Washington is becoming Gerald Ford's town.
The city has not belonged to a President since 1966, when L.B.J. lost it over Viet Nam. But last week the capital cared what Ford did and said, and where he went and who was there.
One of the subtle but important dimensions of governing is to capture the rapt attention of Washington—an organism that can discourage and thwart presidential ambitions, or encourage and help them. Nixon could have reigned had he wanted to. But Nixon considered Washington his enemy. When he needed help the city did not...
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