Of Bears and Penguins

It’s been a blogging dry spell, travel plus visitors plus new roommates with a CAT! And work, have made blogging a little tough, but I’m back with thoughts re: Gerald Ford’s remarks on taking the oath of office.

We’ve heard Mr. Ford before, and here again I was surprised by his calmness and humble certitude.

It’s typically a joyous occasion – there are parades and glad waving, there a ball gowns and evening suits, and more parties than one can reasonable attend. There’s a sigh of relief, there’s pride in the race one.

But not this time, in language echoing Truman, Ford reminds us that this was not an office he sought, and moreover reminded that he was keenly aware that he was not elected by the people’s secret ballot. So he asks instead that the people “confirm him with their prayers.”

That entire paragraph is simply beautiful – a refreshing reminder that though he was not chosen by secret ballot, he’d neither gained the office through secret promises. That he owed nothing to any man, but much to his wife. Faithfulness, loyalty, sense of duty – all characteristics we desire in leaders.

Like Truman he pledges not to “shirk” the job.

In a speech that easily could have been made about the failings of his predecessors or his own belief in himself he chose to talk about the country, and that distinguishes him. “Our constitution works,” he says. Suddenly you realize that the scandal happed before we’d reached 200 years. Suddenly you realize what an extraordinary document and system we have. The republic is strong. It works.

And rather than ignore or denigrate Mr. Nixon, Ford asks prayers on his and his family’s behalf. It takes character of heart to call for prayers on someone who so violently breaks a trust.

Always pointing back to the document that works, and not to himself or his talents or how he can improve it, he pledges to serve the country the best he can and as he has pledged. That is perhaps what we should look for in our next president – not a man who is given to talking about his own talent and ability, nor one who is seeking change for the sake of change, just change (well what sort, and to what?), I’m not endorsing and not-endorsing here, just saying things must be weighed, but one who can say, “It works – this fragile system works, and I will uphold it.”