Senator
Ted Stevens
U.S.
Capital Rotunda
Washington,
D.C.
December
30, 2006
Mrs.
Ford, Michael, Jack, Steven,
and Susan, distinguished
guests, members of the
Ford family, friends of
Gerald Ford in America
and throughout the world:
Tonight
we say
good-bye
to a true
gentleman,
an exceptional
leader,
and our
good friend,
President
Gerald
Ford.
In our
nation’s
history,
only nine
men have
been called
upon to
assume
the mantle
of the
presidency
by succession.
Even among
these
chosen
few, Gerald
Ford stands
out as
exceptional
for only
one man
has assumed
both the
vice presidency
and the
presidency.
When he
took his
oath as
president,
we were
a people
shaken
by disbelief,
racked
with cynicism,
and paralyzed
by doubt.
Then President
Ford’s
voice – gentle
but firm – told
us, “We
must go
forward
now together.”
In our
nation’s
darkest
hour,
Gerald
Ford lived
his finest
moment.
Guided
by his
conscience,
informed
by our
history,
supported
by the
love and
friendship
of his
wife,
Betty,
he was
the man
the hour
required.
He knew
the road
toward
national
healing
began
with courage
to forgive.
He reminded
us: while
the presidency
may be
a human
institution,
there
is great
nobility
in its
humanity.
While
his path
to office
was unlikely,
history
will know
Gerald
Ford’s
presidency
was no
accident.
By the
time he
took the
oath of
office,
he had
achieved
everything
he set
his mind
to do:
He earned
the rank
of Eagle
Scout
and became
the University
of Michigan
football
team’s
most valuable
player.
During
World
War II,
he served
our country
with distinction
and was
one of
the men
who inspired
the title “the
Greatest
Generation.” He
honorably
served
the people
of Michigan
in the
U.S. House
of Representatives.
A “Man
of the
House,” Jerry
Ford stepped
proudly
into his
role as
Vice President,
and the
Senate
welcomed
him as
the President
of our
chamber.
While
he never
voted
to break
a tie
in the
Senate,
he was
known
to all
of us
as a person
full of
friendship,
willing
to sit
and discuss
issues
at the
request
of any
Senator.
President
Ford achieved
the goals
he sought,
but history
will remember
most,
how, in
its hour
of need,
our nation
sought
him. As
our 38th
President,
Gerald
Ford stood
ready
to faithfully
execute
his office.
In doing
so, he
woke us
and told
us – and
I quote – “Our
long national
nightmare
is over.”
He was
the steady
hand in
the storm,
an honest
broker
of compromise.
he became
a great
leader – an
example
for others
to follow.
President
Ford understood
the unique
circumstances
of his
moment
in history.
he strove
not to
placate
some,
but to
serve
all. In
so doing,
he showed
us there
were still
things
which
were good
and honest
and true.
He restored
our faith
in our
leaders,
and he
ensured
the office
of the
presidency
was an
institution
worthy
of the
people
it serves.
We here
honor
a leader
for America
and the
world.
President
Ford fought
high inflation
and unemployment,
completed
the process
of bringing
our troops
home from
Vietnam,
set the
framework
for the
Middle
East peace
accords,
and began
a new
era of
cooperation
and friendship
with Japan.
He was
deeply
beloved
by the
people
of Alaska
for signing
legislation
to protect
the marine
resources
within
200 miles
of our
shores.
No one
should
suggest
the tasks
before
him were
easy.
President
Ford was
scrutinized,
questioned,
and criticized.
He was
tested
by the
fire of
public
opinion.
Few have
remained
hopeful
in the
face of
such adversity,
but Gerald
Ford’s
optimism
about
America
never
wavered.
He faced
each challenge
with bravery
and courage
matched
only by
his wife
Betty,
a woman
who literally
offered
hope to
millions
of Americans
by candidly
sharing
her experiences
and inner
strength.
President
Ford once
said, “I
am indebted
to no
man, and
only one
woman – my
dear wife.” That
debt our
nation
shares,
for Betty
Ford is
one of
the most
remarkable
first
ladies
to have
ever graced
the White
House.
In the
days since
President
Ford’s
passing,
many words
have been
spoken
and many
statements
published
alluding
to the
tremendous
character
with which
he approached
his nearly
three
decades
in public
life.
It was
a character
I witnessed
firsthand
when,
as chair
of our
Senate
Campaign
Committee,
I worked
closely
with President
Ford and
his running
mate,
Senator
Bob Dole.
During
that time,
I developed
a deeper
understanding
and greater
appreciation
for Jerry
Ford as
a man,
a father,
and a
husband.
As was
his running
mate,
Bob Dole,
he was
deeply
committed
to our
democracy.
absolute
honesty,
integrity,
and openness
were the
hallmarks
of his
career.
They are
now the
legacy
and the
challenge
he leaves
to us.
President
Ford’s
life is
a reminder
to those
who serve
this democracy – under
this Capitol
dome and
elsewhere – that
we are – for
a time – the
keepers
of this
great
American
experiment.
Good stewardship
requires
us to
see beyond
party,
beyond
division,
beyond
personal
aspirations.
President
Ford once
said: “The
Constitution
is the
bedrock
of all
of our
freedoms.
Guard
and cherish
it, keep
honor
and order
in your
own house,
and the
Republic
will endure.”
It will
be a fitting
tribute
to our
good friend’s
memory
to make
this truth
our intention
and our
purpose.
Upon taking
the oath
of office,
President
Ford asked
our nation
to pray
for him.
In the
next two
days,
Americans
will come
to this
Rotunda
to join
us in
praying
for him
once again.
The line
of visitors
saying
farewell
has literally
stretched
from sea
to shining
sea – from
California
to our
nation’s
capitol.
And it
will end
in Michigan,
where
the prayers
of our
grateful
nation
will carry
President
Ford on
his final
journey
home.