EclectEcon

The NYTimes (and others) is reporting that Gerald Ford has died.

Two decades ago, while I was visiting the University of Hawaii, I off-handedly threw out the opinion that Gerald Ford had been the best president in the history of the United States. Mac, an economic historian there, allowed that I might have been right (but also offered up Warren G. Harding).

My statement was based on the complaint that so many people had about Ford: he didn't do anything. I always replied, "I rest my case."

I wasn't thrilled that Ford pardoned Nixon, but I'm not sure the full pardon was all that horrible for the sake of the nation. And as an idealistic young pacifist, I resented Ford's hawkishness.

In all though, Ford seemed to hold true to the belief that "that government governs best that governs least." And compared with man who defeated him in his re-election bid, Ford was a giant.

Also, see Rondi's take on Gerald Ford.