Gerald Ford should have realized (a) that he himself had sacrificed his presidential chances with the pardon; and (b) that he simply was not presidential material to begin with. He should have stepped down and endorsed the nominee of an open republican convention--which would probably have been Ronald Reagan. I still wouldn't have agreed with the pardon--and still don't, to this day--but I probably could have accepted that. He should have realized all that--but he didn't. The republican leadership and the "Nixon holdovers" behind the scenes--Haig, Laird, Kissinger, etc.--hoped that they could continue to manipulate him for their own purposes. And he was nothing if not manipulatable. Unfortunately, or fortunately, they all overestimated the value of his "incumbency" and underestimated the negative impact of his general ineptitude, which he had demonstrated over and over again. And also the pardon, of course. On a side note, in 1980 the Kennedy forces had the same problem when they overestimated the value of the "Kennedy charisma"--or Ted's, at least--and underestimated the negative impact and staying power of Chappaquiddick. Then in 2016, Hillary Clinton went through something similar. Her supposed charisma and entitlement could not overcome her many negatives. Like the Reaganites forty years before, the "Bernie-or-Busters" refused to cross over; and I understood exactly how they felt. I had never imagined that someday I would find myself empathizing with a bunch of hard-core socialists, but that's politics for you.... For many years, I thought that Reagan could have beaten Carter easily in 1976; but more recently I've wondered if any republican could have won that year. Watergate was still too fresh and festering. So if someone had to lose to Carter, maybe it was better that it be Ford.
we are watching & seeing what a great man is speaking in the intrrest of the world peace God bless USA for peace. Yours Sincerelly, Phillipson M Marak ❤❤
I've always found it fascinating that both of my Grandpa's who were lifelong Union Democrats voted for two Republicans in their life: Dwight Eisenhower and Gerald Ford.
The man who came to the Vicepresidency and the Presidency without having planned it
Ford has his cars, Dole has his pineapples, Carter has his peanuts, but whoever heard of a Mondale?
Gerald Rudolph Ford, Jr, the 38th President of the United States! He was a good man.
Thanks for the upload
This is an amazing speech.
If Ford hadn't pardoned Nixon, then he would've certainly defeated Carter in '76
Jack it should’ve been Reagan
It's hard to disagree with that. Ford actually ran a great campaign and nearly pulled off a miracle even with the Nixon pardon haunting him.
@@etchedinstone7562 A few thousand more votes out of Ohio and Mississippi, and he would’ve won.
Gerald Ford should have realized (a) that he himself had sacrificed his presidential chances with the pardon; and (b) that he simply was not presidential material to begin with. He should have stepped down and endorsed the nominee of an open republican convention--which would probably have been Ronald Reagan. I still wouldn't have agreed with the pardon--and still don't, to this day--but I probably could have accepted that.
He should have realized all that--but he didn't. The republican leadership and the "Nixon holdovers" behind the scenes--Haig, Laird, Kissinger, etc.--hoped that they could continue to manipulate him for their own purposes. And he was nothing if not manipulatable. Unfortunately, or fortunately, they all overestimated the value of his "incumbency" and underestimated the negative impact of his general ineptitude, which he had demonstrated over and over again. And also the pardon, of course.
On a side note, in 1980 the Kennedy forces had the same problem when they overestimated the value of the "Kennedy charisma"--or Ted's, at least--and underestimated the negative impact and staying power of Chappaquiddick. Then in 2016, Hillary Clinton went through something similar. Her supposed charisma and entitlement could not overcome her many negatives. Like the Reaganites forty years before, the "Bernie-or-Busters" refused to cross over; and I understood exactly how they felt. I had never imagined that someday I would find myself empathizing with a bunch of hard-core socialists, but that's politics for you....
For many years, I thought that Reagan could have beaten Carter easily in 1976; but more recently I've wondered if any republican could have won that year. Watergate was still too fresh and festering. So if someone had to lose to Carter, maybe it was better that it be Ford.
That statement is dogmatic.
pretty cool playing the Michigan fight song at the end
President Ford commenting on polarization in 1976. Unfortunately things have only gotten worse, far worse, in the 47 years since.
Yes.
God bless USA for Peace.
and development of our Nations.
we need peace& true Lears.
33:18
❤❤
we are watching & seeing what a great man is speaking in the intrrest of the world peace God bless USA for peace. Yours Sincerelly, Phillipson M Marak
❤❤
I've always found it fascinating that both of my Grandpa's who were lifelong Union Democrats voted for two Republicans in their life: Dwight Eisenhower and Gerald Ford.
Seems like they had a thing for bald people
@@vonchadwick2632 Well, both of my Grandpa's were bald as well so that could've very well been the case.
there's no accounting for taste....
@@DoubleJ1203Did they voted for Harry S. Truman?
@@DoubleJ1203I think the main reason was that both Ike and Gerald Ford were moderate Republicans!
❤️🇱🇷
70's reject
Merecia la elección en 1976
La era Carter fue nefasta.
President Ford loses to the Ex-Governor Jimmy Carter the Count was 240 Votes for President Ford vs 297 For President-Elect Jimmy Carter
Not a bad speech. Expect that Reagan part was quite awkward
Have u listened to reagens 1976 speech?
My dear Jimmy Carter is going to win back the American Presidency of 1976 🥜😁🇺🇸🌎🌍🌏
Trump can never match it