Gerald Ford and his staff's reaction to losing to Jimmy Carter

[journalist3072]

I know that Presidents Ford and Carter ended up having a very close relationship post-presidency. Time heals a lot of things.

But according to Ron Kessler's book Inside The White House, this was the reaction of Ford and his staff on the night they lost to Jimmy Carter. (NOTE: This is not meant to be a flame-bait post at all, but it is simply meant to offer some balance and perspective.)

Page 83-83- Inside the White House:

When Ford lost to Jimmy Carter, he was devastated.

"I was worried about him the night he lost," a Secret Service agent said. "I've seen that look before...We thought he might become suicidal."

On the trip back to Washington after the election, Ford's staff showed their displeasure by throwing peanuts all around Air Force One.

"After Ford found out that he had lost, they would eat anything in the mixed-nuts bowl but the peanuts. Then they threw them all over the place," said Gerald Pisha, another Air Force One steward.

"The President was very upset about losing," said Russ Reid, an Air Force One steward. When referring to Jimmy Carter, Reid said, Ford "used some profanity like 'stupid SOB.'"

[cali]

1. What balance and perspective you're

trying to add, is lost on me. There's been plenty of threads bashing Ford; far fewer praising him. As regards your contribution: This story tells us nothing about Ford, other than that he was human and didn't like losing. Do you really think any President who loses reacts much differently than is reported here? As for the peanut throwing, bfd. Remember the stories about the Clinton folks taking the "w" off of keyboards?

[journalist3072]

6. Was the story about the Clinton staff and the keyboards

Ever really confirmed?

I seem to remember that the GAO was looking into it, but nothing ever really came of it, did it?

[Hamlette]

9. yes, it was confirmed, even admitted BUT

they didn't "take" the "w" keys, they hid them, in a desk drawer, easily found by Bush et al. The rest of the stuff about trashing the WH was debunked.

[cali]

10. I don't know.

Some say it's been debunked, but I haven't seen any evidence that it has. That's not my point. I would wager that every sitting President who loses the WH is none too pleased, and expresses it in private. Clearly Ford thought he was in private when he uttered his comments. And I see the throwing peanuts thing on the part of his staff as mild blowing off of steam after the high adrenalin of a presidential race and the subsequent let down of losing. As I said before, big fucking deal.

Upon reflection your OP is just silly.

[EST]

7. That keyboard story has been debunked over and over.

One would expect anyone with presidential aspirations to have a little better hold on reality and sense of propriety than that sort of thing.
Well-before the present crop of pre-adolescent hooligans, that is.

[cali]

11. Whatever.

If you've got evidence that it's been debunked, fine. That's hardly the point. You're setting a laughably high bar for losing presidential candidates, not to mention losing sitting Presidents. to claim, as you do, that Ford had an insufficient grasp on reality because he referred to Carter as "that s.o.b. in private, in the immdediate aftermath of losing the preisident is just absurd, and it constitutes stooping disgusting low to find something negative.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

2. Makes Sense. Seems To Be In Line With How Most People Would Handle A Devastating Loss.

This reaction was completely benign and unremarkable in its nature. Not sure of what your point or intent was supposed to be.

[journalist3072]

3. The point being that

Republicans love to say that the "grown-ups are in charge" whenever they have power. From what I can tell, that's always one of their major talking points--that they are the "grown-ups."

Obviously I don't think throwing peanuts around on a plane, because the guy who beat you loves them, is an example of being a grown-up.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

8. Seriously? That Was The Premise? Shit, Now I Wish I Wouldn't Have Asked.

[EST]

13. Jimmie Carter was/is a peanut farmer.

[MonkeyFunk]

4. CNN

showed his concession speech last night. He had Betty take over for him, while he stood in the back, looking just pained.

Presidential campaigns are SO grueling, losing one has to be tough for anybody.

[SaveOurDemocracy]

5. silly ...

balance and perspective? :eyes:

[WI_DEM]

12. So? it was in the post presidency that he and Carter became friends

after Carter was President when they attended Sadat's funeral--they buried the hatchet.