Thu Dec 28 15:12:40 EST 2006:
Ford kept a relatively low profile in his life after the presidency, rarely commenting publicly on his successors.
But in a 2004 interview never before published until this week, Ford told the Washington Post's Bob Woodward that Bush and his chief advisers "made a big mistake" with their justifications for the Iraq war.
"I don't think, if I had been president -- on the basis of the facts as I saw them publicly -- I don't think I would have ordered the Iraqi war," Ford said in a tape of the interview.
Woodward told CNN's Larry King the interview was not to be used until he had written a planned book about Ford or until the former president died. (Full story)
Asked to respond to Ford's comments, deputy White House press secretary Dana Perino said the administration and Bush are "focused on grieving" right now and "keeping the family in our prayers."
(SOURCE)