In Memory: Gerald Ford
The only non-elected president and vice-president who will more importantly go down in history as the president who pardoned Richard Nixon. I wasn't sure at the time that I agreed with his decision at the time. It seemed to me that it was just one more example of the "old-boys-network", the cronyism and corruption of the system. Perhaps it was, but it also was a way to put something painful and divisive behind us. Watergate came to an end as Nixon flew off into the west. Gerald Ford, a seemingly gentle and forgiving man allowed us to do that.

No, he wasn't of the BIG presidential stature, but neither was Jimmy Carter who followed him. He, and probably Carter, had the position of "interim" presidents moving us from the Kennedy-Johnson-Nixon years into the Reagan-Bush years, from one form of imperial presidency to another. That in itself is enough to put him into history.

So, Mr. President, rest-in-peace.