20 - The Michigan Daily - Friday, September 8, 2000
RIDAY Focus
From war veteran to congressional workhorse and eventually President of the United States, Gerald
Ford has come along way from his years in Ann Arbor as a cordial gridiron star with a smile. But when
he returns to campus next week for the formal naming of the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy,
he'll do so as the University's most distinguished alumnus. But for Ford, who's always cherished his
days at the University, it'l be a welcomed visit to the school he's loved since his days in Ann Arbor
some 70 years ago - a return to a place that helped form the man that would become president.
T rough the driving drizzle of the early morning,
Michigan coach Harry Kipke looked to the gray Ann
Arbor sky. He didn't like what he saw.
And when he surveyed the muddied remains of the field
at Michigan Stadium that morning his spirits certainly
weren't lifted. Soaked and slippery, the rainy storms that
had beaten the field all week left the gridiron surface in a
mangled mess. So into less-than-ideal conditions Kipke led
his less-than-stellar squad into its match up with Illinois.
With the winds and rain of late October threatening all
afternoon, the 7-6 Michigan loss is one that could easily go
forgotten amidst a season marred by disappointment.
But for Gerald Ford, Michigan's senior center, the game
is as memorable as any he played at Michigan. As the team
filed off the field and into the locker room, a soaked Ford
looked up from his locker to see Fielding Yost, Michigan's
legendary athletic director, before him. The surly former
football coach paused and told Ford that his performance
was the finest he'd ever seen. Ford took the compliment to
heart.
In driving rain and darkened skies, Gerald Ford turned in
his finest performance on that day in 1934, but it wouldn't
be the last of its kind.
From that soaking somber locker room in Ann Arbor to
the darkened days after the Watergate. scandal when histo-
ry destined Ford to the presidency, Ford has spent a life-
time being at his best when it counts the most. It's a theme
that runs like a current from his days as a boy near the
banks of the Grand River in western Michigan to his time
in Ann Arbor, his years in the United States Congress and
his days as the President. With the same steady resolve
and sure handed confidence he showed as a mud covered
player, Ford tackled the most formidable constitutional
crisis that had yet threatened the country and in the dreary
drizzle of hopelessness managed to restore honor, dignity
tnd integrity to a government in its darkest days. Indeed
when he became America's 38th President in 1974, Ford
;had already come a long way from Ann Arbor and that
game in October of 1934. And when he returns to campus
anext week, he returns not just as Michigan's most distin-
guish alum but a proud former student. "The University of
Michigan certainly has a special place in Gerald Ford's
eart," Richard Norton Smith, director of the Gerald R.
"Ford Museum said. "I've never known a person with more
of an attachment to his alma mater. It really is an impor-
=tnt place for him."
But the story of Gerald Ford goes back even further
than his days at the University. It goes back to Omaha,
.Neb. and a newborn named Leslie King, Jr.
Born in the home of his paternal grandfather, Ford was
prn the son of Leslie King and took his father's name mi-
tially. Days later his mother left the abusive King with her
$ild and divorced the Omaha wool dealer.
His mother Dorothy moved from Nebraska to Iowa and
Bnally north to the bustling town of Grand Rapids. Here
'Dorothy and her infant son met Gerald R. Ford, the dark-
,14ired paint salesman and community pillar, whom Ford's
mother would marry while her son was two-years-old. As
owner of Ford Paint and Varnish, Ford's new stepfather was
inianaging a successful business that supplied the thriving
furniture industry. He adopted his stepson and changed his
name to Gerald R. Ford, Jr. After an exuberant childhood
d~ominated by pursuits like Boy Scouting, Ford entered
South High School and in 1927 he help form the school's
freshman football squad.
Under the direction of coach Clifford Gettings, who
picked the wiry Ford to be team's center, Ford embarked on
an athletic journey that would take him through high school
And college while earning him his early reputation as a
football star. After playing every game that freshman sea-
soi, Ford was called to replace the varsity's injured snap-
per. Though only 15 years-old at the time Ford helped
iarshall the team to the Grand Rapids city championship
and for his efforts, the sophomore was named to the all-city
team.
By his senior year Ford was elected captain of
the South High squad that he directed to the
State Championship before being named
captain of the all-state team. After his
graduation from South High in 1931, Ford
found his future in ques-
tion. The Great
Depression had
left his father's
business badly
shaken, but his
resolve to attend a
college was firm
and at the request
of football coach
Harry Kipke, Ford
thought seriously of
Michigan.
U
I Autumn leaves no=
KIMITSU YOGACHI/Daily
President Gerald Ford shares a moment with University President Lee Bollinger during a visit to campus last fall.
Michigan seemed like a perfect fit for Ford. His adjustment
to Ann Arbor was quick as he began football practice and
was promptly named the most promising freshman in
spring practices. Also that year Ford decided to join the
Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity and later moved into its
house where he paid his way by washing dishes. As Ford
would recall later in his memoirs, Academically the Deke
house had a lousy reputation. Athletically, however, it
ranked fairly high, and it was certainly no slouch as a party
house."
But for Ford, his priorities continued to include football
even though his status as a promising player was yet to be
realized after two years spent backing up All-American
Chuck Bernard, who had helped lead Michigan to consecu-
tive national titles while Ford watched from the sidelines.
Ford's two years spent on the bench taught him to value his
opportunities and to work hard for the chances he got.
Unfortunately, when his chance to start came, graduation
and injury had all but decimated the teams that had spent
the last two years undefeated. Outscored 21-143 for the sea-
son, the Wolverines' disnial showing was h ighlighted by
only one win over Georgia Tech. Nevertheless. Ford played
brilliantly for the entire season. despite his team's woes, and
was named the squad's most valuable player before being
picked for a spot on rhe annual East-West Shrine Game.
The broad Michigan snapper played all but two minutes of
the all-star game in San 1 rancisco and caught the ee olthe
Detroit Lions and the ireen Bay Packers who each oftered
him contracts to play professionall. lappy to be graduat-
ing and interested in the possiblity of law school, Ford
spent little time making his decision. The offers were appre-
ciated, but Ford quickly declined.
Ford graduated with his class in 1935 with an unimpres-
sively solid academic record. "Iord was the classic 13' stu-
dent' said Jerald Terllorst, Ford biographer and first White
House press secretary. "Ile worked pery hard and devoted
himself to his studies and earned decent grades, but acade-
mics didn't come easily to him."
Certain in his desire to attend
law school, Ford found the per-
fect opportunity to finance his education at Yale University
when Kipke helped land him a job as assistant line coach
on the Yale football team. Ford was paid $2,400 a year to
serve also as the junior varsity coach and the boxing coach
- a schedule that left little time for academic pursuits,
especially at Yale's prestigious law school. Still, the iron-
willed Ford convinced a skeptical admissions board of his
ability and in 1938 he was allowed to begin classes.
It was the worst Pacific typhoon the Navy had ever seen.
And through cruel pounding of relentless winds, Ford
peered out into the emptiness of the Pacific Ocean. As he
rose and crashed with every wave lie saw the black of night
and the fury of the typhoon the USS Monterey had been
battling all evening just off the coast of Taiwan. In 100-knot
gales and raging waters Ford dutifully held watch in the
predawn storm's darkest hours from midnight until four
o'clock. And as the Philippine Sea whipped the winds of
the ravenous storm, he kept watch over the light aircraft car-
rier while three local destroyers were capsized in the storm.
Just after four o'clock fire roared from the hangar deck and
three of the ship's four boilers stopped. In the crashing
waves several planes had slammed together resulting in the
early morning blaze that was set to destroy the ship and
imperil its crew. For seven hours Ford and others battled
fatigue and the raging typhoon to put out the fires as orders
were given from the fleet commander to abandon ship. At
long last the fires were put out and the boilers were
restored. The Monterey was battered, but not beaten and the
man that stood watch that December night later likened the
harrowing experience to the one he found as president years
later. Like always, Ford kept watch when things were dark-
est. As always, Ford was at his best when things were at
there worst.
In 1946, Ford left the Navy and the World War ii warship
where he had served since enlisting in 1942 after law
school. The lieutenant commander returned home to Michi-
gan eager to start his law career and possibly a family. He
did both. Ford married Elizabeth Ann Bloomer Warren, a
department store fashion consultant in 1948. Also that year,
Ford decided to run for Congress as a man of change and a
candidate for reform.
Ford won the race to represent west Michigan in
Congress and moments after he was sworn in,
another young congressman stuck out his hand
and introduced himself. "Hi there, I'm Dick
Nixon from California."
History would prove it would not be
the last meeting between the two.
Nixon and Ford fostered the rela-
tionship of political comrades
even from their earliest days
in Congress together. Yet in
questions of character his-
tory will judge the con-
temporaries quite
differently. Thickly
sframed and square
jawed, the western
Michigan native spoke
carefully and confident-
ly in unassuming tones,
he earned respect and
praise but also some-
thing more.
From even his first
days in Congress, Ford
earned friends and as
his career continued it
was his dream to
one day become
changed."
It wasn't raining in Washington on Aug. 9, 1974 but per-
haps figuratively, all over the country it was pouring. The
most grim and solemn days of presidential politics had led
to this. The images are seared into American history like
few others. The helicopter waited on the South Lawn of the
White House as millions of Americans did the same by
television. With forced stoicism and awkward dignity,
Richard Nixon's grand exit from the White House came as
many expected it would, but even the predictability of the
event couldn't rattle the nerves of Ford. Perhaps he thought
back to the Monterey as she battled tall seas and frightening
storms, or perhaps he remembered the rain-soaked Illinois
game and dismal season that he helped hold together. Sure-
ly though Ford imagined the road that lay ahead and the
storm that he would have to help the country weather. With
unflappable determination and uncommon confidence Ford
took his wife Betty's hand and whispered, "We can do it."
The cameras captured Nixon waving as he boarded the
helicopter, but below the steps and at the other end of the
red carpet Ford waved back. Ford had said goodbye to
Richard Nixon and the country couldn't be happier. Vowing
that, "the long national nightmare is over' Ford began to
turn a national frown into a smile. After nearly 26 months
of Watergate investigations and implications and calcula-
tions, Ford arrived at the presidency by way of constitution-
al duty after taking the vice presidential seat of the resigned
Spiro Agnew.
And he came to the White House with the same ordinary
smile that he had entered Congress with. He was burdened
with no agenda and no aspirations other than the country's
interests. He was the honest man from the Midwest and the
country was thrilled to have him.
"America didn't want a brilliant leader," TerHorst
remembers, "They wanted an honest man and that's what
they got with Jerry. He was as honest as the day is long.
Everybody knew what they were getting with him. Even the
press thought he was dandy."
There was no mandate from the people. There was no
election - and there was no time to waste. Ford's appoint-
ment with destiny had arrived. And as unconventionally
historic as it was, Ford would have no chance to revel in the
moment. The former congressional workhouse stepped
from Nixon's shadows and into the swirling storm that his
predecessor had left.
His first order of business was to change the public per-
ception of the presidency. Gone would be the stuffy over-
tures of the so-called imperial presidency that Nixon had
run. Replaced rather by a friendlier brand of personal poli-
tics, Ford told his secret service agents to smile more while
he himself took to shaking more hands. And in a move that
paid tribute to his alma mater, Ford made a special request
of the Marine Corps band that plays at presidential func-
tions. Tired of the pomp and circumstance associated with
traditional presidential tunes like "Hail to the Chief" and
Ruffles and Flourishes," Ford told White House Chief of
Staff Alexander Haig that a different song should be played
for him: "Hail to the Victors."
But while the proud alum took assessment of his job he
saw things were not left in order.
"The President found that Nixon had left him a number
of problems and there was certainly much to do," TerHorst
said of the administrations first days on the job.
Relations with the Soviet Union continued to be tested as
Middle Eastern tensions also rose, meanwhile situations in
Cyprus, Turkey and Greece fought to form policy questions
that would prove formidable to even the most experienced
presidents. Ford accepted the challenges and relied on his
staff that included Nixon appointee Henry Kissinger. While
many questioned his foreign policy savvy, Ford saw the
value of trusting those closest to him and worked with
Kissinger to further the international strides the United
States had made under Nixon. Yet as Ford sought to heal
the wounds of the Watergate scandal he found that he inher-
ited a host of challenges. "My instinctive judgment is that
the State of the Union is good," Ford told Congress just
days after taking office. "But the state of our economy is not
so good"
Calling inflation public enemy number one, Ford went to
work to shore up the country's economic woes. But even as
he tried to move the business of the nation forward, the nag-
ging question of what to do with Nixon tormented Ford. As
the White House press secretary, TerHorst saw the debate
over whether Ford should pardon the disgraced president as
particularly distracting. "Everyday there were questions
about Nixon and Ford simply couldn't escape them," Ter-
horst said. "He needed to pick his chin up off the mat and
move the country forward but he couldn't. It was like tear-
ing a scab off a wound, the bleeding wouldn't stop."
Torn over what to do and how to do it, Ford finally real-
ized that the best course of action would be to end the situa-
tion once and for all by pardoning Nixon one month after
taking office. Ford knew it was a dangerous move political-
ly but he also knew it was the best decision for the country.
The healing needed to begin, Ford explained.
"He needed to have people see his dilemma and just how
profound it was. If people would have understood his deci-
sion they may have agreed with him," TerHorst said.
Ford's decision to pardon Nixon, some have argued,
helped contribute to his eventual presidential loss to Jimmry
Carter in the 1976 election. Nevertheless, Ford says finely
that it was the right thing to. That solid midwestern reliabil-
ity and honesty helped Ford forge a legacy as a leader to be
trusted. In so doing he achieved what he sent out to by
bringing integrity and respectability back to the presidency.
In the end Ford spent 895 days in the White House and per-
haps the reason it wasn't longer was the reason he's remem-
bered so fondly. Ford was his own man. Devoid of the
dangerous political ambitions that power uses to corrupt
men in similar stations, Ford relied on openness and hard
work. He prided himself on frankness and fairness as a stu-
dent, politician and a man.
His is the tale of America's darkest political hour and the
integrity to lead a country through it. With ease Ford came
to embody all that Nixon could never be at a time when
honor, humility and honesty were needed most. With the
confidence of experience and the support of those around
him, Ford relied on the virtues he gained as a boy to restore
a sense of pride in the presidency. More than that though,
Ford showed the country what a common man can do in the
face of uncommon challenges. And despite service to his
country that begs its thanks, Ford remains a humble public
servant thankful for his opportunities and faithfully devoted
to his alma mater.
"It really is a sense of pride in Michigan that President
Ford feels to this day," Smith said. "Its more than a normal
fondness, its a deep loyalty to the University."
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