A Leader's Passing

Sometime last evening our country lost a great leader in its 38th President, Gerald R. Ford Jr. When looking back on President Ford’s life and particularly his presidency, we are reminded of particular leadership qualities that are at times taken for granted. Mr. Ford, by all accounts, was a likable, hardworking individual who recognized the position he was given and particularly what role had to be fulfilled in that position.

As a football player at the University of Michigan during his sophomore and junior seasons, he was a back-up (behind All-American athletes) and a role-player on teams that won conference titles. During his senior year, when it was his turn to fill the role, Ford became an All-American center and was offered multiple contracts to play professionally. As a Congressman, Mr. Ford was the consummate district-service politician, legislating on behalf of his constituency and fulfilling his role as it is defined in a representative government. As an executive, President Ford was a national healer.

Not one business leader would envy the circumstances in which Gerald Ford took office as “CEO” of this nation. Scandal had rocked the Office of the Presidency, Mr. Ford himself was never elected (either as Vice-President or as President after taking over for a resigning Richard M. Nixon), and the domestic economy was battling inflation and an impending energy crisis. Add to these circumstances, the foreign policy nightmare that was Vietnam in the early 70s and we can imagine that this was not an enviable position. Yet Mr. Ford took charge and went about his term by identifying his role in bringing our nation out of scandal and focusing on building a more productive future.

Gerald Ford’s presidency was not a long one (2½ years), but in this time he was able to bring several chapters of conflict and trouble to a close. His often criticized pardon of former President Richard Nixon was not a popular move, but as a realist President Ford needed the Watergate scandal to be closed. He also ended the conflict in Vietnam and worked towards reducing arms with the Soviet Union. President Ford was not in a position to completely turn around domestic issues (that would follow later under the Reagan-Bush-Clinton eras), but he was able to recognize his role and lead effectively through this period.

As business professionals, we can all learn something about the qualities of leadership from Gerald Rudolph Ford, Jr. Understanding your position and identifying your role to improve and build your company is a fundamental building block to success. Our nation lost a true leader last night and we were all fortunate to have known him for so long.