alternatehistory.com

Rancho Mirage, California
March 15, 1980

Jerry Ford wanted to be President again. The thought sometimes surprised him, because prior to his short time in the Oval Office, he had not dreamt of becoming the Chief Executive of the nation. But, he thought he had done rather well, all things considered. The country had gotten back some of its confidence and patriotism after the ruinous experience of Watergate. And while Ford had lost narrowly in 1976 (thanks in part to Reagan virtually ignoring him after losing the GOP nomination that summer), he was looking better and better retrospectively as the American people experienced the dithering and indecision of President Jimmy Carter. America looked weaker than ever before, unable to stop Communist advances as close as Central America, and also unable to control its economy.

Ford was not a man of huge ego, but it often burned him up that he was out of office because of two men he had little respect for.

He had seriously considered running again, Reagan be damned. But to do so, he would have to go all out, starting before the midterm elections in 1978. He would also have to attend the various "cattle calls" that state parties liked to put on even before the 1980 primary season even began. He knew he could count on solid support from his fellow moderate conservatives in the NorthEast and Midwest, but was there any way he could crack the South and West, Reagan country? He could not do it in 1976, when he had the power and prestige of the Presidency behind him. Could he have done it in 1980, running as the underdog challenger to the presumed frontrunner? It would be such a damn nuisance to run anyway ... he was finally making some money and providing properly for his family. He didn't want to give that life up. He discovered he liked making money, damn it, and why not? He did his time.

Now, maybe if Reagan stumbled and the party seemed to be fracturing between him and Bush and Connally, Ford could make himself available as the unity candidate, saving a grateful party and leading it to victory in November.

But no, that wasn't happening. Bush was a good kid (funny that Ford considered him a kid, he was 55, but he sounded like a gee whiz college preppy) and he landed some blows, but Anderson for whatever reason ran and siphoned off some of Bush's votes in New England. Connally got nowhere. After a few losses, the Reagan campaign was steamrolling its way to the nomination. Like it or not, Ronnie would be the nominee, the party would be behind him, and Gerry would be a bit player in Ronnie's best role ever ... candidate for President.


After much indecision, Gerry Ford had decided to declare he would not be a candidate for the Republican nomination for President in 1980. He was sitting in his study at Rancho Palos Verdes beginning to draft a statement to that effect, which he would share in a few days.

There was a knock on the door. Betty, looking a little strange. "Honey, I think you need to turn on the TV."

A feeling of dread went through Gerald Ford. He had the same feeling right before he learned that President Kennedy had been shot and killed in 1963. Dear God, was this happening again?

"Did something happen to the President?" Ford asked his wife.

"Not the President, Jerry," responded Betty.

"Then what?" asked the former President.

"It's Ronnie Reagan," said Betty. "He fell down a flight of airplane stairs and broke his neck. He's dead, Jerry."

Ford sat stunned. He himself had been a figure of fun to many in the media and on TV (some show called Saturday Night Alive or whatever) for falling down a flight of stairs. Now it happens to Reagan and he dies from it?

"I think the world has turned upside down, Betty, or maybe right side up."
Top