Gerald Ford and the Challenges of the 1970s

477 Pages·2005·2.21 MB·English

by  Yanek Mieczkowski

Gerald Ford
and the Challenges
of the 1970s

Gerald Ford
and the
Challenges
of the
1970s
YA N E K M I E C Z K O W S K I
THE UNIVERSITY PRESS OF KENTUCKY
Publication of this volume was made possible in part
by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Copyright © 2005 by The University Press of Kentucky
Scholarly publisher for the Commonwealth,
serving Bellarmine University, Berea College, Centre
College of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University,
The Filson Historical Society, Georgetown College,
Kentucky Historical Society, Kentucky State University,
Morehead State University, Murray State University,
Northern Kentucky University, Transylvania University,
University of Kentucky, University of Louisville,
and Western Kentucky University.
All rights reserved.
Editorial and Sales Offices: The University Press of Kentucky
663 South Limestone Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40508-4008
www.kentuckypress.com
All photographs are courtesy of the Gerald R. Ford Library,
unless otherwise specified.
09 08 07 06 05 5 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Mieczkowski, Yanek.
Gerald Ford and the challenges of the 1970s / Yanek Mieczkowski.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-8131-2349-6 (hardcover : alk. paper)
1. Ford, Gerald R., 1913- 2. Presidents--United States--Biography. 3. United States--
Politics and government--1974-1977. 4. United States--Economic conditions--1971-
1981. 5. United States--Social conditions--1960-1980. I. Title.
E866.M54 2005
973.925'092--dc22 2004026890
This book is printed on acid-free recycled paper meeting
the requirements of the American National Standard
for Permanence in Paper for Printed Library Materials.
Manufactured in the United States of America.
Member of the Association of
American University Presses
To my parents,
Dr. Bogdan and Seiko Mieczkowski

Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction 1
Part One: The Leadership Challenge
1. Hungering for Heroes 17
2. The Congenial Presidency 38
3. Gerald Ford and the Ninety-fourth Congress 56
4. Ford’s Vision for America 73
Part Two: The Economic Challenge
5. The Great Inflation of the 1970s 95
6. Taking Aim at Inflation 111
7. Teetering on a Knife’s Edge 120
8. Rallying the Nation to Fight Inflation 132
9. The Great Recession of the 1970s 145
10. Ford’s 1975 State of the Union Program 157
11. Economic Initiatives, 1975–76 174
Part Three: The Energy Challenge
12. The Energy Crisis of the 1970s 197
13. A New Energy Program 215
14. The Energy Stalemate 228
15. Breaking the Energy Logjam 246
Part Four: Diplomatic and Political Challenges
16. Gerald Ford’s Internationalism 273
17. Thunder from the Right 304
18. Back from the Brink 325
Conclusion 351
Notes 360
Bibliography 421
Index 434
Illustrations follow page 228
viii
Acknowledgments
This work began in a grape vineyard overlooking Seneca Lake in Central
New York. While attending graduate school in Manhattan, I returned to
my hometown, Ithaca, for an early autumn weekend, along with a classmate,
Mike Green. I was planning to begin my doctoral dissertation, and I knew
that I wanted to study Gerald Ford’s presidency. Ford, I felt, was a thoughtful
and steady leader who had never received enough credit for his stewardship—
especially in economic matters—during difficult years in our country’s history.
People familiar with the Finger Lakes region know that its beauty can act as a
tonic, and it did for me that weekend. As Mike and I discussed Ford’s
presidency—picking Niagara, Concord, and Catawba grapes, of all things—
I felt a work begin to crystallize in my mind.
Over the next few years, my dissertation adviser, Alan Brinkley, gave me
enormous encouragement and guidance, helping to shape the thesis into a
study of not only Ford’s presidency but America in the 1970s. The other
members of my dissertation committee, David Farber, Joshua Freeman, Robert
Shapiro, and James Shenton, gave valuable advice to prepare the work for
publication. David Farber expressed interest in this project from the start,
and three other graduate school professors, Mark Carnes, John Garraty, and
Alden Vaughan, greatly influenced my training as a researcher and writer, as
did several classmates, including Ed O’Donnell of Holy Cross College.
The Gerald R. Ford Foundation awarded a generous grant to conduct
research at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
I have made numerous trips there and found the staff peerless in efficiency
and helpfulness. Supervisory archivist David Horrocks has been wonderfully
supportive; Geir Gundersen answered many questions by telephone and e-
mail over the years; audio-visual archivist Kenneth Hafeli fulfilled numerous
video requests and gave generous assistance in selecting photographs for the
picture section. I want to thank all other staff members as well: Director
ix