Ford Address Analyzes U.S. Political Climate

Gerald R. Ford, 38th president of the United States, offered his perspective on the political and social climate of what he termed the "American Century" to a packed house at the Kennedy School of Government's (KSG) ARCO Forum last night.

A major theme of Ford's speech was that of political moderation. He urged young Americans interested in politics to shy away from righteousness and extremism.

"I learned that an adversary is not the same thing as an enemy. I learned to fight hard for my beliefs without questioning the motives or patriotism of those who believed otherwise," he said.

"You have to win an election in order to achieve anything," Ford said. "[Extremists] will not win an election."

Ford also warned of this century's gradual move toward the "security state," which he characterized as the government's attempt to minimize the risk connected with market forces.

"[This move] can all too easily lead to complacency, that intellectual narcotic which muffles the voice of originality and numbs the brain to innovation," he said.

"Security can be a good thing," Ford added. "It is a more noble motive than profit, but it is precisely those individuals who take risks…that set our standards."

As president, Ford was "an exemplar of the noble center," according to Joseph S. Nye, KSG dean.

Ford, a Republican, once famously characterized himself as a "conservative in fiscal affairs, a moderate in domestic affairs, and a liberal in foreign policy."

Former Senator Alan K. Simpson, the director of the Institute of Politics (IOP), which sponsored the event, introduced Ford as a man "who showed tremendous courage in pardoning Richard Nixon."

"Had that not been done, this country would be in great turmoil," Simpson said.

Ford, who was the first president inaugurated under the terms of the 25th amendment after Nixon resigned the office in August of 1974, granted Nixon a pardon for "any crimes he committed or may have committed" in connection with the Watergate burglaries and cover-up.

Ford's press secretary at the time, Jerald terHorst, resigned rather than support the pardon, and many historians believe Ford's decision ruined his chances of re-election in 1976.

Having been so intimately involved with one impeachment process, Ford was uniquely situated to comment on the more recent one.

In two separate op-ed pieces in The New York Times this fall, Ford broke ranks with Republican leaders by calling for a "harshly worded rebuke" of President Clinton rather than an impeachment trial.

"At age 85, I have no personal or political agenda, nor do I have any interest in 'rescuing' Bill Clinton. But I do care, passionately, about rescuing the country I love from further turmoil or uncertainty," he wrote in the Oct. 4, 1998 issue of the Times.

Most students said they were pleased with Ford's speech.

Edward S. Chen '01 said Ford "spoke on salient issues," adding "for someone who is 85 years old, he was incredibly eloquent."

"Even though I'm a Democrat, I agree with Ford one hundred percent. Moderation needs to be found," said Preston B. Golson '02.

Seats at the ARCO Forum were available by lottery only, a procedure unusual for Forum talks, said Deputy Director of the IOP Katherine A. McLaughlin. Concerns about security and crowds prompted the change. "This is a big one," she said.

According to Lauren L. Smith, a Forum coordinator, over 900 people tried to get tickets, and only about 600 were eventually allowed to attend the event.

Still, some tickets were available for the persistent.

Martin A. Kurzweil '02 said he didn't get a ticket in the lottery, but "they were handing them out yesterday to people who asked."

Ford was brought to Harvard as a Heffernan visiting fellow of the IOP, and delivered the Albert H. Gordon '23 endowed lecture.

Previous Gordon speeches have been given by James A. Baker III, George H. W. Bush and Robert J. Dole, among others.