Page:Ford, Kissinger, Former British Prime Minister Edward Heath - September 10, 1974(Gerald Ford Library)(1552779).pdf/2

 It is very nice to see you. I have watched the political situation in Britain, as a politician's interest.

It was a nice thing for you to do, with your burdens of the moment.

I think I did the right thing [with the pardon of President Nixon on September 9]. At first the phone calls were heavy against, but now it is 500 to 5000.

Edmund Burke said that magnanimity in politicians is not the greatest virtue.

When is the election?

Probably the 10th of October. He thinks he has the advantage but he also did in 1970 and was wrong. I did the same in 1974.

One advantage you have is your short campaign, unlike ours which goes for six months.

To have it on the third he would have to announce on Thursday. He won't do that because he has many white papers to get out and the civil service won't let them do it during a campaign.

I wish our civil service wouldn't leak.

The British civil service is magnificent.

We have a group which starts transition planning as soon as a campaign starts.

There is no transition period after the elections.

[Tells a story about Sir Alec Douglas-Home and himself.]

We want you to know we will continue our policy. Dr. Kissinger is the best Secretary of State I have seen in my lifetime. I enjoy our relationship, though we had some good battles when I was on the Hill. He was the most popular one in the Administration -- and I was told by everybody.

We have the greatest admiration for what Dr. Kissinger has done. The most disappointing thing in Europe is the lack of leadership. Pompidou lost his grip a long time ago. Brandt was getting more and more moody.