I have been reading Jules Witcover’s book, Marathon. It’s about the political events between 1972 and 1976. President Ford developed the reputation as a bumbler between 1974-1976. There were two assassination attempts on Ford, he would trip and bump into things, and he had some trouble pronouncing words like geothermal. They parodied the song, “If I only had a brain” (Wizard of Oz) for President Ford. The lyrics are:
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I could while away the hours
Reflecting on my powers,
As we go down the drain
I could spend like Rockefeller,
I could talk like Walter Heller,
If I only had a brain.
I could overcome inflation
Put gas in every station
And we would feel no pain
I could make the Arabs cower,
I could be an Eisenhower
If I only had a brain.
Oh, gee, if I could be
Like Truman in his prime;
Salty speeches whipping Congress into line,
Say “geothermal” – the first time.
I could hold down grocery prices,
Wipe out the oil crisis,
Solve problems with no strain.
I could do a lot of thinkin’,
I could be another Lincoln,
If I only had a brain.
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This shows that it isn’t just George W. Bush who developed this reputation.