As part of the Ford School’s commemoration of the Gerald R. Ford’s ascendance to the presidency 50 years ago, current and incoming Ford School students and recent graduates were given a challenge: to write an original essay on the relevance of Gerald R. Ford in today's politics, based on one of the following prompts:
- What is the relevance of Ford’s pardon of President Richard Nixon after his resignation, especially in this age of seeming impunity? Some see it as a betrayal, some as a great act of patriotism, and some are in between.
- When Gerald R. Ford took the oath of office on August 9, 1974, he declared, “I assume the Presidency under extraordinary circumstances…. This is an hour of history that troubles our minds and hurts our hearts.” Can you compare the “extraordinary circumstances” of August 1974 to this year’s election?
- Upon receiving the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award on May 21, 2001, Ford remarked, “...The ultimate test of leadership is not the polls you take, but the risks you take. In the short run, some risks prove overwhelming. Political courage can be self-defeating. But the greatest defeat of all would be to live without courage, for that would hardly be living at all.” How would you describe political courage in today’s context?
- Ford described his philosophy as "a moderate in domestic affairs, an internationalist in foreign affairs, and a conservative in fiscal policy." How would a politician with that philosophy fare in 2024?
Of the many entries, judged by representatives of the Ford School, Ford Presidential Foundation, and Ford Presidential Library, three were awarded with cash prizes and even football tickets! The winning essay will be published in the forthcoming State & Hill magazine, as well on the Ford Presidential Forum’s weekly newsletter.
The Nixon Pardon: A Study in Integrity, written by Kelly Rogers Victor, MPP/MPH '24, was awarded first prize.
Political Courage in 2024: A Critical Analysis of Ford's Legacy and Contemporary Leadership Challenges, written by Aiswarya Padmanabhan, MPP ‘25, was awarded second place.
Mercy, Democratic Accountability, and Presidential Pardons, written by Anna Pomper, MPP '24, was awarded third place.
Our thanks to all of the entrants!