Not to defend them, but the press and the clueless voters demand presidents solve big problems, meaning grow government and spend more and more. And presidents #1 want re-election, as GWB did in 2004.
This is why I have serious reservations about another republican president anytime soon.
See the blurb on Ford Reduced spending on federal prisons by pardoning Nixon (LOL)* Overall, not too bad for a Republican and better than...(Reagan)
The article’s claim can only be made cause he wasn’t in office long enough. I know this article is very narrow in focus but his only legacy is John Paul Stevens, who is a terrible big government Justice whom is still hurting us and whom Ford defended as the right choice for the rest of his life.
Ford was a liberal Republican. Had he got a full term in 1976 he may have ended up closer to a Carter type President than a Reagan.
There are valid criticisms of Reagan. There was too much spending, though the defense spending caused the suicide of the USSR. The worst thing he did was sign the bill that hiked the payroll tax, I believe we can thank alleged free marketeer and alleged Ayn Ran fan (lol, she would kick him in nuts today for loving taxes wouldn’t she?) Alan Greenscum for recommending that. And amnesty, not mentioned in the article (possibly cause the Mises people are for it, I don’t know) was obviously a big mistake. He was not a perfect President but he’s the only good one we’ve had since the depression. Ford can get bent.