As the nation remembers past president Gerald Ford, we say goodbye and commemorate his life. Today is his funeral at the National Cathedral. Americans everywhere are watching this event and saying goodbye. Ford was the first president I could really recall from my childhood.
Gerald Ford was the 38th president of our country and a republican. He is mostly known for some pretty important facts of the time. One, he was the only president in history who was not elected by ballot. Two, he assumed his presidency after the Watergate scandal, an event that could have threatened the very perception and stability of American democracy. Three, he pardoned Nixon in a controversial move that probably spared the country months or even years of legal issues. He told his family and friends that he was “here at this time to do this” and bring the country back under normalcy.
But Ford could also be remembered as the frugal president. His presidency was marked by his reluctance to spend money. He was notably frugal (or stingy, depending on how you want to look at it) with taxpayers dollars. For example, during his first 14 months in office, he vetoed 39 spending bills. He professed to be caught between offending those voters who benefit from the government programs to which he refused financing, and doing what he could to protect the country’s fiscal integrity. For Ford, the role of great protector of fiscal integrity usually won out.
Those lessons of savings were perfectly suited to the times of his presidency. Snatching America from corruption and putting it on solid, stable ground seemed to be his goal.
Whether you thought he was great protector of fiscal integrity or a skinflint, a responsible saver or a heartless Scrooge, there is no doubt that Ford strove to save money wherever he could. And that is why he earns the designation as the frugal president.
What do you think? Was Gerald Ford the frugal president or just a misguided republican?
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