Gerald Ford Interview: His Greatest Achievement and Disappointment in Office

[@Thorscauldron]

He was a decent American thrown into a dirty wash. God bless him and America.

[@corinnehernandez4549]

This is interesting. I like listening to the perspective of former president's. I'm surprised more people aren't seeing these videos.

[@lifestoriesinterviews]

Thank you for your interest! We think you'd enjoy an interview we did with former President George H.W. Bush, which you can find here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6DSqGp8n7GArdk. If you think others might appreciate them too, feel free to share the videos-every bit helps to spread the word!

[@gavina4993]

yeah, it’s nice that they are removed from politics and can come closer to truly speaking their minds. as opposed to when they are still active politicians and are almost completely beholden to their own electoral and party interests

[@travisdean8794]

He didn’t even want to be Vice President or President, but he took on the responsibilities. He did the best he could with the hand he was dealt. Someone on here left a damn novel for a comment that just beats Ford down. My question to that individual is this…..with the same circumstances, could you have done better? If so, get your name on the ticket and show us all how great you are.

[@pissedoffdude1]

The right guy at the right time. Healing a divided nation at war and a broken nation at peace to just an all-around good, decent guy without any baggage. He's not the narcissistic psycopaths we have running the country now and unfortunately, that was his biggest weakness

[@kennedymcgovern5413]

Man, what kind of foolish statement is this? He didn't want to be vice president or president... What have you been smoking cowboy? He altered the Kennedy autopsy report, and the presidency was his reward when the time came. Don't say dumb things on the internet. It's just too common of a thing to do.

[@jaraunrobinson654]

People forget before carter gave his innagural address 1st thing he did was thank ford for all he did to heal the country i agree ford was in a tough spot especially trying to do whats best for country despite the way he came into office its hard to go from vp to potus if not election year

[@TheCarpentersApprentice]

What a great interviewer. Ask question clean & concise then lets the President answer. Doesn’t take time to self aggrandize or make the interview about himself like so many do now. Lots to learn from both the men in this video.

[@lifestoriesinterviews]

Thank you! Your comment means so much to us here at Life Stories

[@blinkzone1]

The thing I admired about President Ford was that he was so laid back

[@martonk]

@@blinkzone1 well he was a genuine person I think. You can only be at ease with other people if you are at ease with yourself.

[@danielpennington6053]

My dad wrote President Ford a letter after he lost the 1976 election and Mr Ford responded to him. My dad still has the letter Ford wrote him hanging in his office.

[@kylereese2888]

@@danielpennington6053 That would be so epic to see

[@JohnRoland]

Ford was one of my all time favorite POTUS. A true man of integrity, humility and stability.

[@yellyman5483]

Thank you for posting this. Gerald Ford was a great man, and a good president.

[@LoydKline-uw4no]

My hero great president

[@NealW.-re7jm]

The world would be better off with more people like him these days...

[@JimmyJames10-k7v]

not holding presidents accountable?

[@laurencebrooks7699]

President Ford was a great man who was well liked in Congress and could work bipartisan issues; this is the main reason President Nixon chose him to be the VP after Agnew resigned. History tells us the rest and how Ford became president.

[@Terminxman]

Nixon didn't choose Ford, he was chosen for him by Carl Albert. Ford was the intelligence agency's guy and they installed him

[@emmajohnson7364]

This is really interesting. I never really knew anything about Ford besides the fact that he took over after Nixon resigned and was the only president to never win an election. I’ve always looked him over but he’s certainly worth knowing. All of those stories, he was right in the middle of American history.

[@joanpeach8927]

Nice kids too. His son was in a Murder, She Wrote.

[@ForeverBennett]

Jerry was a very decent and honourable man.

[@anthonydiana7646]

He placed in office during a difficult time he did a great job , He was giving a job during a scandal and a war and a bad economy .

[@SeanDiVsrco]

God Bless President Ford yes I respect and yes I need to do the right thing and yes it will be done by us and thank you for wisdom and knowledge and yes I need both,thank God Bless President Ford and thank.

[@jeffearle8172]

A fine man who was president at just the right moment in our history.

[@daveware4117]

Sounds like a hell of a nice guy. The end is my favorite.

[@phillramirez8323]

Mr. Ford is all right. He invited me to his house for football and nachos and then after some beer😬🏈🍺

[@TomSanderson100]

So Lloyd Bentsen did know jack Kennedy! I like the way Hugh sidey does these interviews he let’s them talk

[@songofyesterday]

I love how he frames our perspective that President Nixon is human, and we all make mistakes. Got to look at the overall picture and see how much good was done.

[@robertleitch7528]

President Ford sent a birthday card to my grandmother in the nursing home, wishing her a happy 91st birthday. That really made her feel good and proud that the potus sent her a birthday card.

[@linz8291]

such a heartwarming birthday card🎂🥂

[@JamesWilson-sb9iq]

Ford seems like a decent person

[@jimmycricket5366]

Of course they all 'seem' decent.

[@CheekaPeeka]

@@jimmycricket5366 Trump does not.

[@jimmycricket5366]

@@CheekaPeeka Hello, wrong century.

[@fortitudevalance8424]

President Ford did right pardoning President Nixon. The reason doing so was straightforward and did not make up some nonsense, it may have been detrimental on his election campaign against President Carter but he did the right thing. All 3 are fine gentleman of the state.

[@olgopine950]

One of the best guys to be President. Bravo Jerry Ford

[@carmenevans7651]

Like him or hate him or be indifferent, at least he's coherent.

[@zarifbajrami454]

PERSHENDETJE INDERUAR Intervista e Gerald Ford RESPEKT

[@casonkaulana142]

Great man!

[@LoydKline-uw4no]

My hero got the same birthday

[@BishopWalters12]

Ford is my favorite President of the last 60 years.

[@LoydKline-uw4no]

❤️ Gerald Ford

[@Terminxman]

Why?...

[@BishopWalters12]

@@Terminxman Why not?

[@patrickflohe7427]

⁠@@BishopWalters12 Well, there must be some reason for feeling that….not saying it’s wrong, & don’t think the other guy was, either.

[@connieverbeck1110]

Thank you for this valuable insight into this wonderful President.

[@cbudde]

Character. Thoughtfulness. Patriotism without jingoism. Humility. Why can’t we have leaders like this now? What does it say about We the People?

[@RobertGSwan]

President Ford was / is one of my favorite presidents - character, decency and integrity. President Ford would have detested everything about Trump and the MAGA Republicans.

[@ballinhunter12]

That’s right and all the Trump supporters would have called him a RINO. It’s sad what has happened to the party of Lincoln.

[@dannyjones3689]

@@RobertGSwan you guys are crazy he definitely would not be supportive of what the Democrats have become

[@patrickflohe7427]

@@dannyjones3689 Absolutely right. He would’ve been disgusted by the America-hating Democraps. He loved his country, and would support MAGA. There’s nothing wrong with making America great again.

[@patrickflohe7427]

No, he would’ve been disgusted by the America-hating democraps of today, promoting illegals & letting our cities decay.

[@trannongoble7722]

Ford was a good man. He was thrown into chaos.

[@thomaspick4123]

They are all puppets of the New Yorkers. You could dress a monkey and put a scepter in its hand, that could be our president. A president just has to smile, shake hands, read speeches someone else writes, and vote the way the string pullers tell him to. My goodness, look at him lie in this interview concerning the Warren Commission, the Oliver Stone movie, how he still can straight faced lie and say Lee Harvey Oswald was the sole assassin of JFK. What a liar! Oswald never fired a shot that day. No wonder Betty became an alcoholic. She had to listen to lies for years and years, which made her sick to her stomach. It is good Ford is gone now, a worthless liar!

[@robfmas]

Oh my God thats an understatement

[@noelyohannes300]

Ford was a true believer in public service. A true statesman.

[@juliusrandle2733]

Only God truly knows how "good" he was

[@GDuncan8002]

@@juliusrandle2733 By their deeds you will know them.

[@karendarnall1243]

I have been enjoying the presidential interviews. With the DJT era as it is, how wonderful for these sensible, intelligent visits.

[@jimmycricket5366]

Oh Karen, try to look a little deeper than skin deep!

[@2H2521]

@karendarnall1243 Always gotta find some kind of way to bash Trump. 🙄

[@karendarnall1243]

@@jimmycricket5366 Truth hurts doesn’t it!

[@karendarnall1243]

@@2H2521 As I said to another, truth hurts

[@mikepistone8964]

@karendarnall1243 Truth hurts, doesn't it? 🇺🇸

[@charlesboone9547]

My brother Gerald Ford and president of the United States when I was born in 1976

[@matthewrider5906]

He... If it wasn't for his pardoning of former President Nixon, if he'd have just waited til AFTER the election of 1976, and to a lesser degree, Betty Ford's being so forthright abt abortion rights & her alcoholism... He would've almost certainly have won a term in his right. I nearly know he would've.

[@Tafticle]

He mentions in his memoirs that Nixon, not long after his resignation, was in the hospital, unkempt, depressed, and broke from the legal actions he was dealing with. Ford felt that he couldn’t stall the actions for political purposes.

[@BishopWalters12]

Presidents don't get reelected if a recession is going on, yes, I know Ford wasn't elected but he was the President for over 2 years and Presidents get too much credit or blame for the economy. Carter, Daddy Bush and Trump were only one term for that same reason. Biden will also lose if inflation doesn't go down or the economy isn't better by the 2024 election.

[@tylerkochman1007]

Betty likely helped him with a lot of voters. Polls showed people actually approved of many of her “controversial” comments. His big mistake was pissing off NYC. He only lost New York State by a few points, likely attributable to the “Ford to City: Drop Dead” headline

[@patrickflohe7427]

I don’t think congress would’ve waited until after the election, to spank Nixon. But regardless it was taking up a lot of his time, & something had to be done. I think he really did try to makes things better & heal the country, rather than think about himself.

[@matthewrider5906]

@@Tafticle I've read that too. Nixon got to a place, that no man, ever... Well, he was in mighty, mighty bad shape! And I'll just leave it at that.

[@ronaldzent6321]

Ford was also upset with George W Bush's policy on Domestic spying( around 2003). Ford passed in late 2006

[@williamwingo4740]

Gerald Ford's image has been cleaned up considerably in the last few years; but some of us older folks remember a different story from the 1970's. The immediate reaction to the pardon was brutal. The democrats and the media wanted Nixon drawn and quartered and his head stuck on Traitor's Gate. Ford took that dream away from them, and they never forgave him for it. They simply expanded their hatred of Nixon to include Ford. Reading the comments here about what a great man Ford was, it's almost comical to recall his press coverage between the pardon and the election. He was loudly booed at several public appearances, and even had to leave one or two early by the back door because of unceasing chants and catcalls of "No Pardon!" and "Eat [---]." Every time he wiped out on his skis, or someone died after getting the Swine Flu vaccine, or some kid was killed or injured waiting for a school bus in the dark because of "energy-crisis" blackouts and year-round-daylight-saving time, it was automatically Ford's fault and became the lead story on the news that evening. Running for president in 1976, he offered to come help campaign for several down-ballot republican candidates; and many of them privately begged him not to. Imagine declining an endorsement from the president of the United States--of your own party.... Even Chevy Chase suffered permanent injuries doing "falling-down-klutz" Ford parodies on "Saturday Night Live." Gerald Ford was the weakest and least-qualified presidential candidate of the twentieth century--and I'm tempted to add the twenty-first, even though the competition in that period is stronger. Nobody on either side would have considered him presidential material before greatness was thrust upon him. Even Nixon saw the irony of the situation: he was supposed to have said to Melvin Laird: "Can you imagine that [derogatory epithet deleted] sitting in this chair?" But he (Ford) was the "incumbent" and the nominal head of the party, and by tradition he could have the nomination if he wanted it; so he went for it. Personally, I believe he was manipulated into running by the Nixon holdovers in his cabinet: the same ones who had manipulated him into the pardon, especially Haig and Laird. Ford had few original ideas of his own, except maybe the "WIN" buttons; and he was nothing if not manipulatable. They figured the pardon would be old news by 1976; that he would probably keep most of them on in the new term; and that they could continue to manipulate him. But fortunately or unfortunately, the pardon was to Gerald Ford what Chappaquiddick was to Edward Kennedy: a millstone hung around his political neck for the rest of his life. If he had realized that the pardon had made him unelectable, he could have declined to run and endorsed the nominee of an open republican convention. I still would not have agreed with the pardon; but I could have accepted that. He would have been remembered as a healing and unifying force, sacrificing his own chance at the presidency for the good of the country. Instead he ran for president demonstrating that he didn't have a clue; lost; and saddled the country with Jimmy Carter. It's now almost fifty years later, and my blood pressure probably just went up a couple of points from thinking about it. 🤠

[@jaysshittyvideos3039]

It's nice to see a perspective from someone who lived in Ford's day. Thank you.

[@williamanthony9090]

@@jaysshittyvideos3039 I lived in Ford's day. He was the first president I actually voted for. And everything this guy said about Ford, in his long winded comment, is opinionated buffoonery!

[@r.c.1881]

Would you say, retrospectively, whithout regard as to how it impacted his election campaign, that his pardon was the best thing to do for the greater good of the nation, or that he should have allowed prosecution instead?

[@jimmycricket5366]

​@@jaysshittyvideos3039I agree. Also, Ford is always very defensive about the Warren commission and Oswald. Well, history has essentially vindicated Oswald. A big thank-you to all those, including many professionals in the applicable fields, who have devoted much of their lives to finding the truth about that event and Oswald.

[@AM_2564]

I agree wholeheartedly,and I too am old enough to remember when Nixon resigned and the aftermath of the pardon.

[@bradyfry8031]

When did this interview take place? Post 1997?

[@lifestoriesinterviews]

Hi Brady - this interview was conducted on October 22, 1996. Thanks!

[@robz7789]

Gerald Ford was a good guy! Just a good guy!

[@crimony3054]

His Pardon of Nixon was controversial, but it was not ultimately defeating. More important was Ford's lack of experience anywhere but in the Congress and his complete absence of experience in national politics and national campaigns. Ford is the last of "establishment" GOP presidents who shunned the right wing of the party. Even Bush 41 pandered to them with Willie Horton, flag burning, and the pledge.

[@patrickflohe7427]

Well, not many presidents had much prior experience with international affairs, but Ford did have his minority leader position, and Carter didn’t have more experience than he did. I’m not saying Ford would’ve been a Reagan, but he certainly had more backbone than Carter, while still doing the right thing.

[@crimony3054]

@@patrickflohe7427 Yes, Johnny Carson joked that Carter's foreign policy experience consisted of breakfast at the International House of Pancakes. But it was Ford's assertion in error that there were no Soviet troops in Poland that cost him the debate and broke the race open.

[@ipattison]

I'm a Ford, not Lincoln.

[@joaquinpraveenvishnu8509]

What a wonderful man!

[@lindafrench7574]

Yes to protect

[@secdetau]

Cometh the hour cometh the man.

[@brianmcpherson2134]

Interesting man. I read all about him in TranceFormation of America by Cathy Obrien,

[@russford3988]

Lt Commander USN⚓️1942-1946

he was a good man

[@jeffallcock4561]

Ever a yes-man, Ford will always be remembered, if at all, as a non-entity.

[@honneyswaggirt9320]

Google if America ever had a king. His name pops up. Wasn't a ruling king of course but a king by birth rite. So we had a king in power just a displaced one 😂 pretty frickin cool. ❤

[@Dfturcott]

All he wanted to do is watch football and eat nachos with his neighbors in Springfield.

[@ABurningCandle]

44:00

[@carlousmagus5387]

Oswald did not assassinate President Kennedy. With all due respect to President Ford.

[@batladder1]

After Ford's explanation of the Warren Comission's findings I realised you can't trust anything that comes out of his mouth

[@GDuncan8002]

He was there and you weren't.

[@batladder1]

@@GDuncan8002 He wasn't at the assassination. He looked at the evidence, like I did. Including the Zupruder film, which the Warren Commission had access too

[@GDuncan8002]

@@batladder1 It's funny that you think those things are the same. He had access to primary sources, concurrent eyewitnesses in 1963, not people whose memories have faded after sixty years, and classified info you've certainly never seen. He's imminently more qualified to speak on it than any of us.

[@batladder1]

@@GDuncan8002 And yet he got it wrong. Hence, he's a liar

[@GDuncan8002]

@@batladder1 How wonderfully vague and unspecific.

[@MikeJones-yd9kf]

“Healing the nation” more like protecting a criminal that should’ve gone to prison for breaking the law.

[@jimmycricket5366]

Yes, Cornpop should've done a better job.

[@VMHP23]

Inserted by the establishment. I’m sure they did love him.

[@briangrigsby1842]

forgiving Nixon was unforgiveable. Otherwise he was not the worst. We have Bush Family and Biden for those places.

[@Bratacharyya]

@@briangrigsby1842 you're no one to decide what's unforgivable and what's not.

[@mr_mhg91]

43:47

[@ronaldzent6321]

He forgot to mention Civil and Voting Rights legislation passed, Ford was also wrong on the mentioning of two historical events , he mentioned 1943 as the year of the Paris peace accords, it was 1973 not '43. And that the Pueblo incident happened a "couple of years prior" to the Mayaguez incident, it was actually 7 years (1968). Before the Mayaguez (1975) happened. Ford was often rather mocked for his being seemingly short in the intellect department. Still, a pretty decent man overall, sure could use him in this terribly divided political climate we are in

[@kathiewool4292]

I think he did the best he could considering what fell on his lap.

[@lesliesteffy6275]

He is my favorite and I have read most everything that is of historical about all the presidents, it may be in large part of the fact that with Watergate he chose to do the best thing for the country & in doing so he committed political suicide.

[@shadyhamzawy8358]

رجاله والله انضف من النصابينوبتوع الشقى وهم عايشينوفى قصور وياكلون اكل محدش بيغرفةيشتريى

[@Albert-Arthur-Wison225]

“ The eggheads are all for Stevenson. “ “ Yes. But, how many eggheads are there ? “. Did the eggheads grow in such exponential numbers & influence by 1975-76 to get rid of President Ford ?…

[@Richard-zd8pg]

What would Ford say about Donald Trump? Ford called for healing and reconciliation. A far cry from today’s Republican Party.

[@jval6459]

@Richard-zd8pg today's democratic party isn't much better. Both sides spew fear and cultism

[@RinaSalguero]

Que manden a la DEA a Guatemala, con control de Estados Unidos de America. ❤😂🎉

[@pjt03]

you know Lyndon... He just twisted my arm... re Kennedy's Assignation Who Benefited?

[@vincentjacobsson3981]

I think it should be investigated if the American states now and then are legislated with the Bible written as a story. The word immunity (Latin immunitas, freedom from obligations to the state) comes from a religious revelation from the middle ages, most likely from a pope to become lawless, and which has since been rewritten into sovereign, absolute, and qualified immunity (legally, cannot be prosecuted for criminal act) to the president, senate (origin, the Roman Empire), congress, cabinet, and Supreme Court for law decisions and actions. It should also be investigated if fallen soldiers were elected by the people or not. The political exploitation of the vital ecosystem has now led to forest death (force majeure) how will it affect people's economy, etc. I also think The Democratic party can be a consciously misleading party name with all parties belonging to The Republican party, as current political democracy and socialism can only be about going more toward the middle, e.g. The Democrats for law decisions and actions, even with the misleading word professional politician. Furthermore, I think the people should consider voting for a real democratic party with an independent state formation to investigate if the president, parties, senate (origin, the Roman Empire), congress, cabinet, and Supreme Court overall may be guilty of a violation of democratic rights with misleading elections, serious economic crimes, violation of human rights with class society for adults and children, and serious environmental crime (force majeure).

[@jake8855]

WTF?

[@shadyhamzawy8358]

احسن ناس تعيش وسطهم بياخدوا حقوقهم بدماغهم نعمل سلاح زى ما احنا عايزين من هنا لتخر الدنيا و بيدوا الناس رفاهية بدماغهم واديهم مش نرضى باى قرف ونقول ربنا جايبها باللقمة

[@lindafrench7574]

I have already sent you instructions she will come to us soon very soon she knows you no.inAted me to west point you were disappointed when i left but now you know why this is all i will say end

[@JimmyJames10-k7v]

who u talking to

[@pariahpeter7118]

At LEAST FIFTEEN commercial interruptions. My inclination to Subscribe blown away, i un-ticked. Decent interview ruined, i struggled to the end & made a note not to view any other video from this source. SPAM KILLS AUDIENCES.

[@fuqui035]

He pardon Tokyo rose and Nixon what a loser

[@JoseGomez-wd1qc]

Sorry sorry

[@lindafrench7574]

I confuse her😊

[@loisONEILL-r5n]

NN2

[@matthewrider5906]

Even as a registered (leftist; social democrat🌹) Independent who is a Moderate-to-quasi-Liberal, socially speaking....

[@billbresson4663]

A Decent man who got T

[@LibertyStation92106]

I don't understand President Ford could possibly go along with The Warren Report.