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Raymond J. de Souza: America’s 250th will mark a lesser republic

Fifty years after a graceful waltz with the Queen, America celebrates with a submarine bell and diminished horizons

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GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN — The vice presidents were visiting the vice presidents who became presidents, which is what vice presidents aspire to do.

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The visits were a powerful indication, as the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday next Saturday, that America has changed. And not for the better.

Raymond J. de Souza: America’s 250th will mark a lesser republic Back to video

The first of President Donald Trump’s vice presidents, Mike Pence, was in Grand Rapids on Tuesday night, promoting his book, “What Conservatives Believe: Rediscovering the Conservative Conscience.” He spoke at the Gerald Ford presidential museum, on the banks of the Grand River here in Ford’s hometown. Ford and First Lady Betty Ford are buried on the grounds.

Ford was president for the bicentennial year of the Declaration of Independence in 1976, and his centre is festooned with images of that happy celebration. It was not an entirely happy summer for Ford, as he was........

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