Passings: President Ford, Frank Stanton & James Brown

Many of words have been written and spoken about the deaths of three very different American giants. We need not say much because we're not going to add much to what has already been said. We nonethless did not want to let their passings go unreognized.

From the unelected President who offered much needed stability to prevent the country from running adrift (wouldn't that be nice these days), to the steady understudy at CBS to the glittering but troubled R&B entertainer, it is clear that Gerald Ford, Frank Stanton and James Brown were very different, but all part of what made for the strength of the 20th century American spirit.

Their likes are in all too short supply today.