By now, most Mike's America readers have had the opportunity to view some of the funeral proceedings for the late President Ford. It's an excellent opportunity to refresh your memory about his presidency and the time in which he led our country.
The Nation's Capital bid it's final farewell to Jerry Ford today with a State Funeral at the beautiful National Cathedral. Many of us who lived in or visited Washington have appreciated this wonderful House of Worship sitting atop the highest hill in the District of Columbia. It's the scene of many sad, but also moving moments in our nation's history as well as a venue for worship and song.
The Cathedral offers the following link to the PDF of the service bulletin from the Ford Funeral for those who wish to follow the service in every detail. There's also a link to the service itself, or you may wish to watch the replays which are offered by C-Span.
Instead of duplicating these efforts, I'd like to refocus the reader on the history of the Ford presidency. In my first post following the news of his passing I included a short audio of his remarks (text)upon taking the Oath of Office. If you have not heard those remarks, they are a true window in the soul of this man and highly recommended listening.
President Ford was neither elected to the office of Vice President, nor President. In his inital remarks as President he said: "I have not campaigned either for the Presidency or the Vice Presidency. I have not subscribed to any partisan platform."
It was later, in 1976, after a strong challenge from then California ex-Governor Ronald Reagan that Jerry Ford addressed the Republican National Convention in Kansas City, Missouri on August 19, 1976 and described the partisan political platform which he had chosen to run on for election in November of that year. (audio is playing in the background for those enabled. Direct audio link here. Text here).
President Gerald R. Ford's Remarks in Kansas City Upon Accepting the 1976 Republican Presidential NominationAugust 19, 1976
...I am ready, I am eager to go before the American people and debate the real issues face to face with Jimmy Carter. ...My gratitude tonight reaches far beyond this arena to countless friends whose confidence, hard work, and unselfish support have brought me to this moment. It would be unfair to single out anyone, but may I make an exception for my wonderful family-Mike, Jack, Steve, and Susan and especially my dear wife, Betty.
We Republicans have had some tough competition. We not only preach the virtues of competition, we practice them. But to- night we come together not on a battlefield to conclude a cease- fire, but to join forces on a training field that has conditioned us all for the rugged contest ahead. Let me say this from the bottom of my heart: After the scrimmages of the past few months, it really feels good to have Ron Reagan on the same side of the line.
To strengthen our championship lineup, the convention has wisely chosen one of the ablest Americans as our next Vice President, Senator Bob Dole of Kansas. With his help, with your help, with the help of millions of Americans who cherish peace, who want freedom preserved, prosperity shared, and pride in America, we will win this election. I speak not of a Republican victory, but a victory for the American people.
You at home listening tonight, you are the people who pay the taxes and obey the laws. You are the people who make our system work. You are the people who make America what it is. It is from your ranks that I come and on your side that I stand.
...For 2 years I have stood for all the people against a vote- hungry, free-spending congressional majority on Capitol Hill. Fifty-five times I vetoed extravagant and unwise legislation; 45 times I made those vetoes stick. Those vetoes have saved American taxpayers billions and billions of dollars. I am against the big tax spender and for the little taxpayer.
I called for a permanent tax cut, coupled with spending reductions, to stimulate the economy and relieve hard-pressed, middle-income taxpayers. Your personal exemption must be raised from $750 to $1,000. The other party's platform talks about tax reform, but there is one big problem-their own Congress won't act.
I called for reasonable constitutional restrictions on court-ordered busing of schoolchildren, but the other party's platform concedes that busing should be a last resort. But there is the same problem-their own Congress won't act.
I called for a major overhaul of criminal laws to crack down on crime and illegal drugs. The other party's platform deplores America's $90 billion cost of crime. There is the problem again- their own Congress won't act.
The other party's platform talks about a strong defense. Now, here is the other side of the problem-their own Congress did act. They slashed $50 billion from our national defense needs in the last 10 years.
My friends, Washington is not the problem; their Congress is the problem.
...The world now respects America's policy of peace through strength. The United States is again the confident leader of the free world. Nobody questions our dedication to peace, but nobody doubts our willingness to use our strength when our vital interests are at stake, and we will. I called for an up-to-date, powerful Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines that will keep America secure for decades. A strong military posture is always the best insurance for peace....The American people will not accept a double standard in the United States Congress. Those who make our laws today must not debase the reputation of our great legislative bodies that have given us such giants as Daniel Webster Henry Clay, Sam Rayburn, and Robert A. Taft. Whether in the Nation's Capital, the State capital, or city hall, private morality and public trust must go together.
...We will build on performance, not promises; experience, not expediency; real progress instead of mysterious plans to be revealed in some dim and distant future. The American people are wise, wiser than our opponents think. They know who pays for every campaign promise. They are not afraid of the truth. We will tell them the truth.
....As I try in my imagination to look into the homes where families are watching the end of this great convention, I can't tell which faces are Republicans, which are Democrats, and which are Independents. I cannot see their color or their creed. I see only Americans.
I see Americans who love their husbands, their wives, and their children. I see Americans who love their country for what it has been and what it must become. I see Americans who work hard ' but who are willing to sacrifice all they have worked for to keep their children and their country free. I see Americans who in their own quiet way pray for peace among nations and peace among themselves. We do love our neighbors, and we do forgive those who have trespassed against us.
I see a new generation that knows what is right and knows itself, a generation determined to preserve its ideals, its environment, our Nation, and the world.
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