Gerald R. Ford

I judge Gerald Ford’s grave site as the most depressing. Usually presidential memorials are in pastoral settings or cemeteries that are peaceful and respectful. Ford’s is located in a small park area just off the main expressway going through Grand Rapids. It is next to his museum, and doesn’t look like a place that a person would actually be buried.

I visited Ford’s memorial and museum on a summer Saturday, I got there probably around 9:30, and there were only two other cars in the parking lot. The park area around the museum was empty of people except for two individuals sitting alone at different picnic benches along the Grand River.

The museum is interesting. Interesting because Ford was president for less than three years and took over from one of the most hated presidents in history. Presidential museums always stress the positive so fun factoids like Ford “served as former president longer than anyone except Herbert Hoover” are presented. There is a gallery that consists of just a collection of 60’s memorabilia.

I did learn something disturbing though. No matter the controversies and scandals that happen during a presidency, the power behind the throne, the power elite of Washington, never go away. Supporting Ford during his administration were Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense; Allan Greenspan, Council of Economic Advisors; George H.W. Bush, Director of the CIA; and Dick Cheney, Assistant to the President. Any of those names sound familiar?

I should read more about Nixon, during a film about the Watergate incident they showed a news anchor saying: “the president now says the facts are various to what he had previously stated.” I have heard the “I am not a crook,” bit (because it’s constantly parodied) but I now wonder how many other ways the guy tried to weasel out of the truth, with fun new ways to not explain what he did or how much he knew.

This museum presents less about the Fords outside the presidency than others I've visited. Although her fight with breast cancer is mentioned her alcoholism and the Betty Ford clinic is not.

Mr. and Mrs. Ford come across as very nice people, people it would be fun to spend an evening with. With his political career (a long tenure in the House) what he did as president I'll bet Ford would have won the election against Carter if Nixon hadn't turned the US against the Republican party.