Monica Crowley

The Legacy of Gerald Ford

I met Gerald Ford a couple of times during my work with former President Nixon.  While many saw Nixon's death as an end of an era, I would argue Ford's passing is the true milestone.  It marks a  psychological end because when you take a look at the images of mourning we've been seeing for the past couple of days, you see the great impact Ford had on America. 

Richard Nixon said it best when he called Ford's pardon of him the kiss of death.  That pardon was the end of the Ford presidency, and Ford knew it.  That is called courage.  That is called leadership. That is called patriotism.  Ford put his country first, ahead of his own political aspirations.  That should be the template for all of our politicians.  Sadly in today's world, it is not.

Perhaps the most remarkable thing about the Ford pardon was that everyone assumed that the Democrats would have no problem winning the White House in 1976.  It didn't matter which Democrat.  They could have put up Lassie the dog and still won the presidency in 1976.  Yet Gerald Ford came within a point and a half of Jimmy Carter on election night.  That's even after the pardon, and Ford's major gaffe in the debate with Carter, where he said there was no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe.  Even after all of that, Ford still came within a point and a half of Jimmy Carter.

That speaks volumes of the decency of Gerald Ford.  He may not have been brilliant like Richard Nixon, or a visionary like Ronald Reagan.  But he was good and decent-- a regular guy in an almost impossible job.  He was in many ways one of us.  It was as if one of us found ourselves in that job.  A simple man with simple tastes, using common sense to tackle the toughest job in the world-- a job he never sought.  That's not a bad legacy, not a bad legacy at all.

Visit the ON DEMAND audio link to the right, or subscribe to my free PODCAST ON ITUNES to hear more about the legacy of Gerald Ford.

The End of Saddam

Saddam Hussein has left the building.   The man responsible for the deaths of one million people.  The man who invaded two countries.  The man who used weapons of mass destruction on his own people.   The butcher of Baghdad is dead.

The execution of Saddam is a very critical moment in the progress of the new Iraq.   Despite all the predictions of increased violence after Saddam's final punishment, there has been little negative reaction inside Iraq.

Brigitte Gabriel, author of the bestselling book, Because They Hate, told me this weekend that most in the Muslim world didn't care about Saddam.   She feels the execution will come and go with little fanfare, and that the only way he will become a martyr is if the media in the west continues to pay attention to his passing.   In the end, Gabriel feels this will go away as quick as it happened.

Gabriel is also the founder of the website American Congress for Truth.  You can purchase her great book, Because they Hate at AMAZON.COM.

Listen to my interview with Gabriel with the ON DEMAND feature to the right, or by downloading my free PODCAST ON ITUNES.

Remembering Gerald Ford | 1913-2006

Join me this weekend as we remember President Gerald Ford.  A state funeral and five days of nationwide services will be held to honor the man who led America from its darkest political hour after the Watergate scandal.   I'll be talking about the Ford legacy with special guests, and sharing my thoughts on the man who replaced my late boss, President Richard Nixon.

Check back for more details on this weekend's program.  Until then, please share your thoughts on President Ford by posting a comment below.

Message from Monica

As we come to the end of 2006, I would like to thank all of you for your kind and gracious support. The success of The Monica Crowley Show is due to you, who go on that radio adventure with me every weekend. Have a very merry Christmas and happy holiday season, and I wish you health and happiness for 2007.

Monica

Special Christmas Radio Show

The last minute holiday rush is here, and I'll be here to help get you through it.   Join me this weekend on the radio for an all new show!   I'll be talking about Iraq with Frank Gaffney, president of the Center for Security Policy.   I'll also be discussing Hillary's plans for 2008 along with Kofi Annan's grand exit.

I'll also have something for the kid in all of us.   I'll be joined by Jill Vitale, author of the new children's book, Freddie the Free-Range Chicken.  Click here to buy the book from Amazon.com

We'll also be tracking Santa's progress with Master Sergeant Anthony Hill, NORAD Track Center Project Officer.  CLICK HERE to track Santa on the special Norad website!

The show will be pre-empted in New York again this weekend, but you can always listen online.   Check out my STATION LIST to see all the stations offering streaming audio of the program.

The Best of Imus

Don Imus is off to the ranch for the holidays, so Monica will host the best of Imus all this week on MSNBC.   Tune from 6am to 9am et on MSNBC for the latest news and some of the greatest moments from Imus and the gang over the past year.   Also, Monica's appearance earlier this week on Imus is now available for download for your iPod.   Click here for the Monicamemo iTunes page.   If you're a regular listener of Monica's podcast, be sure to write your own review on the iTunes page!

This Weekend's Radio Show

Who could have guessed that the balance of power in the Senate would be back in question, but the health crisis facing Senator Tim Johnson has brought more uncertainty to Capitol Hill.  I’ll be talking to Doris Kearns Goodwin, author of the best-seller Team of Rivals: The Political Genus of Abraham Lincoln.

We’re just two weeks away from 2007, but in politics, its all about 2008.  The crowded field that includes Rodham, Obama and Romney is already on parade.  I’ll be talking about it all with political strategist and author Dick Morris.

I’ll also be joined by Debra Burlingame, whose brother Chic was the pilot of Flight 77—the plane that was hijacked and crashed into the Pentagon on September 11th.

I hope you’ll join me this weekend on the radio!

Monica on Imus

Monica will be Don Imus' guest Tuesday morning at 8:29am et.  Watch on MSNBC or listen on one of the many Imus radio stations.

This Weekend's Radio Show

Are we ignoring the threat of terror at home?  This week a Muslim convert was arrested after authorities say he was planning to blow up an Illinois mall before Christmas.   The arrest and the plot it uncovered raises all sorts of questions, and I'll be putting them to Steve Emerson, the executive director of the Investigative Project on Terrorism and the author of Jihad Incorporated.

Jim Baker threw up his hands this week over Iraq.  No politics involved here, right?  I'll have full analysis of what was really said.

And Hillary Clinton is making it official, and Nancy Pelosi is off and running, turning the next Congress into a sitcom.    I'll be talking about it all this weekend on the radio.  I hope you'll tune in!

This Weekend's Radio Show

NBC woke up to a slow news day on Monday morning, and decided make themselves part of the story, by declaring Iraq is in civil war.  Secretary of State Matt Lauer made the announcement on the Today Show.   I’ll be talking about it with Fouad Ajami, author of The Foreigner's Gift: The Americans, the Arabs, and the Iraqis in Iraq.

We’ll also have plenty to talk about after a week off.  There’s Nancy Pelosi’s power trip, our new Iranian pen-pal and the Imans on a plane.

I’ll also be joined by Steve Doocy, author of the new book, The Mr. and Mrs. Happy Handbook: Everything I Know About Love and Marriage.