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Reactions to Ford visit enthusiastic, disappointed
By Joe Starita
Reaction among NU officials to former President
Gerald Ford's visit to, the NU campuses last week ranged
from "very enthusiastic" to "very disappointed."
Ford's visit to the Lincoln and Omaha campuses as a
visiting distinguished professor of political science was
arranged and financed by the NU Foundation, according
to Foundation President Harry Haynie.
Ford's fee was $15,000, he said.
Haynie said, "We were very pleased and feel he added a
great deal to the Foundation.
In the classrooms at the University of Nebraska at
Omaha, Ford was stimulating when relating firsthand ex
perience but "sophomoric" as a political philosopher,
Kent Kirwan, chairman of the Dept. of Political Science
said. ....
"If they expected a distinguished scholar in political
science, they should have gotten one," Kirwan said.
"Ford is not a great philosopher.
"His excellence showed in practical ways. In discuss
ing how Congress helps shape foreign policy, in talking
about the Nixon pardon and the state of the Republican
Party."
Organizational problems
On the UNL campus, organizational problems and role
vplaying were blamed for creating a dissappointing visit
from a man who occupied the nation's highest elective
office. ' . .
John Comer, associate professor of political science,
said "I was very disappointed and think that the gradu
ate students and faculty expected more than his mere
physical presence on campus. We didn't get it.
"We wanted Ford to tell us something we can't read in
the newspapers."
Instead, Comer said, the former President provided
predictable answers with "no inside information on the
inner workings of power."
Political Science Prof. John Peters echoed Comer's
criticisms, citing bad planning and a lack of power to
change format as reasons why Ford's visit, provided
"nothing we didn't already know."
Responding to criticism that Ford's campus
appearance provided students and faculty members with
little insignt into the office of the President, Haynie said
he believes "the classroom is not the place for major
political addresses." :
Ford as professor
. , Comer said Ford wanted to play the role of professor
and part of the responsibility for digging out his political
side rested with the students and faculty. ,
When dealing with politicians, Peters said, it's import
ant to have a well-planned format that allows follow-up
questions to dig out "the scoop," and to get at informa
tive answers. ' " . "
. "We didn't get that," Peters said, "and that's either
because we didn't ask the right questions, or because
Ford didn't have anything to say."
Students received praise for their preparation and con
frontations with Ford. .
Students were well prepared, asked tough questions
and created a sophisticated exchange, Kirwan said.
. "We got a very enthusiastic response from the stu
dents," Kirwan said. "They were impressed that he didn't
dodge any hard questions, was very candid and down to
earth.
Successful day
"All in all, I thought the day was quite successful. I
didn't expect a philosophical king and we didn't get one.
We got our money's worth because we got what we
expected."
Peters said it's an honor to have a former President on
campus but added that changes will be made to make
Ford's visit to NU this spring more productive.
"The burden is on the students and faculty to get the
answers from him. We want more of a response than, "We
saw the president. He came to our class.'
"I guess you could say I was glad he came, was sorry
we didn't utilize him as well as we could have but that
well improve for the spring."
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