President Gerald Ford Writes About His Admiration of Abraham Lincoln

March 13, 1978

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President Gerald Ford Writes About His Admiration of Abraham Lincoln
Typed Letter Signed
1 page | SMC 1468

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      Background

      “I’m a Ford, not a Lincoln” the 38th President famously said of himself - though that he might have liked it to be otherwise, is suggested in this letter. Lincoln, he declares, is the person he admires most.
       
      I admire him because of his honesty, integrity and utmost dedication to the American people. He was a man of reason and a man of hope. President Lincoln acknowledged the grave flaw of our first 87 years of existence – slavery, and made the first positive steps towards changing it. Abraham Lincoln rekindled the pride in America.
       
      Every president since Lincoln has looked to him as a model, that they too might, by virtue of their honesty, integrity and dedication, make Americans proud. That simple standard, however, has proven surprisingly high.
      Typed Letter Signed (“Jerry Ford”), 1 page, quarto, on his personal letterhead embossed with the presidential seal, no place, March 13, 1978. To Raymond Lawing.
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      GERALD R. FORD

      March 13, 1978


      Dear Raymond:

      Thank you for your recent letter regarding the person I admire the most.

      I truly admire President Abraham Lincoln.  I admire him because of his honesty, integrity and utmost dedication to the American people.

      He was a man of reason and a man of hope.  President Lincoln acknowledged the grave flaw of our first 87 years of existence -- slavery, and made the first positive steps towards changing it.  Abraham Lincoln rekindled the pride in America.

      I sincerely hope I have been of some help to you with your project, and please accept my best wishes for the years to come.

      Sincerely,

      JERRY FORD
       

      Master Raymond Lawing
      Hotel Rochambrau
      1 West Franklin Street
      Baltimore, Maryland  21201