President Ford Dies at 93

[LaneSig]

On the news tonight, they showed that President Ford's children have been greeting and thanking the members of the public that have come to pay their respects to the president. Very classy.

[KSigkid]

Slight hijack, but the former rector of my church in Boston (Trinity Church), Sam Lloyd, was one of the church members who presided over the service at the National Cathedral yesterday. I knew he was the Dean of the Cathedral, but it was still interesting to see him on national television.

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by LaneSig

On the news tonight, they showed that President Ford's children have been greeting and thanking the members of the public that have come to pay their respects to the president. Very classy.

I thought so, too. When I was in school, Jack Ford was the associate pastor at the church I then attended. Whatever one feels about the Fords, they are definitely not short on class!

[Thrillhouse]

I went down to the museum here in Grand Rapids the night I learned of his passing and was among the tens of thousands who came downtown and waited four and a half hours to pay their respects last night.

R.I.P. Gerald "Our" Ford

Originally Posted by Thrillhouse

R.I.P. Gerald "Our" Ford

Thrillhouse, I'm assuming that you and I are about the same age-ish, so we weren't even born when President Ford was even in office.

(Mom remembers Steven on Y&R, and I kinda do...but then again I was still in pre-school)

Still, from watching the personal testimonies and flashbacks of this week, I've learned so much about him. I hear the stories from my parents on how he healed the nation, and so after watching the funerals and celebrations of his life, may we always remember him.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by OTW

Thrillhouse, I'm assuming that you and I are about the same age-ish, so we weren't even born when President Ford was even in office.

I think Thrillhouse's "our" referred to him being from Grand Rapids.

Though Ford and I were never of the same political persuasion, I've always had the greatest respect for him. He was truly a class act, and I think he did very, very well with the almost impossible mess he inherited from Nixon (and I am old enough to remember all of it). I remember wanting him to be re-elected just because I thought he had handled the situation so well. I was never one of those who thought that the pardon was a bad idea.

Plus, he was an Eagle Scout -- the only president to be an Eagle Scout. I remember the PSAs he did for the Boy Scouts when I was a Boy Scout and he was President. As an Eagle Scout and an adult Scouter, I was pleased to see Scout uniforms in the National Cathedral for the funeral and to hear that Mrs. Ford invited hundreds of Eagle Scouts to stand at the entrance to the Library when the coffin arrived.

May he rest in peace.

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I think Thrillhouse's "our" referred to him being from Grand Rapids.

Yeah, I figured that out despite the fact that it was midnight my time when I typed it.

I just think it's pretty cool how President Ford inspired and gained the respect of a generation who wasn't even born yet when he was in office.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by OTW

I just think it's pretty cool how President Ford inspired and gained the respect of a generation who wasn't even born yet when he was in office.

I agree completely.

[Thrillhouse]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I think Thrillhouse's "our" referred to him being from Grand Rapids.

Yep, there have been billboards around here with that saying. I wasn't around when Ford was in office but was always interested because of the Grand Rapids factor. It's nice to see that he tried to do good in almost everything that he did. I like how him and Jimmy Carter became great friends after the 76 election.

I agree with otw as well. There was a lot on his plate when he took office and to come out of it with grace and class wins my respect.

I was only 8 yrs old when he became president but later on in life i come to feel he did a lot to heal the country after Nixon. For someone who was ready to retire out of govt work he was thrusted into being president.
He i believe laid the ground work for Reagan's presidency and was very impressed by his devotion to family. I heard many times this week he is one of the last of the true good guys who made a difference in this world.
I watched the svcs from Grand Rapids like everyone else and was very moved how he and Carter were very close friends but how he talked about him and how politcal giants(rumsfield and kissinger) can be moved to sheer emotion with kind words spoken on behalf of a kind and wonderful president.
It is refreshing to see how close his family is. After watching Reagan's funeral and the way the children were very detached it was great to see how the Ford children and grandchildren loved their dad and grand dad and how they really cling to Betty. I still have this little crush on Steven from his Y&R days. for 50 he looks dang good to me.


RIP Mr President and god bless the Ford family and Mrs Ford in this time of grief.