President Gerald Ford Dies at 93

President Gerald Ford, who had the unenviable task of following Richard Nixon into office following Nixon's resignation, has died tonight at the age of 93. The statement was issued by his wife Betty: "My family joins me in sharing the difficult news that Gerald Ford, our beloved husband, father, and grandfather, has passed away..."

The 38th president of the United States was the nation's only unelected president, though he tried for election in 1976 and lost to Jimmy Carter in a voter backlash against Nixon and the Republicans following the Watergate scandal. Despite all of his predecessor's scandals, and a primary challenge from Ronald Reagan, Ford still nearly beat Carter.

In 1976 I visited the White House during a church choir tour and was able to stand on the South Lawn during the arrival ceremony for German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt. President Ford passed just a few feet away from me during the review of the troops.

His most memorable statement in office came on his first day as president when he stated that "our long national nightmare is over". Shortly thereafter he pardoned Richard Nixon, the move that probably cost him the 1976 election.

Ford also became fodder for comedians with his bumbling manner (he had several well-publicized tumbles). Chevy Chase played it up in the early days of Saturday Night Live and it became a regular feature of Chase's bits on SNL.

Ford paid the price for the country's disgust with Nixon in more ways than one. He had two different women attempt to assassinate him in office, something that I believe was more directed at disgust of the office rather than any dislike of Ford. I also remember one silly thing that occurred during his presidency - the W.I.N. buttons, which stood for Whip Inflation Now. Somehow we were all going to stop inflation by wearing those buttons.

I always liked Ford, a guy who would never have become president had he run for that office. It took a scandal involving Vice President Spiro Agnew and subsequent resignation to put Ford in position to become president in 1974. I doubt he would ever have run on his own, having served in the House for decades.

Funeral plans are pending.