In a way, Ford's gaffe can be interpreted in two ways; The conventional way in which he didn't really know what the hell he was talking about, (He did, in fact know what he was talking about), or in the way that Ford probably thought, that by saying this, he can contest Eastern Europe and try to show American "interests" and "power" in a Soviet-dominated region.
Not sure exactly what he meant by it, but the former is certainly less likely.
I think Ford himself said that when he made that gaffe, he meant that the Soveit Union will never crush and dominate the spirits of Eastern Europeans and will dever destroy their desires for freedom and liberty. Even though I agree that without this gaffe, Ford might have very well won the election (although maybe not the PV).
