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It was Gerald Ford's kind of crisis too, full of Marines and ships and planes and power, almost all of it on the U.S. side. That did not diminish the classic presidential dilemma of balancing courage and wisdom, power and forbearance. Everything about Ford was poised for this moment. His Boy Scout's righteous indignation, his athlete's instinct for confrontation, his belief and experience in the Navy. On Monday noon, he felt that he would respond. On Tuesday night, he had the plan figured out, but waited for the forces to be in place. On Wednesday evening, he looked up at the men around him at the Cabinet table and said, "We will do these three things..."
In the early hours of Thursday, he left the Oval Office for his private quarters.
The Mayaguez and the crew were ours again. So was a dollop of pride. The message was ringing round the world. The admirals and generals lifted their heads a little higher. So did the beleaguered government and the nation. A tired Jerry Ford in wilted tux looked into the darkened backyard, where workmen had just begun to build a new swimming pool. "Boy," said the President, "I wish that pool was ready now."