Gerald Ford is playing the jolly Santa Claus, like any other incumbent who wishes to stay in office for some more presidential Christmases. As shrewdly and crudely as Lyndon Johnson or Richard Nixon ever did, he is doling out patronage and pork to goad, frighten and lead Republicans to support him.
Shortly before the New Hampshire primary, Ford said that he intended to retain the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, which the Defense Department had threatened to close. He announced to hard-pressed New England fishermen that he would fight to extend the territorial limit from twelve...
To continue reading:
or
Log-In
