Newsweek Gets One Right

There was quite a debate at Newsweek over this week's cover story. They got it right:

NEWSWEEK's managing editor has decided to place President Ford on the cover of next week's issue -- over the execution of Saddam.

Even before news came of Saddam's execution, there was debate at the magazine about whether Ford's death merited a cover story; some dismissed him as a "transitional" president, explains the magazine's Jon Meacham.

"I felt differently. There is much to learn from Ford's legacy-one that we explain and explore in detail-and his brief, 29-month presidency shapes us still. This is not to say that Saddam is an unimportant historical figure: we have twice gone to war against him, and many American soldiers have died fighting him and his regime. But his death in 2006 matters less than his removal in 2003 does. America faces a terrible predicament in Iraq, and that predicament is the same today as it was on the day before Saddam was hanged."

He continues: "There could be no greater contrast than that between Gerald Ford and Saddam Hussein, and word of Saddam's death illuminated Ford's grace and generosity even more."

When one of only 42 men* in the nation's history who have served as president passes away, that should certainly trump other news.

*I know - President Bush is the 43rd President of the United States, but Grover Cleveland served twice making him the 22nd and 24th President of the United States.