President Ford's Piedmont Visit March 13, 1976

Greensboro, NC -- President Gerald Ford made two visits to the Piedmont during his time in office. The following account is from scripts found in the old film canister in WFMY News 2's archives:Script #1Good evening.Eight and a half hours after he came to North Carolina's Piedmont, President Ford bade goodbye to his host, Governor Holshouser and stepped aboard Air Force One for the flight back to Washington.It was not an easy day for the President. It all started in Illinois where he was campaigning for next week's primary. But by the time Mr. Ford reached Greensboro, his campaign manager was gone. And some people close to the President were afraid the leave taking of Howard "Bo" Callaway could be costly. We have reports on President Ford's journey to Greensboro, Winston-Salem and Wilkesboro.The North Carolina visit was intended as a simple mixture of politics and official duties. But en route to North Carolina, the President's campaign manager, Howard "Bo" Callaway resigned under a cloud of allegations. It is charged that Callaway used his influence while Secretary of the Army to try to get more government land for a ski resort Calloway operates in Colorado. Callaway resigned aboard Air Force One between Illinois and North Carolina. Callaway took a commercial flight from Greensboro back to Washington. Meanwhile, after President Ford landed at the Regional Airport, He went by helicopter to Guilford College. The crowd of spectators at the college included a bagpiper. The President greeted the crowd and then moved inside to a news conference. It was there that the first questions came up about Callaway. The President was asked who would decide if Callaway had acted improperly.The crowd of seven thousand at the Guilford Battleground was polite and restrained. Generally, the President's speech had a non-political tone. The politics came later. The President left the battleground for Winston-Salem.Ted Harrison for Channel 2 News.Script #2When President Ford climbed from the helicopter in Winston-Salem, he was greeted by some ten thousand persons. A confident Ford would tell the crowd, "We won in Massachusetts. We won in Florida. We're going to win in Illinois and we're going to win in North Carolina."The Winston-Salem crowd kept surging toward the restraining ropes, trying to shake the President's hand. Mr. Ford said later it was one of the most exciting and inspirational audiences he had encountered.Mr. Ford's final campaign stop of the day was in Wilkesboro.His huge olive drab Marine helicopter put down on the football field at the Wilkes County High School.The President accepted a replica of an old musket as a gift, then waded into the crowd, eagerly shaking and touching him. Then it was inside the school for a rally.Mr. Ford spoke briefly, then answered questions from the audience: how does he feel about revenue sharing...he wants it extended. As for legalizing marijuana... absolutely not. And one man wanted to know why no President since Hoover had chosen to speak of Jesus Christ. To that, Mr. Ford replied that one of his sons is a ministerial student and he, the President, is a believer.Then there was the young girl who asked if, in all his travels Mr. Ford fears for his safety.The President helicoptered from Wilkesboro back to Greensboro. There a crowd of several hundred huddled in a cold wind to see him off.Script #3The President's visit highlighted a special event, of course. It was a day to commemorate the anniversary of the revolutionary war battle of Guilford Courthouse.Rick Amme reportsHigh school bands rotated playing to provide a continuous musical background for the stream of people filing into the Guilford battleground.Some of them staked out a plot on the damp ground and staged an impromptu picnic. But most stood and stood and stood, waiting either on their own or with someone else’s assistance.An estimated seven thousand people stood shoulder to shoulder to get a glimpse of the president when he made his entrance about one thirty.The Secret Service cleared a portion of New Garden Road for the Presidential Limousine.Men and women in revolutionary war dress lined up as the honor guard through which the President would pass. At one point, the secret service inspected their muskets to be sure they could not fire. Then with the cooperation of some sunshine from Mother Nature, the forty thousand pound limousine gingerly approached through the gravel and mud of New Garden Road.Even with the long-awaited arrival of the President, the most that most of the crowd got to see was each other. A good view was hard to come by for most, not counting the news media who turned out in the usual large numbers: 175 state and 62 national press people.After the ceremonies, speech and a long round of handshaking with the crowd, President Ford left Guilford Battleground to proceed to other stops. But there was more to come at the park. Though much of the crowd left, many people attended a performance by the First Maryland and Ninth Virginia Regiments.The revolutionary war demonstration was colorful. But there was not question what the high spot of the day was.Script #4While President Ford was speaking on the Guilford College Campus, the Governor of South Carolina was in the next Building. But Governor Jimmy Edwards was here in behalf of Ford’s Republican Challenger, Ronald Reagan.Tim Auman reports from Guilford College.Governor Edwards said he is supporting Reagan because of his good political record as Governor of California for eight years. But Edwards said if President Ford becomes the party’s nominee, then he will support Ford.The governor said Reagan’s success in streamlining California’s welfare program, and in keeping down the growth of state government, proved he would make a good president.Although Reagan has lost in all primaries to date, Governor Edwards said Reagan will not pull out, Despite how does in the North Carolina primary.Edwards disclaimed charges that the primary was divisive for the Republican Party and said if Ford is the party’s nominee, he will be his strongest South Carolina supporter.But at this point, Governor Jimmy Edwards says Regan’s the man for the republicans.Tim Auman, Channel Two news, at Guilford College.