But what people may not remember is what a surprise it was at the time that it happened. A month earlier, nixon had famously resigned the president under the threat of impeachment, and he left the white house aboard marine one, handing the presidency off to his Vice President , gerald ford. As donald rumsfeld, george w. Bushs defense secretary, who served in the ford administration, later recalled, those of us close enough to observe it ourselves could see how tormented ford was by the decision. And when he finally made it, it caught many of us by surprise. It was a surprise because fords pardon came on a sunday morning, september 8th, 1974. As the times reported, quote, government buildings were almost empty, and no one was expecting any dramatic president ial action. Mr. Ford attended Early Morning communion at st. Johns episcopal church, then returned to the white house to make the announcement. And i have sought such guidance and searched my own conscience with special diligence to
History, by which all others are measured. But people may not remember what a surprise it was at the time it happened. A month earlier nixon had famously resigned the presidency under threat of impeachment, left the white house on marine 1, handing the presidency off to his Vice President , gerald ford. As rumsfeld recalled. Those close enough to observe it ourselves could see how tormented ford was by the decision. When he finally made it, caught many of us by surprise. Sunday morning, september 8th, 1974. As times reported, government buildings almost empty, no one expecting any dramatic president ial action. Attended Early Morning communion at st. Johns epiescopal church before the announcement. To determine the right thing for me to do with respect to my predecessor in this place, richard nixon. And his loyal wife and family. Theirs is an american tragedy in which we all have played a part. It could go on and on and on, or someone must write the end to it. I have concluded that onl
Last week, we marked the one-year anniversary of the death of Congressman
John Lewis who spent his life working to advance voting and civil rights for Black Americans.
We also lost
Gloria Richardson, a largely unsung civil rights activist who passed away at the age of 99. Richardson was known for her relentless activism, and iconic photo pushing away the bayonet of a National Guardsman during a 1963 protest.
These activists, along with an endless list of so many, helped pave the way for ongoing work being done in Black communities across the nation and world. Though they have left us now, their work and legacy lives on.