Gerald Ford on Civil Rights President of the U.S., 1974-1977; Republican Rep. (MI)

Would choose woman V.P. if he could do it over

But what a gamble it would be! This would be the sort of dramatic announcement that would electrify the country. It might reverse our party's slide in the polls. Surveys indicated that she would gain us votes from people who don't normally back Republicans, but she would also cost us more of our traditional support than any other potential nominee. She came close. Very close. Naming her was something I really wanted to do, but I found myself drawing back every time I thought about it. (In retrospect, if given the opportunity to make that decision again, I might have said, "Damn the torpedoes" and gambled on Anne.)

Face up to gay rights as a serious problem

A. Civil rights for what?

Q. For gay people, with respect to hiring, employment, and housing. And secondly, if you were elected President, how would you hope to eliminate some of the discrimination that gay people in America live under?

A. I recognize that this is a very new and serious problem in our society. I have always tried to be an understanding person as far as people are concerned who are different than myself. That doesn't mean that I agree with or would concur in what is done by them or their position in society. I think this is a problem we have to face up to, and I can't give you a pat answer tonight. I just would be dishonest to say that there is a pat answer under these very difficult circumstances

Endorsed the Equal Rights Amendment

Delay court-ordered busing until all appeals exhausted

• Provides that in the case of any court busing order, including any order to overcome racial imbalanc or to carry out a plan of desegregation, such order shall be postponed until all appeals have been exhausted, or until the time for such appeals has expired.
• Removes the January 1, 1974, expiration date on the effectiveness of this section.