Spasms

Believe it or not, President Ford’s “reorganization” of his “team” (or “my guys,” as he calls them) was supposed to be a convincing demonstration of Mr. Ford’s sure touch at the helm, a conspicuous example of decisiveness, a display that would stem the surging tide of doubts about his presidential stature, doubts that increased during the recent months he spent as a tourist in his native land. Instead it began when Newsweek got wind of the gathering storm, and it quickly became another instance of government by spasm, another example of politics as demolition derby.

It reached a climax of sorts about fifty hours later when Mr. Ford held a press conference the transcript of which should be required reading for Americans who wonder why most Americans feel as they do about politicians. A fair sample of it is this:

Believe it or not, President Ford’s “reorganization” of his “team” (or “my guys,” as he calls them) was supposed to be a convincing demonstration of Mr. Ford’s sure touch at the helm, a conspicuous example of decisiveness, a display that would stem the surging tide of doubts about his presidential stature, doubts that increased during the recent months he spent as a tourist in his native land. Instead it began when Newsweek got wind of the gathering storm, and it quickly became another instance of government by spasm, another example of politics as demolition derby.

It reached a climax of sorts about fifty hours later when Mr. Ford held a press conference the transcript of which should be required reading for Americans who wonder why most Americans feel as they do about politicians. A fair sample of it is this: