Andrea Mitchell, renowned NBC News journalist and reporter, delivered " A View From Washington" on October 6, 2011 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Mitchell's remarks highlighted the 30th Anniversary Celebrations of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library. Gerald and Betty Ford's daughter, Susan Ford Bales, introduced Mitchell to the packed auditorium.
The Ford Family and Andrea Mitchell have enjoyed a decades long friendship. Mitchell's husband, Alan Greenspan, worked in the Ford Administration and together shared several visits outside of Washington, D.C., including trips to Beaver Creek, Colorado and the annual Ford Foundation meetings. The Ford Family was honored to have Mitchell and Greenspan in their lives as "extended family", and appreciated their participation in the funerals for Gerald and Betty Ford.
Mitchell reflected on the leadership of Gerald R. Ford and some of his great attributes, that of compromise and cooperation. She described Ford's vision of the coming "Global Economy". Ford saw the trends that would play out in the world market, reasons why Ford created the World Economic Forum for World Leaders. It was a place for economic thinkers, national security experts, world leaders and global engagement.
Also highlighted President Ford's friendships across the aisle, as even Tip O'Neil reflected on how "Gerald Ford was the right man at the right time for our country. The Civil War gave us Abraham Lincoln, and Watergate gave us Gerald Ford." Ford's ability to work within both political parties is in stark contrast to today's polarized party members.
Regarding Richard Nixon's pardon, which Mitchell believes cost Ford the 1976 Presidential Election. Ford forgiveness of Nixon allowed the nation to move on past the Watergate scandal and restore the belief in our national democracy. In 2001, Ford received the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award, an award given to recognize and honor courageous political leaders, for his decision to pardon Nixon.
Mitchell commented on the 24 hour news cycle, instant access to information, Bank Bailout of 2008 and the real need to put politics aside to work on the issues of the growing divide between rich and poor. She sees how Washington, D.C. is in the bubble, without the connection to the rest of the country because of the pace of business. The leaders in Washington simply do not get out enough to the rest of the country.
Andrea Mitchell is the veteran NBC Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent and the host of MSNBC's "Andrea Mitchell Reports". She was born in New York City and received her B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania where she is currently a Trustee. She is the author of "Talking Back", a memoir about her experiences as the first women to cover five presidents, congress and foreign policy. She has traveled the world on Presidential visits, covered news stories on North Korea, Afghanistan the Middle East and Bosnia. Mitchell has also worked as Chief Congressional Correspondent, appeared as a regular political analyst on"Today" and was a panelist in the 2nd Bush-Dukakis Presidential Debate.
Watch the Program
When
October 6, 2011
Program Supporters
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum
