RIP Gerald Ford

[thetank]

When I see an obituary on the news about an historic figure who has passed away, I like to read a little about it.

Checking out who has just checked out, gotta love that Wikipedia.


One of the men behind the Helsinki Agreement, he signed on behalf of the United States in 1975.

The Helsinki accord is a big reason why we never got blown to bits in the Cold War.

The 38th US President Gerald Ford died today, may he rest in peace.

[NoflopsHomer]

He was good in the Simpsons.

[Gryff]

Pros - saved the world from getting blown the fuck up
Cons - Pardoned Nixon.

On balance I think he probably did a good job.

[booder]

also  R.I.P  Charlie Drake

[bhoywonder]

..and the only president never to voted in

true fact

[Royal Flush]

..and the only president never to voted in

true fact

Except:

John Tyler
Millard Fillmore
Andrew Johnson
Chester Arthur

[Sark79]

ok,  I was thinking about this earlier while out with the dogs.  Wasn't Lyndon B Johnson also unelected after becoming President after JFK's death?   or is it due to him being a replacement for JFK, he wasn't required to be elected?.   I know he was elected the President in 1964 properly because I wrote a 2500 word essay on him for US history class at Uni  once 

[bhoywonder]

..and the only president never to voted in

true fact

Except:

John Tyler
Millard Fillmore
Andrew Johnson
Chester Arthur

wow


i'll get ma jacket

i did not know that

[Wardonkey]

..and the only president never to voted in

true fact

Except:

John Tyler
Millard Fillmore
Andrew Johnson
Chester Arthur

They were all elected as vice president.

Ford was the only president not to win an election to either post.

[Royal Flush]

ok,  I was thinking about this earlier while out with the dogs.  Wasn't Lyndon B Johnson also unelected after becoming President after JFK's death?   or is it due to him being a replacement for JFK, he wasn't required to be elected?.   I know he was elected the President in 1964 properly because I wrote a 2500 word essay on him for US history class at Uni  once 

I think the OP meant presidents that were never voted in.

However i think what he might have meant was Presidents who were never voted in but then stood for election and failed, Ford is unique in that sense.

[Royal Flush]

Ford was the only president not to win an election to either post.

Another unique claim for ford!

[Graham C]

someone told me yesterday that James Brown died too - were they making that up?

[barhell]

it's true

[TightEnd]

also a unique President as his wife will probably be better remembered than he was, for saving thousands of Californians from alcohol and drug dependency when forming the Betty Ford Clinic.

As far as pardoning Nixon is concerned, whilst he was derided for it at the time by the political intelligentsia I think history will view that decision kinder, as it allowed America to finally "lance the boil" and move on from constant discussion of it that overtook all domestic politics at the time.

Interestingly, he was president for about 3 years, and got slammed by Carter in the 76 election. One of the main reasons he was slammed was his campaign was savagely undermined by Ronald Reagan who wanted the candidature for himself and repeatedly briefed against Ford. Four years later, Reagan got his presidency and arguably took the world closer to catastrophe via a renewed arms race than the President who helped form the Helsinki accord.

[MadYank]

also a unique President as his wife will probably be better remembered than he was, for saving thousands of Californians from alcohol and drug dependency when forming the Betty Ford Clinic.

As far as pardoning Nixon is concerned, whilst he was derided for it at the time by the political intelligentsia I think history will view that decision kinder, as it allowed America to finally "lance the boil" and move on from constant discussion of it that overtook all domestic politics at the time.

Interestingly, he was president for about 3 years, and got slammed by Carter in the 76 election. One of the main reasons he was slammed was his campaign was savagely undermined by Ronald Reagan who wanted the candidature for himself and repeatedly briefed against Ford. Four years later, Reagan got his presidency and arguably saved the world from catastrophe via a renewed arms race breaking the fiscal back of the Soviet Union than the President who helped form the Helsinki accord.

FYP

Or Perhaps thats a  lead into a new historical thread...