I was able to talk briefly with then Vice President Ford in his office at the Senate. He was so easy to meet and was so humble, a few weeks after that meeting he was pressident. I always appreciated the way he talked with our small group and had prayer with us.

As a high school student in the mid-seventies I was looking for my politcal identity. My family was traditionally Democratic and the times would have suggested that I follow in that tradition. But my hero was Dwight Eisenhower, then I was given the example set by Gerry Ford and I became a Republican. I have kept to those values which are now considered "liberal" which is ashame because it is not the views that are so important but the underlying foundation of being decent and honest, a truth forgotten by both parties. Perhaps with the recent election and the realization that we are failing to live up to our past hero's such as Gerry Ford and Dwight Eisenhower we will rediscover our moral foundations.

I long for the days when honesty, courage, decency modesty, faithfulness and love were held in high regard as the greatest characteristics one could aspire to have. When the history books are written about OUR generation, how many times will those words be used to describe anyone in office, or for that matter, anyone at all? Not many I will wager. Gerald Ford was part of that "Greatest Genereation", of which there are so few left. We have been so blessed to have had him to look up to. The choices he made during his brief presidency are so admired today, some 30 yars later. Who will our own kids have to do the same...............?

Thank you President Ford for making a decision that healed our nation but ultimatly cost you an election. Integrity and integrity only drive decisions like these .

This quote made me cry: “My fellow Americans,” he said, “our long national nightmare is over. Our Constitution works. Our great republic is a government of laws and not of men. Here the people rule.”

I was a sailor aboard the USS Stribling (DD-867) when Mr. Ford became president. Following his address to the Congress and the nation, the Main Propulsion Assistant (an engineering officer) made the comment: "I like him." He was a refreshing change after years of scandal and controversy.

I am saddened by President Ford's passing, but also sad that young Americans today missed the experience of seeing the courage and selflessness of what a politician should be - courageously putting the best interests of this country before personal gain. When he was defeated by Jimmy Carter in 1976, I wrote him a letter, expressing thanks for his healing of the country and regrets that he would not be continuing as our President. In typical Ford fashion, he responded with a warm and humble note, thanking me. High school students everywhere should be required to study his character, behavior and devotion to this country, as a model for future generations. Sadly, we may not see his likes again. Rest in peace, Mr. President - you have earned it. My sympathies to the Ford family.

I accidently had the opportunity to meet President Ford in 1975 in Chicago. I was coming up from the subway and when I arrived at the top of the stairs there was President Ford standing on the curb waving to people in a tightly controlled crowd. He turned around and was surprised to see me, mostly because the area was supposed to be sealed off, but yet said good morning to me and shook my hand. I responded in kind, the President left and I was then immediately detained by the Secret Service for a short period of time.
Although my meeting was only a short period of time, he conveyed a decency and genuiness that I believe is missing from most politicans.
Thank you for your service to our country during a most difficult period, you did us proud Mr. President.

I remember President Ford, as a student at a small Methodist University majoring in Political Science in the 70's. Our Constitutional law class had studied Watergate, along with the entire Political Science department, we were all so happy when Mr. Ford was asked to be Vice President and then was President after President Nixon resigned. He really knew how to heal the nation. He was one of the funniest men and one of the most compassionate men who has held that great Office of President. I wish his wife Betty and his Children and grandchildren godspeed.

My fervent hope is that we have more Gerald Ford's in our future and not only in our past.

I was only a child when Ford was president, however from reading the stories of him I am amazed that a president would do what he feels is right, wether or not it is popular, and put himself and his job out on a limb for another human being. I am not sure I have seen a politician like that. I am not sure I would even give up my own term as president to pardon another. Which is essentially what he did, and he understood that at the time he did it. Sounds like a truly honorable reflection of what we should all strive to mimic in our own daily lives.

Mr. Williams,
Thanks for your fair and unpartisan assessment of President Ford and his impact on our great nation. I was 11 years old when he took over the reins of our beloved country. I had witnessed some horrible events growing up prior to his being sworn to office: the Kent State killings, MLK and RFK being murdered, footage of Vietnamese children running naked after losing their entire family in bombing runs, the Munich Olympics massacre, etc...
His assumption as our commander in chief ensured that the enormous vessel called America would be guided out of the turbulent waters it was struggling in. I remember his pardoning of Richard Nixon, which was counter to many in our country who had their hearts filled with hate, rage, and revenge.
Thank goodness for America that the person who mattered the most at that time had a calm, collected, and rational mind. Today, there are too many of those who let their rage, hate, and blind ideology supercede the interests of the nation.
A true American puts the interests, security, and well-being of the nation ahead of his/her popularity or trend of the moment.
Mr. Ford was a true American, as well as a great servant to his nation, who will be placed in high regard by relevant history books. He was a great commander in chief, despite the fact our nation was not at war at the time.
God Bless your soul, Mr. President.

I was a young airman when President Ford pardoned former-president Nixon, and i knew he'd made himself unelectable, and I thought it was a shame then as I do now. I was serving in Germany at the time of the 1976 election and heard most of the news on the radio, so I have an appreciation of what people had said about the Kennedy-Nixon debates of 1960. While Jimmy Carter was obviously intelligent and deflected the media that were trying to pin him down, President Carter's answers seemed to lack the substance that was so at oods with President Ford's quiet words that carried the great weight of action he had taken. I think the next two years I spent in Germany would have been much easier if he had remained in the White House.

While President Ford is eulogized today, I thought it appropriate that we talk about his decisions and that of his administration during the Swine Flu issue. Those who have read Dr. Fineberg's book on the 1976 swine flu crisis should take note of Ford's decision to go forward to manufacture enough vaccine for the entire US population. His decision was the only one he could make, especially in light of the options he was given. Now we know the surveillance was not good enough to make that decision, which public health professionals have worked to improve since that time. I wonder how much of today's emphasis on influenza surveillance and detection is a result of the lack of choices given him back in 1976?

When faced with rare agreement from Drs. Kilbourne, Salk AND Sabin, Ford made the only choice he was left with. And he paid a political price for that decision. But Ford erred on the side of the American people, putting their interests at the top of the list. He listened and acted with their interests at heart.

Gerald Ford was the first president who had to make tough choices regarding preparing for the real possibility of a pandemic, as opposed to actually having to manage the effects of one. His decisions -- and the analysis of same in Fineberg's book and public policy college courses -- are valuable, especially today.

He was the last Republican I voted for and will remain the last. He grew in stature over time just like Barry Goldwater. I loved watching the neocons squirm when he forcefully came out in support of equal rights for gays in 2001. John McCain would do well to follow the lead of Mr. Ford and really talk straight to the American people as opposed to what he has been doing. How refreshingly honest he was.

He was the last Republican I voted for and will remain the last. He grew in stature over time just like Barry Goldater. I loved watching the neocons squirm when he forcefully came out in support of equal rights for gays in 2001. John McCain would do well to follow the lead of Mr. Ford and really talk straight to the American people as opposed to what he has been doing. How refreshingly honest he was.

Mr Williams,
Is it better if President Ford would be considered a liberal? Your comment seemed out of place and really jumps out at the reader.

A modest man, but a great man. He served his country with great courage. As Americans, we should be forever grateful for his steady guidance in a difficult period of time. History will judge him well. Thank you, Mr. President. Our thoughts go out to Mrs. Ford and the Ford Family.

RIP President Ford.

A great man that history hopefully paints as more than just "the guy who pardoned Nixon".

BTW, how can you say "He was decent, courageous, honest..." and then follow that up by saying he just might be a liberal? By today's standard, he'd be considered a human. Instead of what we are forced to send the "washington" lately.

I remember a question on Hollywood Squares years ago: "In times of trouble, President Ford takes it out of his desk and looks at it. Look at what?" The answer was his Eagle badge. When I think of President Ford and how honorable and courageous he was, I remember first that he was an Eagle Scout, just like me. He was everything an Eagle Scout should want to be like. He will be missed.

President Ford's sense of humor is what I remember best, especially when he turned to Chevy Chase on the dias and said "I'm Gerald Ford...and you're not!" It got a wonderful laugh and let the world know he didn't hold the SNL humor against Chevy, while at the same time giving Chevy a much needed payback.

At the time I was upset when President Ford pardoned former President Nixon. However, it hindsight, it was the best thing to do and, perhaps, the only way the nation could have moved forward at the time. President Ford must have known what that decision would cost him. He was truly courageous and will be missed.

I awoke this morning to hear the news. I was a young man and remember President Fords time as President as if it was yesterday. At that time I felt much differently about him and his administration.
Over the years I have come to realize what a great man he was. Thank you President Ford.

Thank you to President Ford and his family for their service to our country. Our prayers are with you.

I agree now, that President Ford had the courage to stand by what he thougt was best for our country when he pardon President Nixon. But back then when it was actually happening I was young and I thought he was wrong to pardon him.

As a person and especially as an elected official we must all do what we think is right for our country whether its popular or not at the time. That defines courage.

I thought this morning - what would our nation be like if President Ford had not told us our long national nightmare was over? What if he had not pardoned President Nixon? What if he had not had Betty, his beloved wife, how many women would have died from breast cancer, and how many people might have died alone, in the street from alcoholism and drug addiction? I wondered about all that this morning and I was so very thankful to God that we didn't have to know what kind of nation that would have been. Thank you President Ford, you saved our country when we needed to be saved. My sincerest sympathies to the entire Ford family. Thank you all for giving us your dad and you for all those years.