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Former President Gerald Ford Dead at 93

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the to-many-submissions-to-ignore dept.

Rancid Altoid was one of a large number of readers to tell us that "Former U.S. President Gerald Ford, who was swept into office after the Watergate scandal and later pardoned Richard Nixon, died at age 93, his widow said on Tuesday."

6 of 367 comments (clear)

  1. Forgive and forget? by cyberon22 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    He should never have pardoned Nixon.

    1. Re:Forgive and forget? by Mr.+Slippery · · Score: 5, Insightful
      Sure there are many who think he should have been punished, but I think resigning in shame and having that as his legacy is probably one of the greatest punishment for a man with the drive to become president.

      Shame? What shame? He's still defended as a hero by neocons. His people are still to be found in power in D.C.

      The fact the Nixon didn't go to jail is what let Reagan and Bush II get away with their subversions of the Constitution.

      --
      Tom Swiss | the infamous tms | my blog
      You cannot wash away blood with blood
  2. The King is Dead, Long Live the King by thermopile · · Score: 5, Informative
    Interestingly, President Ford is the only person to have served as both Vice President and President, and been elected to neither position.

    Obligatory wiki quote.

    --

    "Diplomacy is something you do until you find a rock." --Richard Pound

  3. Re:But the real question is... by Average_Joe_Sixpack · · Score: 5, Funny

    Completely inappropriate

  4. Just a bit of reminiscing.... by jbarr · · Score: 5, Interesting

    When I was 17, I received an Eagle Scout award. Our local Scout council was holding a benefit dinner, and President Ford (by that time, former president) was the guest of honor, who was a former Scout himself. I was asked if I wanted to be in the color guard, and I readily accepted. I also had the honor of sitting next to him at the head table for dinner. He was a very gracious man, and was happy to talk with us about him and Scouting. Being young, I was quite nervous, but he interacted with us in a comfortable, casual, yet respected manner.

    One thing that I'll never forget is that for dessert, we were served a "grasshopper pie", which was a mint ice cream and chocolate pie. Interestingly, they served him a bowl of three simple scoops of vanilla ice cream. When I asked him about it, he said that he loved vanilla ice cream, and didn't like the other fancy stuff.

    Anyway, it was a pleasure to have had the honor of spending a short time with him.

    --
    My mom always said, "Jim, you're 1 in a million." Given the current population, there are 7000 of me. God help us all!
  5. Re:Cnn does it best by Mr.+Slippery · · Score: 5, Informative
    It's interesting that the attempt against Regan that injured Brady gets so much notoriety but the two attempts against Ford are never talked about.

    I know /. skews young, so it's possible you may not remember Reagan getting shot.

    That's the thing: unlike Ford, he actually got shot, as did Brady and a Secret Service guy, Tim McCarthy. Missed killing Reagan by about an inch. We had to wait in suspense to see if he would survive or not. So, yeah, that stands out in people's memories. (I was 11 when it happened.)

    --
    Tom Swiss | the infamous tms | my blog
    You cannot wash away blood with blood