"If Lincoln were alive today, he'd be turning over in his grave"

This quote by Gerald R. Ford suggests that if Abraham Lincoln lived today, he would be greatly dissatisfied in the state of the country. Ford is suggesting that Lincoln would be so horrified by the present state of affairs that he would be rolling over in his grave. This could be analyzed as a criticism of the present political environment, as Ford indicates that the country has actually strayed from the values and principles that Lincoln fought for. Ford is likely describing the civil rights motion, which Lincoln championed, and the present problems of racial injustice and inequality that still afflict the country. Ford's quote works as a reminder of the value of promoting the values of equality and justice that Lincoln defended, and of the requirement to continue pursuing a much better future.