Another significant part of the display was devoted to the end of our involvement in the Viet Nam war, over which Ford ultimately presided. Again, they did not gloss over the manner in which this part of our history divided the nation. But, that inbroglio was so fraught with intrigues and agendas, no museum display could begin to even scratch the surface of what it was all about.

The various displays trace not only Ford's life and politcal career, from college football star to naval officer in combat in the South Pacific to his beginnings as a lawyer and local politician, it also offers significant treatment to his relationship to his wife, Betty, and the rest of his family. It appears that what they had was an amazingly functional family. I know for a fact that the family to this day is often seen skiing together in the West. Somehow I don't see the Clinton Museum going into the same intimate detail concerning his family life.

Betty Ford herself got considerable attention here, including her work in support of the ERA (Equal Rights Amendment), and amazingly enough, about her opinion that the government should not be in the business of trying to undo Roe vs Wade. All this with the blessing of her husband.There was even mention of the fact that the Fords were the first presidential couple to abandon the practice and tradition of the president and the first lady being set up in separate bedrooms (and a practice probably re-established by Hilary a few years ago).

In most ways, Ford was really a moderate and a centrist. Today, he would be totally unacceptable to the right wing of the Republican Party. If he was to run today, he'd probably have to do it as a democrat or independent.

Now, given my propensity for getting into interesting places, I could have slipped this picture into my Washington DC journal and told you I got into the Oval Office. However, I figure that would be dishonest (and someone who HAS been in there recently would notice the furniture has changed, so I'd get called on it). But, I still thought it was a really cool complete reproduction of the Oval Office as it was when Ford was president.

One of the really cool things about being president is you get to meet lots of really interesting, powerful people (even if some of them are disgusting despots) and they give you stuff. Really nice, expensive stuff. Here's just a few samples ...

There was lots of material to read. One thing I found interesting was the daily diary. This is a document that lists what the president does and who he sees during the day. Generally, Ford's days started at about 7:30 in the morning and went until about 8:00 PM. There is a secretary in the white house who's primary job is to maintain this diary.

In the pages I read, the names Cheney and Rumsfeld came up a lot.