The Legacy of President Gerald Ford

President Gerald Ford recently died and his funeral was held in the highest honor and great politicians uttered his praise. But it is troubling to me to view these high praises even for a President that I was never alive for, because of several reasons.

President Gerald Ford was never nominated by the American people to be on a Presidential ticket. What most people forget is that President Richard Nixon chose Spirow Agnew as his Vice President. Agnew resigned under pressure from criminal charges for his illegal activity and Nixon had House representative Gerald Ford appointed as his Vice President once the Senate confirmed his nomination. President Richard Nixon resigned because of the Watergate scandal and was pardoned by Gerald Ford. Some people say that this pardoning of Nixon led to Ford's defeat in his election against Jimmy Carter. In fact, when Ford was interviewed, he admitted that pardoning Richard Nixon made him lose the election because it was so controversial. Gerald Ford is the only President in U.S. history never to win an election.

Gerald Ford was in an odd position and not having any main events during his presidency. Perhaps that is only because Ford's presidency was for 2 years. President Nixon brought the United States out of Vietnam and Ford really just made sure that everything that Nixon had going on with the bringing home of the troops went smoothly.

Politicians like to say all of the right things and while Ford did nothing wrong as President, he made no headlines either besides the pardoning of the election. During his term in office he did nothing as president that the American people could point to as a reason for election him instead of Jimmy Carter.

I will give President Gerald Ford credit though that he deserves. Pardoning Richard Nixon was a brave and bold move, but it was also the right move. This country would have been torn apart by an American president on trial or even going to jail. It is unprecedented and should never happen. What President Nixon did was despicable but the leader of the free world should not be thrown into a jail cell. America would have faced ridicule on an international stage had Nixon been on trial in front of the whole world.

President Gerald Ford's passing was treated much like any American president should be treated: with praise and the highest honor for his country. Although Gerald Ford will not go down in history as one of the greatest presidents on our country, he was still a leader of our nation and he served it honorably and to the best of his ability.