Dec 27, 2006
What Gerald Ford tells us about American politics
Gerald Ford always said he never wanted to be president. Almost certainly, but for the twisted poliics of the Watergate Era, he never would have been.
This says something about Ford. But more importantly it says something about our political system. If Ford looks good in retrospect, we should wonder why a Ford couldn't get elected president.
David Broder said that Ford was the least neurotic president he knew. Is it possible to be a normal person and get elected president in this country? I have my doubts. A normal person wouldn't put themselves through what you have to go through to be elected president.
Ford was picked in a backroom deal, in effect, between Carl Albert, Mike Mansfield and Rchard Nixon. Do we get better people this way? If we do, what does that say about our system of mass politics. The more democratic it has become the wierder the people have been whom we elect. Cause and effect? Maybe.
Ford's two chief decisions as president were both taken in the face of public opinion. 1. His pardon of Nixon and 2. his decision not to pump up spending in 1976 when he faced Jimmy Carter. Both decisions look good in retrospect.
What dos it say abou our system that a president was punished for doing what was right?
We should take this moment to ponder this question. We spend so much time lionizing the system it is worth remembering how it fails us.
This says something about Ford. But more importantly it says something about our political system. If Ford looks good in retrospect, we should wonder why a Ford couldn't get elected president.
David Broder said that Ford was the least neurotic president he knew. Is it possible to be a normal person and get elected president in this country? I have my doubts. A normal person wouldn't put themselves through what you have to go through to be elected president.
Ford was picked in a backroom deal, in effect, between Carl Albert, Mike Mansfield and Rchard Nixon. Do we get better people this way? If we do, what does that say about our system of mass politics. The more democratic it has become the wierder the people have been whom we elect. Cause and effect? Maybe.
Ford's two chief decisions as president were both taken in the face of public opinion. 1. His pardon of Nixon and 2. his decision not to pump up spending in 1976 when he faced Jimmy Carter. Both decisions look good in retrospect.
What dos it say abou our system that a president was punished for doing what was right?
We should take this moment to ponder this question. We spend so much time lionizing the system it is worth remembering how it fails us.