President Gerald Ford is being remembered as a humble, honest compromiser who was able to heal a nation in the wake of political scandal and an unpopular war.

In an era of fresh political scandals, scorched-earth political tactics and another unpopular war, the nation may just be in need of a similarly steady hand at the helm two years hence.

As ambitious candidates begin announcing their intention to seek the presidency in 2008, most should realize that the nation is weary of the excesses of Washington, including:

• the runaway spending;

• the barely concealed trading of campaign donations for political favors;

• the extremism and boiling rhetoric on both sides of the political aisle;

• the convictions of crooked politicians, government officials and lobbyists; and

• the apparent mishandling, wasted spending and lack of apparent progress in the war in Iraq.

Ford is widely credited with helping the nation move forward when it was similarly mired in cynicism and despair.

He was appointed vice president in 1973 when the disgraced Spiro Agnew was forced to resign over kickbacks he had received as Maryland’s governor. Agnew was a divisive figure, a vitriolic speaker who was eager and willing to savage political opponents.

Richard Nixon’s presidency was already mired in the Watergate scandal, and Ford was seen as a bridge-builder with Congress and a calm contrast to Agnew’s style.

Then, only eight months later, Nixon was forced to resign over Watergate, and the man who never sought the presidency was elevated to the office.

By all accounts, he was a trustworthy, decent man who never suffered from the arrogance of office.

Only a month after taking office, Ford showed his strength and courage by granting a full pardon to Richard Nixon.

While some Americans disagreed, the pardon effectively moved the nation beyond the pain and spectacle of a presidential criminal trial.

Unfortunately, much of the anger directed at Nixon was then redirected at Ford. Some say the decision later cost him his own chance at election.

He only occupied the Oval Office for 895 days, but in that time the Vietnam War was ended and he signed a landmark treaty with the Soviet Union, which was later withdrawn from Senate consideration by Jimmy Carter to protest the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

Ironically, we’re now involved in our own Afghanistan incursion.

Ford, unexpectedly, was no pushover with Congress. He vetoed 66 bills and was overridden 12 times.

He was a guileless man in a town that thrives on cunning and deception. He was a calm man in a period of frenzy. He was a forgiving man in a time of anger.

He was, in short, the right man at the right time.