Gerald Ford is probably, in my opinion, one of the most overlooked presidents of the 1900s, especially considering when he took office.

Having the guts to tell congress and the entire nation outright that the state of the union is not good is downright impressive. On one hand, you want a leader to instill confidence and hope, but being honest and forthcoming about how things are is important. Whether that honesty hurt Gerald Ford in his election is something we can only speculate, but I have to admit, it’s admirable nonetheless.