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This post was originally posted at The New Democrat on Blogger

Whatever you think of Gerry Ford the man, you have to at least give him the facts that he was a man of class and character. Not someone who said he had these things, but showed the people that by how he represented them. And how he went about his business and did his jobs. Either representing his Michigan constituents in the House of Representatives, leading the House Republicans, as Minority Leader, Vice President of the United States or serving the country as President of the United States. And this is a speech he did not have to give since he lost the presidential election in 1976. But chose to give this speech to let the country know the State of The Union as he was about to leave office. Most president’s after losing reelection, use the last few months to just wrap up their presidency and administration and work on the transition to the next president. And perhaps prepare for life outside of the White House. But President Ford as a losing president, saw his duty to give one final report to the country and perhaps let the future president know where we stand.