Gerald Ford: America’s Only Unelected President

[@Biographics]

Check out Squarespace: squarespace.com/BIOGRAPHICS for 10% off on your first purchase.

[@KingstonTV334]

Ok... Why was this video uploaded 27 seconds ago but this comment is 12 hours old at the moment?

[@Tanya-bg2ku]

2nd

[@fibonaccifanzeroviews7839]

@@KingstonTV334 same reason they 'forgot' about Johnson after JFK, simply pandering to a number popped out by an algorithm. Actual humans are not respected anymore, only pre fab, molded opinions of the highest paying demographic. I unsubbed. 😔 Guess I'll have to reference BOOKS printed before 1970 for any kind chance for actual known history. SMH good luck to those with little children, I can't even imagine.... ✌

[@jonathanperry8331]

Simon when are you going to get your own TV show? Seriously!

[@Chud_Bud_Supreme]

Orange man bad!

[@BrandonJXN2]

One of my favorite Gerald Ford quotes: 'I'm a Ford. Not a Lincoln.'

[@MikePlaysYeet]

my favorite: "There's no soviet domination over eastern Europe"

[@ericcloud1023]

@@MikePlaysYeet secretary of state *facepalm* Mr. Ford.....they own HALF of it already!

[@williamwingo4740]

And he was absolutely right.

[@mikhailbashni8936]

Was he like a Pinto Ford?

[@rickyj5547]

drive me of this picture

[@0311Mushroom]

No mention of Willis Ward? A black player at Michigan, he was also Ford's roommate. When Georgia Tech refused to play a game if Willis played, Ford threatened to quit the team. He was a staunch advocate for equal rights even in College.

[@b-genspinster7895]

Very few people know. I listened to a really good podcast about Ford and it mentioned this in detail.

[@markrobinowitz8473]

Ford, as a Congressional Representative, helped cover up the murder of civil rights advocate John F. Kennedy. Ford was a member of the Warren Dulles Commission.

[@mebsrea]

@@markrobinowitz8473 Do you conspiracy nutjobs ever got bored of spouting this crap?

[@markrobinowitz8473]

@@mebsrea None of the people on the Warren Dulles Commission actually believed their own report. Some of the commissioners admitted this (years later). The only way to sincerely believe the report is never to have read any of it. There are false claims of "conspiracy" that are easily debunked but there is also abundant evidence of a cover up. Even French President DeGaulle, who narrowly escaped assassination by ultra right militarists in his country, said the "lone nut" claim was nonsense.

[@notforsaletoday1895]

@@markrobinowitz8473 Can you send a link to a source?

[@Foul_Ghoul]

He might’ve been President by dumb luck, but I think the USA got lucky that it was Ford. We all know we could’ve gotten a lot worse on that dice roll

[@natecw4164]

For real...

[@theawesomeman9821]

who could have been worse than Ford in the 1970's?

[@pullt]

@@theawesomeman9821 Chevrolet

[@Bubbaist]

@@theawesomeman9821 Spiro Agnew.

[@theawesomeman9821]

@@Bubbaist what's his politics?

[@pdennis93]

"Well you voted for him Red" "Kitty, nobody voted for him" - that 70s show

[@subsicle1.052]

Funny episode. “How could you pardon Nixon?”

[@pdennis93]

@@subsicle1.052 and of course Eric streaking in the Nixon mask 🤣🤣🤣

[@subsicle1.052]

@@pdennis93 Donna must be so pround

[@bethanyr6951]

I'm from Grand Rapids Michigan. We have the GR Ford Airport, presidential museum, GR Ford Freeway, and many other things named after the man. There is definitely a pride from having a president come from your hometown!

[@BFSilenceDogood]

I'm from GR, too. The Missing Man formation of Ford's funeral was incredibly impressive.

[@bethanyr6951]

@@BFSilenceDogood I climbed onto the roof at my work to watch it lol. Very cool!

[@definitelynotskynet]

True true. I was just as his grave the other day. I was also home on leave to GR, pulling onto The GR Ford Freeway when the news broke on the radio that he’d passed.

[@tedpuckett8066]

Unless yur from Carthage, Tn.!

[@thorpeaaron1110]

Just imagine if Gerald Ford took the football contracts and went to be a famous football player

[@williamwingo4740]

Lyndon Johnson always said that Ford had played too much football without a helmet.

[@Hollylivengood]

@@williamwingo4740 Well he would, right? Ford had an exellant record in the navy. He was a good lawyer. He got that way with inteligence. The only two guys who said he was dumb were crooks. I mean. really.

[@arcanondrum6543]

Had Ford stayed with Football, Americans could have learned more about Nixon's lawlessness and Reagan might have thought twice about selling Arms to Iran to pay for Death Squads in Central America.

[@chandlerstepina3947]

Either way, some people are destined to be more "well-known" than others.

[@arcanondrum6543]

@@chandlerstepina3947 That would also apply to Ted Bundy. People recognize how bad Bundy was. People fail to acknowledge the damage that Ford did on the Warren Commission and Pardoning a Criminal before full disclosure.

[@live2ride18]

He got a whole super carrier class named after him. That’s a hell of a thing!!

[@AtheAetheling]

That is true, and I like that. He didn't seem like a bad man at all.

[@rickhale4348]

The swamp honors their cherished members.

[@anarchyantz1564]

The swamp like to look after their own.

[@TheEDFLegacy]

@@AtheAetheling I firmly believe that Ford was a great man. Just a bad President. lol

[@artupage]

@@rickhale4348 the swamp? You mean shrek?

[@santiagomagana3148]

Kitty: "How can you say that you voted for Gerald Ford." Red: "Kitty no one voted for Gerald Ford"

[@LSSYLondon]

Streaking... I miss that show!

[@jamesricker3997]

She may have voted for him in 76 when he ran against Carter

[@mv7647]

@@jamesricker3997 That's impossible, since the episode revolves around Ford visiting Point Place as president. Ford wouldn't have been president after '76.

[@viprthered]

He ran for re-election

[@ericlabonte3817]

WEE WEE! PEE PEE! WEE WEE! PEE PEE!

[@jeffreydudgeon4579]

If folks want a really telling story about the character of the man, watch the documentary Black and Blue. It is the story of how he almost quit the Michigan football team because during the 1934 home game against Georgia Tech there was a demand that Michigan bench their black starting running back Willis Ward. And Ford pretty much said "if you bench Willis you can count me out."

[@RGC-gn2nm]

Met him once as a young pfc in the army. Nicest man, he actually spoke to me. Very uncommon for the era.

[@nutpeg6915]

Nice

[@jordancasti11o]

Very cool!

[@lionelmason339]

I disagree with Ford on almost every political issue. But in terms of being a good person, he's in the top 3 best human beings to ever hold the office.

[@gailmiller6333]

Lionel Mason Agree, a very decent human being.

[@taylorlibby7642]

Agreed. I was just about to make a very similar post. I really miss the days when you could have a legitimate political disagreement with someone but still respect and admire them for the person they are.

[@taylorlibby7642]

@Edward Lee Miller Do you know any Roman history? Ford always strikes me as a sort of American Cincinnatus because of that attitude of duty.

[@The1trueJester]

I'm firmly convinced you cannot be a good president and a good person

[@lionelmason339]

It's probably true. Every great president has been a piece of absolute garbage and every presidential failure was carried out by good people.

[@Finny869]

My aunt was his secretary after his presidential term. My grandpa and Ford used to golf together a lot.

[@nicolew6904]

Very cool! He seems like he was a very genuine person.

[@susantummon3463]

Quite the claim to fame. What was he like?

[@arcanondrum6543]

@@susantummon3463 Ford? A dirtbag really. He was a key member of the Warren Commission and then he buried all the crimes that Nixon had committed so Reagan said "Wow! I can get away with Iran/Contra when I'm President."

[@susantummon3463]

@@arcanondrum6543 I meant as a person, my question was not directed at you.

[@arcanondrum6543]

@@susantummon3463 Yes, I realized that but the truth matters enough to jump in and say "Hey, despite the whitewashing, Ford was a real dirtbag and we're better if we deal with history honestly but lost if we don't".

[@anarchyantz1564]

Can you do one on Joe Medicine Crow. He was a Native American writer, historian and war chief of the Crow Nation and the last Plains Indian war chief, which he managed to achieve while serving in WWII completing all four tasks required to become a war chief: touching an enemy without killing him (counting coup), taking an enemy's weapon, leading a successful war party, and stealing an enemy's horse and this is only part of this True Native American Badass. No bone spurs here.

[@anarchyantz1564]

@@brett4264 Oh no, there is WAY more than just this snippet. You need to hear how he actually did all those bits, plus his life before and after the war. He was still an active guy all the way up to his passing in 2016 and it is about time we hear from a REAL native American, not corrupt leaders or moronic politicians.

[@theawesomeman9821]

sounds cool

[@michaelhowell2326]

I was in the Army with a Native American named Joe Crow.

[@anarchyantz1564]

@@michaelhowell2326 Thanks for your service, hopefully your country is now looking after you.

[@--enyo--]

I’d really like to hear more First Nations Biographics.

[@knutthompson7879]

He was by all estimations a good guy. And loyal almost to a fault. Also, he was probably the most athletic president.

[@glendeaton5489]

Either him or Ronald Reagan

[@SuzysRedStripes]

I remember when he died. I had a president obsession, and when I saw that the flag was half-staff at school, I asked my dad if one of them had died. My parents are still upset to this day over the fact that the teacher didn't tell us. I still don't have the heart to explain to them that it's probably not standard kindergarten protocol to talk about a dead president. (If they can avoid it, at least.)

[@jeremyronald]

As a native Michigander, I have been to the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum a good number of times. If you ever get the chance to go to it, I highly recommend going.

[@michaelpetronzio6557]

Thank you so much people always forget about him . But he was an important person

[@dangreene9846]

The only president i have ever seen in person, Korea early 1975. He keep the country together after watergate. Didn't agree with him when he pardoned Nixon , but in hindsight he made the right decision.

[@michaelpetronzio6557]

@@dangreene9846 exactly . I beloved that to that it was a bad idea to pardon Nixon but he tried so hard

[@nigel_saxon]

Gerald Ford: Say, Homer, do you like football? Homer Simpson: Do I ever! Gerald Ford: Do you like nachos? Homer Simpson: Yes, Mr. Ford. Gerald Ford: Well, why don't you come over and watch the game and we'll have nachos, and then some beer.

[@raysixteen21]

I am related to him. My grandmother’s mother took care of him, housed his football team whenever they were traveling for games, and was familiar with his paternal family. No one was ever really close to him, but we do have a couple of documents and letters from him when he was in office. He’s a pretty cool cat

[@Stopcommentingthesamecomments]

Dog ur not related to him in the least bit im not saying ur lying because im sure what u said is true or not i dont really care But what u said is like saying ur great grandma took care of her friends cousin so im related to the cousin my brother Related means ur blood related

[@eventhat8103]

I had the opportunity to shake hands with President Ford not once but twice. First was during the 1976 Election Campaign. I found out he was going to have a rally at the Rochester, NY airport and begged my parents to take me (A two hour drive round trip). It was pouring rain, but an estimated 10,000 supporters were there cheering as Air Force One landed. We were right up at the front of the receiving line, and for a 12 year old kid, I was thrilled beyond belief when he passed by and grabbed my hand. 24 years later, I attended a dinner in his honor at my undergraduate alma mater. I sat at the next table. As soon as the dinner was over, I thrust my Kodak disposable camera into the hands of the University President and said "Take my picture with President Ford." I introduced myself, telling him I was a fellow left-hander and Eagle Scout, and reminded him of the Rochester event. He recalled it fondly, and now on my wall, I have a cherished photo of the both us looking at each other and shaking hands. In addition, I have a signed photo and a signed letter he sent me in response to a letter I had written to him years earlier, thanking him for getting me interested in a public policy career. He was the right man at the right time.

[@sesshoumiroku]

My home town finally made the Biographics channel!!! Thank you Simon for all the amazing work you and your staff have done over the years! You are all certified legends!

[@josephdriesenga2730]

As someone from Grand Rapids, Ford loomed large in my young life. He was perhaps second in popularity in the city only to Jesus.

[@sbevexlr848]

Damn imagine being more popular in your local area than most iconic American personalities and be 2nd next to Jesus in line lol

[@jamvan1000]

From GR. Can confirm..

[@LibraDiCaprio]

i can also confirm

[@anarchyantz1564]

Sounds like a backwards inbred swamp then.

[@Hollylivengood]

@@anarchyantz1564 Dude, we finally had a president who had worked for a living, was so honest none of our corrupt government liked it, and tried to keep the peace, and we didn't want him. Jeezus.

[@allanlank]

Bonus Fact: While playing for the University of Michigan, Gerald Ford threatened to quit if the university acquiesced to Georgia Tech and not play Willis Ward, a black player on the Michigan team. Mr. Ward did not play in that game but convinced Mr. Ford that defeating Georgia Tech on the field would be better than quitting. Michigan won the game 9-2.

[@adamcahoon6362]

My grandfather had a saying: “Ford was the best president we ever had. Because after watergate we didn’t let him do a damn thing.”

[@hggfhh4449]

In Robert Spencer's book rating the American Presidents, Ford got a 5/10 with a rating of did little good but not much damage.

[@hggfhh4449]

Robert said it was the right move not to do the bailouts in the long run.

[@Yoder023]

His parents fuggin hated him: "Lynch King" is his middle name at birth??? I'd change my name too!

[@ethanramos4441]

“A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have” Gerald Ford

[@swrennie]

"I hereby pardon Richard Milhous Nixon..." -Also Gerald Ford.

[@audreymuzingo933]

You mean like reproductive choice? The right to privacy and bodily autonomy? Who knew Republicans were so keen on having big government!

[@goblincomic4522]

Venezuela in nutshell . print money for people then inflation it to the point it lose all value

[@patrickthomas8890]

@@swrennieIt was the best move. Why waste govt time and money on prosecuting Nixon at the point? His career and reputation were absolutely destroyed. Inflation, oil/gas crisis, and Middle East were far more pressing issues then. Plus Nixon actually had the integrity to step aside for the good of the country instead of trying to “win” at all costs

[@BishopWalters12]

@mipmipmipmipmip Poor cupcake.

[@MissyMae15]

Very interesting. My great-uncle was President Ford's physician. His stories about that time are fascinating.

[@kohljackal]

I know someone in the family of the man who ran Nixon's ranch in California while and after he was President. That family's stories are fascinating, as well. Going to the Nixon Library with someone who had personal stories was quite an experience.

[@davecom3]

Cool! Any interesting info on the man?

[@l.f.r.6523]

I'm the great-uncle and confirm that.

[@ChrisJones-ij3xp]

DO tell us some of these stories. We who are on this thread here, promise not to tell...🤐

[@trevorn9381]

Did he ever tell Ford to quit smoking? Ford was a HEAVY pipe smoker.

[@pamelamays4186]

Ford did have an aircraft carrier named after him, so I suppose he wasn't that bad.

[@jeremystewert4303]

He had a whole class of carriers named after him. Jimmy Carter gets a shrimp boat.

[@Dahdoi]

That's not how any of this works!

[@mebsrea]

I’m hoping the Navy eventually commissions a garbage scow as the USS Donald J. Trump.

[@riogrande163]

@@mebsrea Careful, your TDS is showing.

[@mebsrea]

@@riogrande163 Nah, I just don't like treason.

[@berniekatzroy]

I always enjoyed how he was portrayed on the Simpsons.

[@matnichol]

“My name’s Gerald. I like football & beer.”

[@Fireglo]

His appearance was too short.

[@zetasong]

I wrote a letter to President Ford in 1975 at the age of 9...got a response from the White House answering my queries...I'm sure now he didn't answer it personally, yet it had his form signature on it...I thought that was cool...

[@Bariom_dome]

I can't help but feel sad for Ford because I can see myself in him. Thrust into a job I wish could do good, but everything fails and I just keep falling.

[@Redskies453]

Lol did they put you in charge of the drive thru?

[@daveschmarder-1950]

In the mid 80's former VP Ford gave a talk at the local college and I was able to attend. I came away thinking that he was an extremely intelligent man when it came to politics and the world. I didn't expect this. I always thought that pardoning Nixon was the best way to just move on with solving more important problems.

[@anarchyantz1564]

Yeah, sets a precedence that you can get away with anything when you have power and money, like rigging elections, committing crimes an "ordinary" person would be put in jail for life for. But what do you expect for the swamp.

[@0311Mushroom]

It was a good idea. Look at the nonsense of trying to impeach our last President after he left office. I do not like the guy, but it's over, move on already. At the time there were Democrats that wanted to do the same thing to Nixon. Also, Nixon was not actually involved in Watergate. The tapes show he also was shocked when he learned about it. His mistake came later in trying to cover it up.

[@b-genspinster7895]

@@0311Mushroom it’s easy to do things like wasting time impeaching a former president, twice or doing simple things like wanting to dismantling peoples rights in the name of safety or opening the border without considering the consequences. But, our new president and his slate lack the interest, will or intelligence to deal with actual problems like the social security debacle which looms large, diminishing natural resources, a burgeoning population and let us not forget about North Korea and Iran who would like to see us fall regardless of who runs this place.

[@Seinsmelled]

ford couldnt chew gum and fart at the same time how can you think hes smart

[@Alejandro_87]

Nachos, beer and football. Simple man.

[@anarchyantz1564]

Simple, no, dumb like Homer.

[@SiVlog1989]

Another factor that endeared Gerald Ford initially was something he said early in his first speech as President. "I am acutely aware that you have not elected me as your President. I have not campaigned for this enormous responsibility, but I will not sherk it. I have not gained the office through some secret deal, those who selected me as Vice President were my friends and are my friends, I am indebted to no man, but to one woman, my dear wife."

[@holton345]

As a ten-year-old boy, I received a WIN button in the mail from President Ford, and, because I was a ten-year-old boy, I was convinced that he had stuffed it in the envelope and written the letter to me himself. But today, at the age of fifty-seven, I harbor suspicions that this may not have been the case. ;-)

[@JohnDaker_singer]

My father had the privilege to become acquainted with Gerald Ford. Ford was on the board of directors in a company that my father was the CFO for back in the 1980s. This of course, was post presidency. My father was very proud of the fact that he had dealings with President Ford. Ford had what most politicians lack today- Honor. Honor is a dying trait, yet it was instilled in me by my family and those around me in my youth. When I deal with people or company’s today, I feel like I’m not on the same playing field. Nearly every interaction ends with me being screwed. I’ll be dead in 20 years, and I’m ok with that. I just feel for my children.

[@williamwingo4740]

Nowadays we need all the honor that money can buy.

[@franciscobuenrostro3891]

Keep those president videos coming. I can’t wait to see biographies on George H W Bush, Jimmy Carter, Calvin Coolidge, etc

[@SuperMegahart]

Coolidge in my opinion is not only one of the most underrated Presidents but one of the most humble men to hold the office. Reading his autobiography now.

[@franciscobuenrostro3891]

@@SuperMegahart I totally agree. He is the most underrated president in history. Also perhaps the The last president to really stick to the constitutional limits of his position

[@SuperMegahart]

@@franciscobuenrostro3891 Yup, agreed. We need more men like Silent Cal. Even regardless of political position, just having more politicians who aren't self-serving egotists would be a nice change. Just look at Coolidge's headstone, it's the very definition of modest. No indicator that it would belong to a President aside from the seal of the Presidency, which is how he requested it, because he thought himself no better than anyone else.

[@electroskates2434]

Calvin Coolidge is my favourite

[@TheDynamicJAB]

Coolidge helped keep immigrants out.

[@JohnSmith-rw2yn]

Underrated, real students of history realise he was a good president.

[@georgewashington5746]

We only know what we are taught

[@SKa-tt9nm]

@@georgewashington5746 wait until you hear about these things called libraries. Not every book has to be a textbook.

[@georgewashington5746]

@@SKa-tt9nm my point exactly most people won’t want to learn outside of what they are taught . People that are informed are the minority.

[@TheSoonToBePurgedJackMeHoff55]

Nice gatekeeping. "Only TRUE Xs will know that Y is da bestest evers!"

[@StigmataTickles]

Maybe, aside from pardoning Nixon.

[@lyndonb.johnson4224]

Gerald Ford, he was an honest president who said what was on everybody’s mind, this is best summarized by his quote: “I’m Gerald Ford, and you’re not.” Truly a honest president.

[@bernardtimmer6723]

Not really, his loyalty to Nixon forced him to exonerate him, that defines him for me...

[@ibrahimabubakar5]

Greatness was thrust at him, at the end of the day what matters is he was a GOOD Man

[@louthegiantcookie]

He always seemed like a nice, decent man. Nixon was ambitious and occasionally brilliant, but his demons drove him to paranoia and brutality. In retrospect, Ford would have been the better leader all along.

[@Bubbaist]

My grandmother was a dyed in the wool Democrat. She was also born on January 20. She loved sharing her birthday with the inauguration of Democratic presidents, but hated it when a Republican was inaugurated on her birthday. She died at the end of 2006, and she had her funeral on the same day as Ford’s funeral. We all wondered what she would have thought of that!

[@gimbobjenkins405]

Falling down with excitement I would guess.

[@arcanondrum6543]

She would have gotten drunk and popped pills. It may have been the first time for your grandmother but Ford's Wife did that all the time and who can blame her? Sat on the Warren Commission, hid the Nixon evidence...

[@rageius]

That's my birthday!

[@ephin3242]

The conclusions at the end are deeply missed every time I watch an older video, when it just stops after they die. These are really nice.

[@real-lemoncraw-dad980]

I’m an avid viewer of biographies and seeing those early photos of that area of Grand Rapids and comparing it to how it is now is quite insane. The blue bridge is a popular hangout area, kind of surreal seeing a much older photograph of it on a KZbin channel I love.

[@qiuyushi2752]

Title: “Gerald Ford: America’s Only Unelected President” Johnson, Tyler, and Fillmore: hold my beer

[@ralphp224]

By unelected, I think he means the only person to become president without being elected as either that or the Vice President. The three of them were Vice Presidents upon becoming president.

[@SuzysRedStripes]

That was a little bit different from a scenario.

[@arrow1414]

@@ralphp224 Elected vice presidents to be clear

[@twentytwo1862]

"I'm Gerald Ford and your not"

[@j.a.weishaupt1748]

*you’re

[@Chud_Bud_Supreme]

@@j.a.weishaupt1748 ^

[@quadri31]

@@j.a.weishaupt1748 r/woosh

[@Chud_Bud_Supreme]

@@quadri31 r/reddit is cringe

[@anarchyantz1564]

"You are" or "You're"

[@0311Mushroom]

Lose the Vietnam War? It was already over, it ended in 1973 with the Paris Peace Accords. North Vietnam attacked again in 1975 after the US left.

[@Mark-yy2py]

In 1974-1975, Ford asked Congress for military materiel to help the South Vietnamese military fight the VC and NVA. The democratic controlled Congress refused. Hence, the takeover by communists and the destruction of Cambodia- the killing fields.

[@MalloryNewcomb]

Gerald Ford being president is like if Forrest Gump ended up in the White House.

[@tysonkrehnke2835]

My absolute favorite gerald ford comment was that oversimplified bit "What really we actually had a bad acting president step down. Wow justice does actually happen.... Hi america my name is Gerald Ford and as my first act as new president I'm going to pardon Richard Nixon..... Oh there's the corruption"

[@ARCtheCartoonMaster]

For a second, I misread that as “America’s Only *Ugly* President”, and I was like, “Um… so Nixon and Clinton are a joke to you?”

[@michaelhowell2326]

When my dad was in the Army in Germany during the '70s. One time Ford came to speak to the troops so they had a multiple Brigade formation for it. After he did his speech he said "you are dismissed" and everyone fled. There wasn't much anything they could do to stop it.

[@matnichol]

Brilliant!

[@DCGamingNetwork]

Now we need a biographic on Jimmy Carter.

[@nicolew6904]

Yes!

[@hggfhh4449]

Well, Jimmy is in Hocpice, unfortunately. There will probably be many documentaries coming soon.

[@ImplodedAtom]

Ah, the days when actions had consequences in Washington.

[@anarchyantz1564]

Hardly, he pardoned a criminal, which seems about right for the rest of the swamp to come.

[@gimbobjenkins405]

@@marcopolo1134 Yeah your side only accepts gifts and charitable donations right?

[@neilpemberton5523]

@@marcopolo1134 I'm not here to defend the Democratic Party. I just have to point out that it was the conservative bench of SCOTUS which institutionalised corruption in politics with the appalling Citizens United ruling. The Republican Party had no problem with this. So stop being a partisan fool. There's no innocent Party here.

[@neilpemberton5523]

@@anarchyantz1564 Yes. One of the worst precedents ever. Ex-presidents if guilty should be jailed like everyone else.

[@anarchyantz1564]

@@neilpemberton5523 Ex or Actual. France has just jailed some of their ex presidents.

[@TheOlesarge]

I remember this time vividly. Gerald Ford was a decent man, and just the man we needed at that moment in time.

[@nwebster84]

Gerald Ford's pardon of Nixon is an example of how the view of history can change in many directions. It was first viewed poorly, then praised as healing a nation divided. As we now see, it didn't work. It created the precedent that the President is above the law, which had disastrous consequences in the last administration.

[@vitarius2465]

Still waiting for a William Wilberforce episode. A man who brought an end to the English slave trade and who is responsible for child labor laws/child protection would be a good example in today’s modern chaos

[@lifeform106]

I learned more history from this channel in a few weeks than my 18 years of k-12 school hahahah XD. So much better than cramming for tests and actually learning about their lives.

[@stevenwebb3634]

18 years? Did you repeat a few times?

[@anarchyantz1564]

@@marcopolo1134 No, no, its called "being a good capitalist" or "how I like the suck the rich elites ball sacks".

[@oddball6731]

@@anarchyantz1564 I see that you are good at following instructions.

[@MLaurenceWatson]

I felt like this video spent almost no time on Ford’s invention of the car. Big omission.

[@LynnCochran71]

What?

[@VicSage1836]

@@LynnCochran71 there is too much stupid in that comment to process. But you know, Henry/Gerald...car/assembly line. Completely interchangeable.

[@josephlannert969]

I've always felt President Ford and many others like him deserve more recognition than what history often bestows upon them, and more often than not your channel helps reinforce that

[@Seinsmelled]

gerald ford is a wet fart in terms of presidents

[@wennick4859]

I didn’t know his last name wasn’t originally Ford and I’m from Grand Rapids and have gone through his museum like 20 times 😂😂

[@justinweber4977]

Sounds like Ford was the real life version of Star Wars' Finis Valorum.

[@KEVMAN7987]

But he wasn't also a Kryptonian supervillain.

[@empiresoftheeast203]

Man, the ending of Simon's videos always hit me in the feels

[@marrtianchronicles5702]

My friend was an in home nurse for Betty Ford. She had many conversations with the former President and said that he was a very smart man, well educated on global affairs and politics. It's a shame that he was portrayed as a buffoon and idiot. I am happy that history is now being more kind to him.

[@bigbuddah2399]

He was portrayed that way because that is how they portray Republicans. The media has been left-wing for a long time.

[@williamwingo4740]

@@bigbuddah2399 The press never forgave him for the pardon, and never missed a chance to tear him down. If he fell down his airplane steps, or somebody had a reaction to the swine flu vaccine, it was guaranteed to be the lead news item that evening.

[@thecawdsquad875]

@@bigbuddah2399 True. Since Nixon the media has HATED the GOP. Of course they covered up Kennedy's personal behavior, went easy on Clinton, worshipped Obama, and are treating Biden with kid gloves.

[@vickiem.6096]

When President Ford was in Congress, my Mother wrote him to request help for my Step-Father. Congressman Ford wrote back and because of his contacts, helped my Mom get disability benefits for my Step-Dad because he was shot during a short leave while in the Navy. My brother has all the letters. President Ford helped many, many people in Michigan and beyond. We hold him in high esteem.

[@kevinhealey6540]

A real nice guy actually. I wrote him a letter and he wrote me back. He kept inflation in toe when he was in the White House. After he left he inflation got way out of hand.

[@TheJaviferrol]

I remember him from that episode of the Simpsons with George H.W Bush

[@paulorocky]

Do you like football? Do you like nachos?

[@n3v3rg01ngback]

@@paulorocky Then we should see the game and have some nachos. And maybe some beer.

[@robertschmidt7879]

The comments section is starting to jump the tracks here. The eight Verps who took over when their president died were elected as Vice President. Mr. Ford came to the office via the 25th amendment and then Nixon’s resignation

[@kiesersoze71]

Love youLove you

[@dp6447]

That ending was awesome Simon! Super powerful ✊🏻

[@petejohnson2945]

I grew up in Grand Rapids and my Grandparents knew Gerry Ford. My Grandfather and he both loved football and would often go watch High School teams practice in the morning before going to their jobs. I can say that Gerry Ford was loved by the people of Grand Rapids. As a congressman he took good care of his constituents.

[@PatSmashYT]

Gerald Ford in his presidential portrait looks like the most stereotypical American presidential portrait

[@12799MaDeuce]

House Minority Leader, "Minority Speaker of the House" isn't a thing

[@shebbs1]

Blame his researchers and scriptwriters and editors, who are American.

[@bradhobbs6196]

Give America's Next Top Model a freakin break, okay?

[@helios24601]

You know it's interesting that people say Ford's chance at re-election was completely doomed like he never had a chance to win when in 1976 Carter barely squeaked a win with 297 Electoral Votes. So I don't think Ford's chances must have been THAT weak.

[@justalurkr]

A drill instructor could get a fast ticket to the front by brawling with another drill instructor, according to my dad. He found out the hard way in 1944.

[@angelar468]

I really like how you approach these videos. This one and the one on Hoover in particular have been very enlightening. I really appreciate how you show them as people and not just as “the president”. It really changes the perspective when you think of it that way.

[@adameckard4591]

I would not call President Ford as accidental. There was the 25th ammendment and its system, and it worked. President Ford didn't go back to Vietnam, and ditching Nixon was the correct thing to do. The economy was hurting and that had been going on long before Ford. It was not Ford's fault that the world's economy was changing and USA's part was shrinking.

[@littleweasel100]

All I could think through this video is “yeah he sounds like he’s from Grand Rapids” 😂

[@noelmcewen84]

"Homer, do you like beer? Do you like football? Why don't we drink beer and watch football!" Greatest Simpson's episode ever!

[@PauloTheGeek]

History has been good to Ford. He didn't want to presidency, he just made the best of a bad situation and the decision to pardon Nixon was a brave one. In the end it the right thing because the country was able to move on, even if Gerry had to carry the can.

[@williamwingo4740]

He must have wanted it when he insisted on being nominated in 1976....

[@siononalundula1699]

@@williamwingo4740 of course once he got the job he wanted to keep it, like most people probably would. But he had never sought the job before that.

[@williamwingo4740]

@@siononalundula1699 It can also be argued (although I don't buy it) that he didn't want it, but that he sincerely believed he was the best choice for the republican nomination. Like the Kennedys, he ran for president selflessly, for the good of the country.

[@bryanwindsor551]

John Quincy adams be like: what about me!

[@xihorizonsx5220]

I’ve been looking forward to this one for ages

[@rodkeys3312]

Simon, for the first time I have to vigorously disagree with much of what you said. Gerald Ford was above all else a man of honesty and integrity. Only those who think craft and deceit are smart think Ford was a fool. Western Michigan, which included Ford’s district, was an area of extreme social conservatism influenced by Reform Movement Hollanders who located there in the 19th century. Ford’s honest, hard-work outlook was as you might have expect from an area so rooted. From one who was there at the time; Ford’s work to heal America’s divisions was the right thing and was largely effective. Thinking people across the political spectrum knew we either needed to let loose and win in Vietnam or go home. This idiotic idea, that a limited so-called war would frighten the communists to the point they’d go home, was doomed to fail from the day Robert McNamara cooked it up. Yet this course, the worst of all choices, was what we did. The division in America over this was stupidity incredible. By the time Ford came along, many, myself among them, felt the liberal draft dodgers needed to spend a decade or two in a federal penitentiary. The other side felt that those of us who served must all be baby killers. Ford’s steps to reconcile all this were hard to digest by both sides. But they were the right thing to do at the time. Watergate? Even Nixon’s worst critics do not think Nixon was behind the break-in. Rather, his efforts to cover for those on his staff who were, was plain stupid. Nixon was a very bad president, but this is not, or should not be, a Banana Republic. We do not prosecute past Presidents for political reasons. Ford’s pardon, distasteful as it was, was needed to put an end to all the rancor and nonsense. Ford, a rare honest man in politics, was the correct man at the time. - RK

[@leadwater6350]

The “farted at a funeral” line made me choke on my weed smoke

[@danielf1506]

trying real hard to sound cool nobody cares you toke

[@leadwater6350]

@@danielf1506 haha I was speaking facts of what happened when he said that line. Apparently you cared enough to wanna talk about it.

[@jdunnatl]

@@leadwater6350 Fight! Fight! Fight! 😂

[@akumaking1]

“Fart at a funeral” sounds like a Monty Python or Leslie Nelson gag

[@SuddenStrike_HQ]

Get used to choking, if you are smoking

[@trtj200]

I remember Ford well and agree pardoning Nixon killed him politically, but was the thing to do, because it effectively shut Nixon out of the public eye after the pardon Nixon could do nothing to get back into public life. Doing it that soon I believe caught Nixon unaware, he couldn't not accept it nor could he fight the conviction like I'm sure he had planned on doing. Trickie Dickie was a very adept name for him! trickie Dickie

[@arcanondrum6543]

Ford's Pardon paved the way for Iran/Contra. Had Nixon been punished or at least the evidence been more publicized, running criminal enterprises from the White House would have been more difficult.

[@-aaron_]

bro there is no escape.... how many channels do you own.. Love the content nonetheless. Good day

[@theduder9548]

Started watching but with the ads in the video and the KZbin ads I just stopped and looked him up on wikipedia

[@udbhavtiwari7323]

I've watched almost all of your videos in a span of a week... I'm very much interested in history and love the diverse coverage of yours in terms of personalities and events Thank you.. Keep rocking

[@andrewhowe7950]

Check out lindybeige too he’s brilliant, he tends more towards military history but he’s super watchable, does everything in one take and allows himself to digress a little, I love his videos....also count dankula’s “absolute mad lads.” May the binge continue! Happy lockdown, stay sane.

[@pakde8002]

I'm sorry but you're clearly exaggerating. It's physically impossible to watch all of Simon's videos in one week. Noobian alert

[@udbhavtiwari7323]

@@andrewhowe7950 thanks

[@sandybarnes887]

Try his 9 other channels

[@SimmaChode]

The first time I watched a Business Blaze video I was taken back by the tonal change. But after binging Business Blaze videos and coming back to Biographics and Today I Found Out, I'm once again taken back by the tonal change. Haha

[@The1trueJester]

Weve all agreed each channel is one of Simon's other personalities taking over. But they're becoming self aware

[@pennywood5653]

"The guy that farted at a funeral" Classic.

[@torqueamerican4319]

Fascinating stories - VERY well told. Bravo BIOGRAPHICS!!!

[@patrickthoma5320]

Have you done the Marquis de Sade?!?! I'd love to see that one.

[@cobra5087]

I think that was a classy episode. Not posting videos of Gerry actually tumbling all the time.

[@international-arms-dealer]

Fun fact: I actually am America's next top model.

[@gailmiller6333]

👏🏾Congratulations!

[@Liefvikerson]

Woo hoo 🎈🙌

[@darquequeen2323]

Good for you.

[@andrewquinn8993]

Who are you?

[@Liefvikerson]

@@andrewquinn8993 America's Next Top Model.. 🙄 Duh

[@doomed2crumble819]

“Only unelected POTUS ever” Bwahahaha.

[@misplaced442]

You should do a video about the Alday killings in Donalsonville, GA. It is truly stomach turning.

[@FarhanAmin1994]

Awesome!!! You kept me glued for the 20 odd minutes

[@generalkenobi5533]

Ford was a good man thrust into a position that only a bad man could have negotiated successfully. Washington didn't deserve him and he he deserved better than the situation he was placed in. He did his job and stabilized the political system.

[@AldenMoellerInc]

Didn’t know Binging with Babish had a British accent and taught history

[@remiburrell7330]

A great person to do a biographic of would be Colonel Hackworth. He was one of the most decorated US army veterans ever. He fought in Korea and Vietnam. He survived many wounds one being a bullet to the head. He wrote a very descriptive book about the events called About Face. He’d be perfect for a video on this channel

[@mzmscoyote]

I have never forgiven Ford for pardoning Nixon. I was enraged at the time and remain convinced that what Ford did was not calm the country but demonstrate what we all knew - that our Poobahs are above the law.