House
Speaker Dennis Hastert
U.S.
Capital Rotunda
Washington,
D.C.
December
30, 2006
Mrs.
Ford and Members of the
Ford Family, Mr. Vice-President,
Members of Congress, Distinguished
Guests.
I don’t
think
it is
a coincidence
that American
history
seems
to be
an almost
providential
narrative – a
story
about
finding
the right
man at
the right
time to
lead the
nation. The
Presidency
is more
than agendas
and ideas. It
is, at
its core,
a human
institution
molded
and shaped
by the
character
of the
men who
have served
there.
In the
summer
of 1974,
America
didn’t
need a
philosopher
king or
a warrior
prince,
an aloof
aristocrat
or a populist
firebrand.
We needed
a healer.
We needed
a rock.
We needed
honesty
and candor
and courage.
We needed
Gerald
Ford.
President
Ford was
one of
the few
men in
history
who did
not need
great
events
to make
him great.
On the
football
field,
in the
halls
of Congress,
and in
the Oval
Office,
there
was always
something
big and
solid
about
him. Big
and solid
and good.
In this
sacred
place,
the President
now Lies
in State
under
the Statue
of Freedom. On
the way
here we
paused
at the
door to
the House
of Representatives. In
that place – the
People’s
House – where
Gerald
Ford served
for a
quarter
of a century – he
was known
simply
as “The
Gentleman
from Michigan.”
And while
all members
are afforded
this courtesy,
in the
case of
Gerald
Ford -- “gentleman” – was
much more
a description
of the
man himself.
For in
a time
when turmoil
and bitter
division
were all
too common,
he stood
out as
a man
of deep
civility,
quiet
thoughtfulness
and sound
judgment.
Like Abraham
Lincoln,
another
great
Midwestern
President
who confronted
a nation
divided,
Gerald
Ford was
called
upon to
bind our
country’s
wounds.
The twin
crisis
of Vietnam
and Watergate
had crippled
America – sapped
our strength – shaken
our confidence. With
humility
and devotion
to purpose,
Gerald
Ford united
us once
again.
In an
era of
moral
confusion,
Gerald
Ford confidently
lived
the virtues
of honesty,
decency
and steadfastness. His
example
of fairness
and fair
play,
of dignity
and grace,
brought
forth
in us
our better
instincts.
He reminded
us who
we should
be and
he helped
us to
heal.
The traits
that Gerald
Ford showed
us as
a Congressional
leader
-- the
ability
to listen,
the courage
to forge
compromise
in the
face of
shrill
partisanship,
and the
willingness
to make
the hard,
and sometimes
unpopular
decisions,
served
him well
as President.
The critics
of the
day got
it wrong,
but history
is getting
it right.
Despite his considerable achievements, the greatness of Gerald Ford lies not in what he did -- but in who he was. He represented the strength of the Middle America that forged him.
He never changed.
Even
when power was thrust
upon him he remained
an “every
man” who
exemplified all that
is good about America.
Mrs.
Ford, you were his best
friend, his close partner – and,
along with his faith,
the source of his strength. You
and your children knew
him as a devoted family
man and you loved him
for his integrity,
his kindness and his
humor. As
the leader of our
country
at a difficult time
in our history, it
was those qualities
that drew a grateful
nation to him as well.
We
can never thank you enough
for sharing him with
us.
Just
a few feet from here – in
the House Chamber – Gerald
Ford was sworn in as
Vice-President of the
United States. It
would not be long
before
he would become our
President.
Speaking
to the nation after taking
the oath as President
he concluded by saying:
“I
now
solemnly
reaffirm
my promise
to uphold
the
Constitution,
to do
what
is right
as God
gives
me to
see
the
right
and
to do
the
very
best
for
America. God
helping
me,
I will
not
let
you
down.”
You
did right, Mr. President.
You
did not let us down.
Well
done, good and faithful
servant.
God
speed Mr. President.