Gerald Ford: Off to a Fast, Clean Start

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His manner was clearly that of a Chief Executive who did not see himself as a caretaker President. He spoke of "my Cabinet officers" and "my White House staff." He declared, with little regard for the sensitivities of his deposed predecessor, "I began to put my Administration's own economic house in order starting last Friday." He even said flat-out, "God willing, I will have at least three more chances" to make State of the Union addresses—that "at least" being the strongest indication yet that he has abandoned his earlier contention that he would not seek the presidency in 1976. Senate Minority Leader Hugh Scott declared that Ford will have little choice but to run for re-election in 1976, because "the party will demand it."

Open Door. In his 32-minute speech Ford promised to work with his old friends as coequals: "My motto toward the Congress is communication, conciliation, compromise and cooperation . . . I do not want a honeymoon with you—I want a good marriage." He pledged to avoid some of the most grievous failings of the Nixon presidency. "I intend to listen," he said, not just to members of Congress but "to the people themselves . . . I want to be sure that we are all tuned in to the real voice of America." He will be as approachable as ever, he promised. "My office door has always been open, and that is how it is going to be at the White House" —providing, he added wryly, "you don't overdo it."

There were other words of reassurance. He paid tribute to "the absolute necessity of a free press." He pledged that "there will be no illegal tappings, eavesdropping, buggings or break-ins by my Administration" and thereby drew the loudest ovation of the session. He appealed to a constituency that included "women's liberationists and male chauvinists, and all the rest of us somewhere in between," and the members of Congress laughed and cheered. After the troubles of the recent past, they welcomed the President's efforts to heal the nation's wounds.

All week long the President summoned both old friends and old foes to the White House. On Monday morning, Congressman Charles Rangel, the New York Democrat who is chairman of the Black Caucus in the House of Representatives, received a phone call that his secretary suspected was a put-on. "There's a call from somebody saying he's the President," she said. Then a familiar voice came over Rangel's line, "Hi, Charlie." It was Ford, responding to a request from the Black Caucus and suggesting that they confer with him "to work out problems of mutual interest."