
    and took him from the football fields of his boyhood in Michigan to the
    halls of power in Washington, DC. At every stage of his journey, he
    displayed a decency, patriotism, and courage that Americans will always
    admire. As we say goodbye to the year 2006, we bid farewell to one of
    the finest public servants America has ever known. We give thanks for
    the gift of his remarkable life, for the caring man who touched so many
    lives, and the wise President who helped heal our Nation.
        May God bless Gerald R. Ford. Thank you
    for listening.

    Note: The address was recorded at 8:20 a.m. on December 29 at the Bush
    Ranch in Crawford, TX, for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on December 30. The
    transcript was made available by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    December 29 but was embargoed for release until the broadcast. The
    Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language
    transcript of this address.