Gerald Ford, 1913-2006.

Christmas post/ holiday post- all of those will come later. I come here now, to write news everyone in America has heard, and many throughout the world must know by now; Gerald Ford has passed.
His presidency was not an easy one, nor was it an ordinary one. He was the only unelected president to date (get over it democrats...let Florida go....), and he was aware of the task that lay before him. He was appointed into office after the resignation of Pres. Nixon due to the Watergate scandal. He served as a Naval officer, was in Congress, a VP and then finally, the President. It is said that his pardoning Nixon, cost him reelection.
He pardoned Nixon due to the fragile state of the country at the time. He wanted to spare the country 4 years of heartbreak and turmoil of a public trial of the president.

In an interview with Larry King, he stated that in retrospect, he would have liked to play at least one year of Pro football. He played football for the U of M. But instead of going to the Greenbay Packers, or Detroit Lions, he went off to Yale, and turned to a life in politics, and what a life, he did lead in politics. With two attempts on his life, and having to lead the country through a very contested war, and out of the Watergate scandal...
The press was relentless after he fumbled walking out of Air Force One, and it was made a skit by Chevy Chase in Saturday Night Live, but looking at his history, he was no clumsy individual.
After loosing the election two years later, to Jimmy Carter, they did not stay bitter rivals, instead, became friends.

There will be a day of Mourning, and the flags in the capitol and across the nation will all be set to half staff for thirty days. He will finally be laid to rest in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he grew up, and where his Museum is.

In a poll on the CNN website, apparently he will most (57% last I checked) be remembered for pardoning Nixon, as opposed to "helping a nation heal from Watergate").

Well, he will be remembered as a great leader, as one who had to take the reigns of a divided and hurting nation, and as one with moral integrity and of great leadership. He will be missed by many.