Gerald Ford, R. I. P.

A good long life, a decent man. I liked George Bush's comments this morning, as well. I have had MSNBC on today -- because no one is better at this kind of stuff than Chris Matthews -- and one of the historians he was speaking with (Michael Beschloss?), was saying that in 1976 Gerald Ford was the abortion rights candidate, and Jimmy Carter was the one affiliated with religious influence in government, et cetera. Interesting. I remember that my dad wanted Carter to win. I suspect this is because he hated Richard Nixon so much. (We rented a cottage the summer of 1974, which was supposed to be "family time." But all I recall -- however vaguely -- about those weeks was that they ended up being "Dad never moves from the TV so he can watch Nixon's downfall time," instead. It should be said, I don't think my dad took any glee from it. He loved America and hated what had happened.)
Personally, I must thank Ford for giving me a line I use all the time -- "Our long national nightmare is over." It comes in so handy. For example, after waiting in line a long time in a store or government office, I'll say, when I get to the front and finally get my business done, "My long national nightmare is over." It's also a good comment at the end of a trying day, a rocky flight or train trip, a bad romantic situation, a hideous party or event, and so forth. Most people my age don't get it -- and even some boomers don't get it. (Guess they smoked too much pot in the sixties and it didn't register.)
If you can judge a man by his wife (and I think you can, to a point), then Ford was top of the line. I'm a huge Mary Tyler Moore fan and one of the best MTM episodes ever was the one where Mary and Lou go to Washington, and Betty Ford talks to Mary over the phone.
Also -- see Mr. Eclectic's thoughts.