In August Mr. Ford said he intended to balance the budget for fiscal year 1975 (which began July 1) under $300 billion. Inflation was then "Public Enemy Number One," capable of destroying the nation just as surely as "an armed enemy." In October Mr. Ford stumped all over the nation, warning the voters about the dire consequences of sending "budget busters" to the 94th Congress. Sooon after the election, Mr. Ford began to indicate that he would try to fight inflation and recession simultaneously; but, he emphasized, this did not mean he was contemplating a "180 degree turn" away from his anti-inflation fight. Since then, of course, he has made what his press secretary, Ron Nessen, called a "179 degree turn." The "war" on inflation is over, bullet-biting-wise.

Two months ago Mr. Ford said the nation had to make "sacrifices," like paying an income tax surcharge. In January, in his Washington post interview, he said, evidently with a straight face, "We're going to have a strong, tough, forward-looking economic program. We've really finally honed it, tuned it." He tuned out the sacrifices; he honed away all concern about "budget busting." The "sacrifice" the American people were asked to endure was an immediate tax cut.

Source: Will, George F. Two Interviews. National Review. p. 95. January 31, 1975.