2006.12.28: December 28, 2006: Headlines: Presidents - Ford: Action Corps: History: Salem Statesman Journal: Bob Arias was nominated by Ford as an assistant to Michael Balzano, then the director of Action, the umbrella agency for the Peace Corps, Volunteers in Service to America, Foster Grandparents Program, Retired Senior Volunteer Program and other federal volunteer efforts
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2006.12.28: December 28, 2006: Headlines: Presidents - Ford: Action Corps: History: Salem Statesman Journal: Bob Arias was nominated by Ford as an assistant to Michael Balzano, then the director of Action, the umbrella agency for the Peace Corps, Volunteers in Service to America, Foster Grandparents Program, Retired Senior Volunteer Program and other federal volunteer efforts
Bob Arias was nominated by Ford as an assistant to Michael Balzano, then the director of Action, the umbrella agency for the Peace Corps, Volunteers in Service to America, Foster Grandparents Program, Retired Senior Volunteer Program and other federal volunteer efforts
"They were trying to do something in Washington to get the Peace Corps and the domestic programs to work together," said Arias, now the executive director of Court Appointed Special Advocates in Polk County. "Because of my experience and as the director's representative, my job was to assist in that."
Bob Arias was nominated by Ford as an assistant to Michael Balzano, then the director of Action, the umbrella agency for the Peace Corps, Volunteers in Service to America, Foster Grandparents Program, Retired Senior Volunteer Program and other federal volunteer efforts
Oregonians share memories of encounters with president
Ford is recalled as a 'bridge-builder' who helped nation heal
PETER WONG
Statesman Journal
December 28, 2006
[Excerpt]
Bob Arias of Salem was an executive-branch appointee of President Gerald R. Ford, but what Arias will remember most is a small favor that Ford did for Arias' son more than 30 years ago.
Then only age 6, Randy Arias wanted to see the White House, which Bob Arias visited as part of his job. On the day of their visit, Ford was out of Washington, D.C., but told Secret Service agents to show young Arias the Oval Office, where the president works.
"The next thing I knew, my son was sitting in the president's chair," Bob Arias said Wednesday. "To this day, my son, who is now 37, remembers exactly that. President Ford made an impression on my son that will never change."
Arias and others shared their impressions of Ford, who died Tuesday night at age 93, 30 years after Ford left the White House.
Arias was a county employee in Los Angeles, a former country director for the Peace Corps and a Southern California director for Action when he got a call to come to Washington.
He was nominated by Ford as an assistant to Michael Balzano, then the director of Action, the umbrella agency for the Peace Corps, Volunteers in Service to America, Foster Grandparents Program, Retired Senior Volunteer Program and other federal volunteer efforts.
"They were trying to do something in Washington to get the Peace Corps and the domestic programs to work together," said Arias, now the executive director of Court Appointed Special Advocates in Polk County. "Because of my experience and as the director's representative, my job was to assist in that."
Arias left the job in March 1977, after Democrat Jimmy Carter succeeded Ford as president.
Arias saw Gerald and Betty Ford occasionally, and recalled that the first lady used "First Mama" as her citizens-band radio "handle."
"They were two remarkable people," Arias said.
"I hope history and all of us will remember that he was the right president at the right time."
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Headlines: December, 2006; History
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Story Source: Salem Statesman Journal
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Presidents - Ford; Action Corps; History
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