Harold Ford Jr. visited ETSU last Wednesday for the Social Work Career Day. Ford is currently a professor at Vanderbilt University teaching a class on political leadership.
Ford spoke about how social work was so important to this country. “We are in a struggle for the human condition,” he said.
Ford spoke about how there are not enough people putting time and money into the community. “I ask you to do that and more,” he said.
“Since Sept 11, (America) is in a struggle for the human condition,” Ford said. He elaborated, making a point that he himself supported the troops and the war but not the way it is being handled. Ford believes in educating our troops about the culture and religion they are going to have to face in the war zone.
Ford insisted that America “is all about believing that we are a great nation, but we aren’t making the steps to keep it a strong nation.”
Ford said, “America has lost the quality of what we once stood for,” meaning that the U.S. needs to do more than just be boastful; it needs to prove its greatness.
Ford has been elected five times to the House of Representatives as a Democratic candidate for Tennessee dating from 1997- 2007.
Ford was born in Memphis. His family’s political background dates back to the mid-20th century.
During Ford’s last Senate race he ran against Bob Corker, who was elected to the U.S. Senate. Since then he has been hired as a Fox News political contributor and named the Democratic Leadership Council chairman.
Ford encouraged students to excel in math and science. He believes these are the fields of study that will help build a better America and make America more able to compete in the global market. Ford called college students, “Tomorrow’s Patriots.”
Ford followed his lecture with a question and answer session and was asked by a student whether he would be running again for a political office.
“I intend to run for office again. Politics is in my blood,” Ford said. He was also asked his stance on the gay marriage amendment and he said his stance has always been that he opposed gay marriage but supported civil unions.

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