As a man under the age of thirty, the only images I have of Gerald Ford are of the constant reruns of SNL, where Chevy Chase portrays the 38th President of the United States as a bumbling, stumbling, graceless buffoon. And, of course, the Simpsons episode where Ford moves into Homer Simpson's block and offers his hand in friendship to Homer.
But as a person who loves history I only see President Gerald Ford as the individual who pardoned Richard Nixon.
Looking at it I shake my head in disbelief.
How could you, Mr. President?
After declaring that the nightmare was over, you turn the other cheek and let "tricky dick" walk. The nightmare wasn't over, it only just begun.
When you read the explanation for Ford's decision to pardon Nixon, it seems understanable at first. The country was still heavily wounded from the Vietnam war, Watergate, and the intense cultural strife that deeply divided the nation. Of course, putting the former President of the United States on trial for his crimes would've pulled the nation even further than what it was back then.
So yes, I can see why he would've done it.
But...
Let's bring out the facts.
For the next 32 years, Nixon's apologists, mainly the despicable Pat Buchanan, have claimed that Nixon's demise was the fault of a Liberal conspiracy. Liberals who were still angry that George McGovern was blown away by the Nixon hurricane in 1972.
The Nixon apologists, along with Radical Right-Wingers have used this as a way to sucker the nation into believing that the media in all its forms is being run by Liberal devils who not only hate their country, but want to see a Republican President go down in flames.
The Nixon pardon also brought out the double standard in Washington.
Nixon apologists and other Right-Wing acolytes have long said that a trial would've torn the country apart. True, in theory.
However...
These are the same people who relished in Bill Clinton's humiliation during the Monica Lewinsky saga. The same people who said "leave Nixon alone," were the same individuals who bankrolled the inquisition of William Jefferson Clinton. What Crimes are we talking about?
Getting a blow job from a young intern.
Compare that with Nixon's lust for pissing on the Constitution, I would say that Clinton's crimes were just ridiculously petty.
Finally, the Nixon pardon was a blank check for any politician to do what they please and not face any consequences.
Ask us.
President Bush and his cronies will never face any trial for their crimes.
Although the nation has grown weary of the Bush act, the people haven't screamed loud enough for this administration to be punished severely for lying to get into war with Iraq.
We've turned the other cheek. And we can thank Gerald Ford for that.
President Ford lived an incredible life.
He was the first man to assume the office of President without being elected. (George W. Bush being the second)
By all accounts he was a kind, decent man, whose Republican philosophy would be looked upon by the current Republican party as "left-wing" crap.
He was an incredible athlete. Played on the University of Michigan football team that won a National title in the early thirties.
He was shot at twice. Survived.
He basically told New York City to drop dead.
And, he believed that there was no Soviet dominance in Eastern Europe.
Of course, my favorite, he became friends with Homer Simpson, another, bumbling, fumbling, graceless man.
What a life.
But in my little world, he is forever the President who accelerated the nightmare, instead of ending it.
For that, I can't forgive him, ever.