President Gerald Ford and the Republican Unity Coalition

I didn't know this, Joe. Thank you for pointing it out. I think it is very important for the public to know this! Thank you.

Joe, thank you for informing us about this. I for one did not know. But as you know, I do have 2 comments.

1-What difference does it make if he or anyone else in a Presidential position actually supports gay issues or not, once they have passed away.

2-Gay rights should be, and people should not try to find ways to say ah ha..see.

I am ok in knowing, but could of also not known, and it would not change my opinion on gay and lesbian rights.

Thanks for posting this Joe. I think it is wonderful that so many things are now being understood and known about this quiet, unassuming man. He did so much more than most people ever knew!

I didn't know this either Joe...thank you for telling us this tale and for proving once again that President Ford was a good and decent man.

Thank you for your comments. I'll always speak up for those who stand up for gays and lesbians. It's not because I'm gay - it's because it is right to do.

I liked Gerald Ford for the way they handled Betty Ford's cancer and other problems. The Betty Ford Clinic comes to mind. The Ford family is one group of wonderful people in my book.

Gerald Ford is being buried in our state tomorrow on the hill overlooking the Gerald R. Ford Museum (which is a nice museum). Right now his body is in the museum so people can filed by and see the casket. However, security is tight, traffic is terrible, and the wait to get in to see the casket is over 4 hours out in the cold. I would have liked to go see the casket, as Ford was from Michigan and this is a part of history. But I don't want to brave the crowds and the long wait out in the cold. So, my husband and I will go to see his grave in the spring or summer.

Gerald Ford was an amazing man, and one of our very best Presidents. I'm not sure at all what we would have done had someone else been picked in his place--he was not an accident, he was a gift. :)

I didn't know Joe. This paints a warm, compassionate picture of the man. That is quite an honorable thing to support your protector by supporting his lifestyle choice. I was rather young during Ford's presidency, so I am enjoying learning more about the man. I have to admit I dismissed him as just another Republican. I was 12 when he took office. My parents were pretty staunch liberals. I remember a lot of talk how deceitful Tricky had been and sort of assumed Gerald was there to move forward the "cause". By the time I was 16 I was heavily into politics and riding with CT Gov. Ella Grasso to campaign in NH for the next election. I got to meet Ted Kennedy that day. Soon after I went on to intern for Lowell Weicker and Stu McKinney. So I was far from your typical teenager in that I had opinions, but I tried to get to kno the people behind the legends. Ultimately I met Jimmy and Rosyln Carter. I know Carter is not being remember as great president, but he took the time to give the us young liberals a pep that I can still remember.

I don't know what it is, I feel a sort of obligation to serve my country by being involved. One of the cause I am active in is equal rights, including marriage, for homosexual Americans. It's basic civil rights man.

I think one thing about this is not so much that Ford was for gay/lesbian rights but that he is/was the ONLY REPUBLICAN president/former president to do so. THAT is significant.

One thing I want to say, Rich, is that you should not write off all Republicans. There are many lilies in the petunia patch so to speak.

Touche, Corina.

Great to hear, Joe!

Thanks for the posting. I think that as we learn more about President Ford, we come tounderstand what true bipartisanship used to mean. And also that there used to be a middle-of-the-road Republican. Ford was a very decent guy, and much of the good he did is now coming to light, deservedly so. (This from a Lefty Liberal like me!)

Hey Joe, great piece of history here. I had no idea. One small correction. It was during the SECOND attempt on his life by Sara Jane Moore in which a gay man saved his life.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Sipple

I wasn't actually checkinng on your facts, I was just interested in learning of the assassination attempt and ran across this information. If it is incorrect, you should contact the persons who wrote the article and offer your knowledge.

Best regards,
Made in DNA

This might be of further help: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Ford#Assassination_attempts

You could be correct about that, Made in DNA. Sorry everyone if I am wrong. I will check it out.

I will have to go with wikipedia on this ( I usually try to get a better source but am afraid that until I can look this up further I will go with Made in DNAs assertion that it was Sara Jane Moore.) I did learn that the gay man's name was Sipple. I'm still glad that I wrote the piece. It is rare for a Republican to stand up for gays and lesbians.

The first attempt was by "Squeaky" Fromm (sp?) a follower of Charles Manson. But she forgot to crank a round into the magazine.

The former marine Sipple who struck aside Sara Jane Moore's gun was praised at the scene by the Secret Service, and received a letter fro Gerald Ford. But his reluctance to talk to the media caused them to interview his friends, and a gay activist outed him. It caused his mother and father to break off all communication with the man.

You have to understand the times to realize how incredibly mean people could be.

I've only ever heard good things about the Fords, good people. Thanks for recognizing in this article them Joe.

Correct there Joe, still a fantastic article.

Where have all the Gerry Fords gone.A man with real integrity and honor.I even forgave him for pardoning Nixon.

He seemed like a decent fellow. Didn't screw things up too bad as President, which says he was rather bright. It's an easy job to botch.

TY Joe. I did not know this either. can't say that now,
TY again

Thanks for drawing our attention to this tidbit of presidential history. Much has been said - contrary to the prevailing view during the 1976 election season - as to President Ford's great character over the past few days. This just adds to the list of accomplishments history can attribute to Ford.

Does anyone know if he did anything related to gay rights or gay issues while in the White House? If not, when did he decide to come out in support of equality and why did he do so?

I don't remember Ford doing anything regarding gays and lesbians while in the White House. The point is that he did do something later which can't really be said about Bill Clinton.

This should say something for appointing a president from the senate vs. electing one!