Muhammad Ali: His Life and Times by Thomas Hauser

Author:Thomas Hauser
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781453241196
Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media

Then came an occasion that would have been unthinkable several years earlier. On December 10, 1974, at the invitation of Gerald Ford, Ali visited the White House.

GERALD FORD: “I recall it quite well. I’ve always been interested in boxing. I guess it goes back to my youth, when I can recall very vaguely Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney, and then later, Joe Louis. And I’ve always been a sports enthusiast. I read the sports pages first every morning, because I have a fifty-fifty chance of being right there. With the editorials and front page, the odds aren’t as good. As president, I felt it was appropriate to recognize those who had achieved excellence in sports. I always liked to meet the best in any part of the sporting world, and certainly Muhammad Ali was representative of that group. But beyond that, when I took office, we as a nation were pretty much torn apart. There were conflicts between families, in colleges, and on the streets. We’d gone through some serious race problems; the Vietnam War had heightened differences; and of course there was the heritage of Watergate. And one of the major challenges my administration faced was how we could heal the country. Not that everybody had to agree, but at least we should lower our voices and listen to one another. I think that, during the two-and-a-half years I was president, we did that, and having Muhammad Ali come to the Oval Office was part of our overall effort. I felt it was important to reach out and indicate individually as well as collectively that we could have honest differences without bitterness. So I wanted to meet Muhammad, not only because of my interest in sports, but because it was part of my overall effort to heal the wounds of racial division, Vietnam, and Watergate.

“His visit was an enjoyable time for me. You know, Muhammad never lacked for words, and it was a real pleasure to chat with him. He was a magnificent-looking man; big, handsome, fit. We talked about some of his successes and my interest in sports. I’ve always respected what he accomplished in boxing. He represented what a young man can do in developing his talent and reaching the pinnacle of his chosen profession. And he was a man of principle. I know there were some who thought he evaded his military responsibility, but I’ve never questioned anybody’s dedication to whatever religion they believe in. I give people the maximum benefit of the doubt when they take a stand predicated on conscience. That’s always been my philosophy, so I never joined the critics who complained about what he did and didn’t do during the Vietnam War. I accepted his decision. And because of his principles, I firmly believe that as time goes on, Muhammad Ali will be remembered for more than just excellence in athletics. I suppose it’s premature to say how history will be written, but I’m quite sure that his page will talk about him as more than just a superb athlete.

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