Wednesday, May 8, 1974 THE MICHIGAN DAILY Page Thirteen I Ford frateri By GORDON ATCHESON Returning to his old fraternity house last Saturday, Vice Presi- dent Gerald Ford for a few fleet- ing moments was able to shed some of the stiffness, formal- ity, and secret service agents that accompany the high office he now holds. Yet even when visiting his old cronies who had gathered at the Delta Kappa Epsilon house to welcome their most illustrious" brother, he could not escape the watchful gaze of a pair of fed- eral agents who hung at hItis shoulders. THE MEDIA too hounded Ford as he tried to have a cou- ple of brief - and probably private - words with his col- lege friends. Still the Vice Pre- sident visibly warmed to t h e relatively relaxed situation. Since becoming what he him- self characterizes as "our coun- try's first instant Vice Presi- dent" close on the heels of Spiro Agnew's resignation last fall, Ford has been meticulously scrutinized by the nation as he tries to front for a President mired in an unprecedented ser- ies of political scandals. A conservative during his 25- year tenure in the House of Re- presentatives, Ford has main- tained an image of impeccable honesty and forthrightness in his work even among his poli- tical opponents. But that pro- jection has begun to erode as he defends Richard Nixon on point after point. THE PUBLIC animosity to- ward Ford has consequently mounted and although it didn't surface at the DKE fraternity, some of the current members hold less than kind opiaions about the Vice President. Those feelings remained cam- ouflaged behind a v e n e e r of hand shakes and smiles. Still the facade occasionally cracked with an aside behind Ford's back. He never noticed or at leat cared not to. By the time Ford reached the frat - known as Deke's shanty - which is a small two story brick building that looks re- markably like a church tucked away between a grocery store and an office supply shop on E. William St., he had already felt the public outrage. WHILE addressing the Uni- versity commencement earlier in the day Ford was continually hombarded by taunts and boos from a few vocal demonstrators in the crowd. But the entire aud- ience roundly derided his effort to vindicate the President for re- leasing transcripts instead of the tape recordings of Watergate- related Oval Office conversa- tions. Thus Ford welcomed the on- portunity to make small talk with his old fraternity brethren who today remain somewhat in awe of the man they knew be- fore he became a household word. Besides, Ford is always at his best dealing with people - be they personal friends or politic- ians with whom a bargain must be struck - on an individual basis. In that setting his firm hand shake and open smile are far more effectiv* than in deal- ing with a basketball arena full of strangers. THE 60-YEAR-OLD Ford looks about a decade youngr, per- haps because he still exercises daily - a carryover from the days when he was an all-Ameri- can football player at the Uni- versity. His blond hair is thinning and a few lines are etched in his face, but Ford looks like he weighs in at just several pounds over his playing weight. Ford came attired in a navy blue pinstrip suit cut m'o r e conservatively than any other in the room. He also wore a white button-down shirt and a red, white, and blues tie. A pair a auns glasses had hastily been thrust into his breast pocket. . " SIsits nity THE OLD DKE mingled with each present frat boys, tourage of outsider a vice president as a punch of milk, ice a touch of whiskey been the major refr ing their Saturday ings. "Having those p was our alibi for n a date for Saturda Ford at one point, little else that was public consumption However, someo members reminisce old days and Vic Ford when he was, "HE WAS the pe mate," recalls Ear who shared a room during the Vice Pr year at the Unive clothes were alwa' clean just like the Townsend added was 'also a good s spent much of his studying. "Jerry gt the lower bunk toe because he was a was just a junior," ed smiling slightly. As he circulated group, Ford signed graphs, shook mor gesture that must cond-nature to mo politicnans - and< good-natured ribb near-legendary abil washer. WHEN HE lived fraternity, Ford ea portion of his coll scrubbing dishes at a reputation for spe admitted the qualit manship may have times. .f.0 with his brothers members' Despite all the good will that other, the flowed, an undercurrent of iIlI and the en- feeling toward the Vice Presi- s that trail dent existed among the current they sipped frat brothers. cream, and "I dislike him - not as much ehbiems rd as Nixon - but that's because eshmnent dur- he hasn't done as much," said night neet- DKE member Howard Kress. He also said he hoped to see et toethers Nixon impeached in the n e a r eever getting future. y,' quipped but he said ANOTHER brother conceded: strictly for "I know I'd never vote for Ford, 1. but I guess I can still be nice of the DKE to the guy" d about the After about half an hour, Ford e President hesitantly joined in a chorus of jist Jerry. the DKE fraternity song and erfect room- they all raised their punch glass. 1 Townsend, es high. with Ford Then a stone-faced secret ser esident s last vice agent tapped Ford on the rsity. "its shoulder and suggested t h e y vs neat and move to the next stop on the room, itinerary to keep up with the that Ford schedule. tdent who FORD SLOWLY headed f or spare time the door bidding the group fare t to sleen in well and finally stepped through . e .- tat's the door and back in to the rea senior and I world. le conminent- Outside, a crowd of severa through the hundred people had gathered in a few auto- the warm afternoon sun to catch e hands - a a glimpse of the Vice President become se- But even in this gathering ther st longtime were hecklers who decried Nix often took a on, facism, and U.S. imperial 'Ing for his ism. ity as a dish- Ford didn't seem particularly upset. He smiled and waved t at the DKE the admirers and ignored the rned a large protesters. The federal agent ege expenses looked concerned as they scan nd developed ned the crowd. ed though he The Vice President was quick y of his work- ly hustled into a waiting ca suffered at while the agents muscled a pat for him through the throng Heckling, hostility greet VP's speech Csntinued teem wage s2l War' II returned to Grand AFTER FORD retired from ids, where be has lived sirs the podium to a modest round of early childhood. applause, the ceremony fell into At Saturday's commence a fitful - and frightfully dull - he received an honorary pattern more charateristic of degree. Noted author and such events. torian Bruce Catton and Ford made little comment vard University Astra abount the disruptions during the Prof. Leo Goldberg also w rest of his stay in Ann Arbor but given honorary degrees. claimed they "didn't bother me IN RECOUNTING his because the people involved do aduation to the crowd at not represent the views of the er Arena, Ford co amente vast majority of American peo- ena, For comene ple." He later added he had he could not remember been "amused" by the out- speaker or what he said. I bursts. record, it was then Secret bursts.State Cordell Hull. University President Robem tFordent Hu t a Fleming, who introduced t h e But Ford wes on t Vice President and felt the heck- am probably doing some Iors' batrhs for refering to the American a disservice and "cessation of the Vietnam war" pect the same treatmei in his remarks, said he w as years from now.I' It wo "saddened" by the protest. unlikely that the audienc - * forget Ford, who dubbed "I'M SORRY it had to go on, self "our country's instant but that is apparently the price President" because he tool of a free society," he said. the post following Spir As the program ended, near- new's resignation last fall. - ly two and a half hours after it Although the words he r began, te Vice President w a a ilpoalybcm uz - hustled out a side exit accom-will robably becme fuzz panied by a wall of Secret Ser- crowd will recall the ma vice agents and jumped into the protesters who hounded a waiting limousine which, with Together they made the I a police escort, sped off down mencement something out the road.ordinary Tight security characterized - Ford's entire visit. Some 40 fed- eral agents assisted by scores - of city, county, and state police personnel. y AN ALL-AMERICAN center, o Ford played varsity football for e the Wolverines froml1932 tot1935 s and was named the team's most - valuable player in his last sea- son r Ford later graduated from h Yale Law School and after serv- ing in the Navy during World 41 o lRap- le his. sment law I his- Har- nomy were own Cris- d that the r the ary of Id, "I fine I ex- at 39 ld be * will him- t Vice k over o A,- spoke y, the n and d him. com- of the $2.50 FRI.-SAT.-SUN. ROUNDER RECORD'S NORMAN BLAKE There's only one place with seven revolutionary sandwiches . . . Scotty's. Try the revolutionary great taste of the spirited Royal Scat . . . a big patty of pure beef, tomato, onion slices, & lettuce, topped with Scotty's Great-American sauce. 3352 WASHTENAW AVENUE JUST UP FROM ARBORLAND) I has played lead guitar for June Carter, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson, and John Hartford. 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