Projo Politics Blog

Journal file photo
Then Providence Mayor Vincent A. Cianci Jr. with former President Gerald Ford in 1977.

President Ford, who died yesterday, was "very friendly with Buddy Cianci," recalls former Rhode Island Congressman Edward P. Beard.

As mayor of Providence, Cianci “made many visits down there” to Washington, Beard said. “He [Ford] really liked Cianci,” Beard said. “Yes, he did.”

Cianci played a prominent role in the 1976 Republican National Convention the summer before Ford lost the presidency to Jimmy Carter. At the request of a Ford staffer, Cianci introduced a major speaker, former Texas governor John Connally.

Cianci delivered a six-minute prime-time speech, in which he touted his ethnic roots and went after Carter's pronounciation of the word "Italian." (Carter had said, "Eye-talian.")

After the convention, Ford appointed Cianci to his 23-member campaign strategy council and invited him to dinner at the White House, according to Journal staff writer Mike Stanton's book "The Prince of Providence." On election night, a plane stood by at the airport to take Cianci to Washington if Ford won. There was talk of a place for Cianci in Ford's administration, either as a cabinet or subcabinet official, Stanton wrote.

But Ford lost.

-- With reports from projo.com staff writer Kate Bramson.

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