As the Democrats are attempting to make an issue of Gerald Ford's probity, the community that helped shape him stands as a kind of character witness. Just as Plains, Ga. (pop. 683), is typical of the Deep South, small-town style, Grand Rapids, Mich. (pop. 195,000), epitomizes many of the enduring qualities that typify the Midwest. TIME Detroit Bureau Chief Edwin Reingold visited Grand Rapids, while White House Correspondent Strobe Talbott talked with Ford's friends from his home town on the White House staff. Their report:
The staff at Grand Rapids' solid old...
To continue reading:
or
Log-In
