The Daily Nightly began on May 31, 2005. As Brian wrote in his first post it aims to provide a narrative of the broadcast day and a window into the editorial process at NBC Nightly News. Brian weighs in every weekday and NBC News correspondents and producers post regularly.
Brian Williams became the seventh anchor and managing editor in the history of NBC Nightly News on December 2, 2004. Read his full biography.
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Today's afternoon editorial meeting was one of those rare occasions. Let me put it this way: President Ford had no detractors at this meeting. Everyone was in a contemplative mood -- the conversation centered around our coverage, and making sure we have the very best elements needed to tell his uniquely American story.
Along the way there were fragments of conversation about him -- the first President, to my knowledge, to model clothing (along with his future wife) for compensation, and also on the sartorial front, the last President to wear a three-piece suit. He was certainly the only President to live (for a short time) in a townhouse in Alexandria -- where the Fords remained while the Nixons' possessions were being emptied out of the residence portion of the White House. One morning, the President left his home in Alexandria for the White House and a reporter asked him what he was carrying. He famously answered, "some shoe trees and my high school annual!" He clearly believed in piecemeal moving.
While I posted some reminiscences late last night that appeared below early this morning, the day 
has been dominated by thoughts and discussions of the President and his Presidency. One of my prized possessions here in my New York office (which I showed to my co-workers today) is a photo by David Hume Kennerly of Ford and his beloved dog, Liberty, inscribed to me by the President. I thought of Justice John Paul Stevens, Ford's appointment to the Supreme Court. Today I again researched President Ford's military experience, from the transcript of one of my interviews with him: 47 months in the Navy, most of it on board the combat aircraft carrier Monterey, CBL-26. He had the job of assistant navigator, and for a time the Monterey was attached to Halsey's task force. He was officer of the deck in general quarters, and once during a typhoon he slid across the flight deck and was saved only by hanging on to the narrow steel lip at the edge of the deck. Knowing his Captain would not have turned around for one sailor overboard, he later told me, "I thanked the Good Lord. He took good care of me." He certainly did. Last night I went through my collection of letters that I'd received from him over the past few years, many of them handwritten. I counted my blessings for being fortunate enough in life to have known such a man in the small way that I did. I think the one word I've heard most often today is "decent." When spoken in the context of Jerry Ford, it is high praise indeed.
Tonight we'll devote the majority of the broadcast to President Ford and his memory, and we will have a lot of help remembering him: Andrea Mitchell will be with us, so will Tom Brokaw (NBC's White House correspondent back then, who went on to find steady work), and we'll hear from Ford's personal photographer David Kennerly...and a host of others. President Ford lived to a ripe old age. "Those were good innings," as a friend of mine put it today. Indeed they were. His death is a milestone in American life, just as his was a uniquely American life.
We hope you can join us for what we think will be a special broadcast tonight.
Read more from Brian Williams 2006
In public as he was in private
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What will be the sequence of eulogies Tuesday at the Gerald Ford funeral? I am interested particularly in Tom Brokaw's participation.
(Sent Jan 1, 2007 3:00:29 PM)
15+ years ago President Ford made a surprise visit to the Roanoke, Virginia school where my three young sons were students. That same night, the former president spoke at Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia. I was able to take son #2, Micah, to hear and to meet the 38th President. The President was willing to have a picture taken with Micah and to take the time to speak with his mother, the political history teacher. I have used Mr Ford's words many times in my classes over hte years:
"There is nothing that we can't accomplish," the President said "regardless of political party of Congress and the White House when we work together for the American people. There is nothing we CAN accomplish for the American people, regardless of political party of Congress and the White House when we don't work together."
Wise words and warm graciousness which have remained with us all. He was the correct man in the correct place when we needed him.
(Sent Dec 30, 2006 7:05:52 PM)
Please advise if you have indicated that President Ford could be called a liberal. If true, don't insult us. The president was decent, hard-working, fair, honest, caring, true to family values and loved his country. Those words do not define a liberal.
Anna M. Addison, MI
(Sent Dec 29, 2006 3:59:44 PM)
Brian -
Thank you for the serious way you approach the news. I'm sure that during the holiday season, you had some plans that didn't involve the 'office'.
I've been amazed at the casual way several of the other networks and cable stations have treated the death of a President of the United States. Some ran a crawl, others are still using substitutes while their 'anchors' are vacationing.
And yet, somehow we all know that when the news is serious, you will be there. I noticed that your predecessor, Tom Brokaw made himself available too.
You are truly carrying on a strong tradition at NBC news.
Joan Chapman, Cheshire, CT.
Joan Chapman, Cheshire, CT. (Sent Dec 28, 2006 10:34:14 AM)
Brian:
It struck me as ironic that President Ford died the same day as President Truman did in 1972. I don't think anyone has mentioned this in the coverage I watched last night. Two Midwesterners who were thought to be caretaker Presidents who led the country through difficult times have risen in esteem as time has gone by.
David K. Milwaukee Wi (Sent Dec 28, 2006 10:19:52 AM)
Brian
Growing up in Michigan even as a little girl I was so Proud to have the President not just be from my state but from the same region. SW Michigan. I remember him talking to my 4th grade class. Not as if we were just kids but actually future adults, leaders and voters. As early as 9 years old I fell in love with the responsiblility every American has to at least be politically informed. Thanks to President Ford I have only missed one local election sence my 18 birthday and that was b/c I was in the hosptial in ICU. We Truely have lost a great man.
Elizabeth Stiller, Mishawaka, IN (Sent Dec 28, 2006 2:40:03 AM)
Brian, You neglected to talk about President Ford's great love of dogs. I know it seems trivial with the monumental things this man accomplished, but his love of dogs showed that intensely compassionate side of his personality that guided him through some of America's roughest times.
Vikki Martin, Wilmington, NC (Sent Dec 27, 2006 8:58:12 PM)
Brian, I'm looking forward to the broadcast tonight; Ford's life is a reminder that politics does not HAVE to be mean and vicious. It can be positive and congenial.
Thank you for sharing your memories and your experience with the President; those are shining moments to cherish!
(To the NBC tech staff; tonight is one of those where the "connect with us" box is overlapping the message box.)
Lynn G. Minneapolis, MN (Sent Dec 27, 2006 5:58:29 PM)
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