Scrimmaging on the Gridiron and on the political front

Ebony, Nov, 1995 by Gerald R. Ford

Just a few months prior to November 1, 1945, I had returned from two-plus years in the Pacific conflict aboard a combat aircraft carrier, the USS Monterey (CVL26). Our ship had fought in the island-hopping operations under Admirals Halsey and Mischner from Tarawa to the Battle of the Philippines. Because of the integration policies implemented by the Roosevelt White House, the Monterey crew of about 3,500 was well-balanced between Blacks and Whites, including officers and enlisted men.

At no time, while I was aboard ship, was there any racial conflict. I served as assistant navigator, officer of the deck in general quarters and was the ship's athletic and recreation director. In those two positions I could observe crew performance under combat pressure as well as in recreation activities on the Pacific atolls or on board ship. Under both circumstances I saw no evidence of Blacks and Whites in racial conflict. During battle everyone cooperated in their assignments as a dedicated team in defense of America's goal -- victory. In recreational activities there were no ugly racial incidents.

This constructive relationship in war time brings to my mind a totally different circumstance in which I was involved as a member of the 1934 University of Michigan football team. As a freshman in 1931, Willis Ward and I became close personal friends. He, a Black, came from Northwestern High in Detroit, where he was an outstanding football and track star. In our sophomore and junior years (1932-33), we earned our varsity letters on Michigan's national championship team. Because of our warm friendship, we roomed together when Michigan played away from home.

Our senior year (1934), Michigan's third game was with Georgia Tech. Willis and I were Michigan regulars. Georgia Tech announced it would not play Michigan if Willis Ward, a Black, participated in the game. I was outraged because Willis was a close friend and an outstanding student of unquestioned character. I and several other members of the Michigan team said we would not play if Willis was excluded. Several days before Saturday's contest Willis personally appealed to me and the others that we should play even if he could not because of the Georgia Tech objections. We played and the Wolverines won.

Compare race relations in 1934 with the WWII changes and what they are now in 1995. Today, in intercollegiate athletic competition there is no racial discrimination whatsoever. I deeply resented the tragic situation that hurt my friend, Willis Ward, but I applaud the tremendous progress America has made in race relations in the past 50 years. We aren't perfect, but the improvement has been significant.

Fundamental friendships often show up subsequently, and that was true with Willis and me. I was in the House of Representatives for about 10 years when Willis decided to be a Republican candidate in a House contest in the Detroit area. He asked me to campaign for him, which I enthusiastically did; but he lost in a heavily Democratic district. A year or two later, Willis was appointed a state judge by a Republican governor. It was a privilege to actively support the candidacy of a friend who was fully qualified for a judicial role.

As I look back, my views on race relations were based on several circumstances. My longtime friendship with Willis Ward had a significant impact. I admired him because of his character and inteligence. I deeply resented those who did not treat him as an equal because he was Black.

My hometown, Grand Rapids, Mich., was a multiracial community. During my high school years, the Black population was about 13 percent. All public schools and athletic teams were fully integrated. My senior year I was captain of the South High football team. We were state "champs" with a great Black end, Silas McGee, who later became a stevedore leader on the San Francisco water-front. We renewed our friendship many years later when he dropped by the White House for an Oval Office visit. He was another intimate friend who favorably impacted my viewpoint on Black/White relations.

In conclusion, my real life experiences obviously had a major influence on my congressional decisions during the civil rights legislation in the 1950s-'60s. Although racial differences had no impact in my personal life or in my home community, as a member of Congress I fully realized that race discrimination tragically had existed too often and too long throughout America. As a result, I consistently voted for the civil rights legislative proposals before the Congress. These new, nationwide laws were absolutely necessary to end racial discrimination and achieve equality of opportunity in education, the work place and society overall. Progress for minorities developed during the past half century, but we must work hard to achieve total success.