“You learn a lot about a man when you run against him for president.”
And former president Jimmy Carter says what he learned about Gerald R. Ford led to a lifelong friendship between the two men.
“Jerry and I frequently agreed that one of the greatest blessings that we had after we left the white house the last quarter century was the intense personal friendship that bound us together.”
After Gerald R. Ford died in 2007, former President Carter came to Grand Rapids and delivered the eulogy at his funeral. After leaving the white house he says they worked together on dozens of projects.
“More than 25 different projects on which jerry and I have shared leadership responsibilities.”
He said their wives Betty Ford and Rosalynn Carter also collaborated on mental illness and drug and alcohol addiction projects and became close friends
“The four of us learned to love each other.”
Ford was the 38th president, Carter the 39th. President Ford pardoned Richard Nixon and oversaw the end of Americas involvement in the Vietnam war.
“For myself and my nation I want to thank my predecessor for all he did to heal our land.”
