Ford had considered running for president in 1980, and when asked, "On a scale from 1 to 10 what are your chances of running," Ford answered, "fifty-fifty." It didn't help shed his bumbling image.
Ford was actually Reagan's top choice for VP at the 1980 GOP convention, but when Ford went on national tv and described a co-presidency and even suggested cabinet appointments, Reagan nixed Ford as a running mate and hurriedly called H.W. Bush.
On a positive note for Ford he was the most accomplished athlete of all of our presidents.
