---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Ford used to come to work in a big car…"
description: "\"Ford used to come to work in a big car with two Admiral's flags, on each side of the car. His assistant would be there with his accordion, playing, Hai..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d36/richard-widmark-27238_accordions_ford-used-to-come-to-work-in-a-big-car-w_383514.jpg"
---

#  Ford used to come to work in a big car with two Admiral's…

![“Ford used to come to work in a big car with two Admiral's flags, on each side of the car. His assistant would be there with his accordion, playing, Hail to the Chief.” quote by Richard Widmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d36/richard-widmark-27238_accordions_ford-used-to-come-to-work-in-a-big-car-w_383514.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d36/richard-widmark-27238_accordions_ford-used-to-come-to-work-in-a-big-car-w_383514.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d36/richard-widmark-27238_accordions_ford-used-to-come-to-work-in-a-big-car-w_383514.jpg)

> “Ford used to come to work in a big car with two Admiral's flags, on each side of the car. His assistant would be there with his accordion, playing, Hail to the Chief.”

[Richard Widmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-widmark/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Authority can be displayed through flamboyant symbols, but substance may be hidden.

**In simple terms:** Power shows in flashy symbols.

Key Takeaway

Look beyond appearances.

Themes

authority symbolism leadership performance authenticity

Mood

reflective critical

Type

cinematic historical

When to use this quote

- political rallies
- corporate branding
- military parades
- public ceremonies

Key Concepts

politics culture media perception

Questions to Reflect On

- What does the accordion represent?
- When do symbols become empty?

A Different Perspective

Symbols can mask incompetence.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Chiefs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chiefs/) [Flags](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flags/) [Two sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two-sides/)

## Related quotes

> [I optioned the magazine article. That was end of 2003. It was a time when the war was incredibly popular here and everyone was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-haggis/i-optioned-the-magazine-article-that-was-end-of-2003-it-was-a-time/)

[Paul Haggis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-haggis/)

> [I think 'Hail to the Chief' has a nice ring to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kennedy/i-think-hail-to-the-chief-has-a-nice-ring-to-it/)

[John F. Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kennedy/)

> [We need a little more 'Hail to the Chief.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-teeter/we-need-a-little-more-hail-to-the-chief/)

[Robert Teeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-teeter/)

> [Hail to the Chief" was played, and the President got up and made a gracious opening remark. "I've been in this office for six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-douglas/hail-to-the-chief-was-played-and-the-president-got-up-and-made-a/)

[Kirk Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-douglas/)

> [I think 'Hail to the Chief' needs a little bit fresher sound. I might put some gospel beats in 'Hail to the Chief.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-cain/i-think-hail-to-the-chief-needs-a-little-bit-fresher-sound-i-might/)

[Herman Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-cain/)

> [Hail to the Chief who in triumph advances!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/hail-to-the-chief-who-in-triumph-advances/)

[Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/)

> [Hail to the chief in triumph advances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/hail-to-the-chief-in-triumph-advances/)

[Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/)

> [A new study found that women think men holding a guitar are more attractive, even if they are not playing it. In a related…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/a-new-study-found-that-women-think-men-holding-a-guitar-are-more/)

[Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/)

> [“HAPPINESS I ASKED the professors who teach the meaning of life to tell      me what is happiness. And I went to famous executives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sandburg/happiness-i-asked-the-professors-who-teach-the-meaning-of-life-to/)

[Carl Sandburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sandburg/)

> [She didn't dare to look up, but she could feel their frightened eyes hanging onto her as she hauled the words in and breathed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/she-didn-t-dare-to-look-up-but-she-could-feel-their-frightened-eyes/)

[Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/)

> [Time collapses and expands like an erratic accordion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/time-collapses-and-expands-like-an-erratic-accordion/)

[Bel Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/)

> [Rosa Hubermann was sitting on the edge of the bed with her husband's accordion tied to her chest. Her fingers hovered above the keys.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/rosa-hubermann-was-sitting-on-the-edge-of-the-bed-with-her-husband-s/)

[Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/)

> [To sing you must first open your mouth. You must have a pair of lungs, and a little knowledge of music. It is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/to-sing-you-must-first-open-your-mouth-you-must-have-a-pair-of-lungs/)

[Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/)

> [My father bought me a little cardboard accordion, and when I was three I got this little machine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toots-thielemans/my-father-bought-me-a-little-cardboard-accordion-and-when-i-was-three/)

[Toots Thielemans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toots-thielemans/)

> [I play, like, 12 instruments. Guitar, piano, harmonica, African drums... I'm working on mastering the accordion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-grabeel/i-play-like-12-instruments-guitar-piano-harmonica-african-drums-i-m/)

[Lucas Grabeel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-grabeel/)

## More by Richard Widmark

> [I was never a part of the Actor's Studio, because two friends of mine started it in 1947 and by that time I'd gone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-widmark/i-was-never-a-part-of-the-actor-s-studio-because-two-friends-of-mine/)

[Richard Widmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-widmark/)

> [Other actors like to rehearse on film-they like 30 or 40 takes. When you get an actor like that, it becomes difficult for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-widmark/other-actors-like-to-rehearse-on-film-they-like-30-or-40-takes-when/)

[Richard Widmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-widmark/)

> [Cheyenne Autumn was received not too successfully. I still think it was a very good movie. It was kinda Ford's apology for the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-widmark/cheyenne-autumn-was-received-not-too-successfully-i-still-think-it/)

[Richard Widmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-widmark/)

> [Many of my friends were blacklisted. America should be ashamed of it forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-widmark/many-of-my-friends-were-blacklisted-america-should-be-ashamed-of-it/)

[Richard Widmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-widmark/)

> [Most movies are made today for teenage boys. Once in a while a good one comes along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-widmark/most-movies-are-made-today-for-teenage-boys-once-in-a-while-a-good/)

[Richard Widmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-widmark/)

> [I was playing this horrible part. I didn't didn't want to play it because the character was an awful racist. But I'm glad I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-widmark/i-was-playing-this-horrible-part-i-didn-t-didn-t-want-to-play-it/)

[Richard Widmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-widmark/)

> [Anne Baxter was a very good actress, Donna Reid was great. You couldn't name an actress I wasn't crazy about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-widmark/anne-baxter-was-a-very-good-actress-donna-reid-was-great-you-couldn-t/)

[Richard Widmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-widmark/)

> [I loved Jack Ford. I got him in his later days, and he was a total tyrant and a total autocrat and an Irish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-widmark/i-loved-jack-ford-i-got-him-in-his-later-days-and-he-was-a-total/)

[Richard Widmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-widmark/)

> [Mankiewicz was a brilliant director.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-widmark/mankiewicz-was-a-brilliant-director/)

[Richard Widmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-widmark/)

> [A lot of actors said they hated the studio system, but I loved it. It was like a college; it was a great place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-widmark/a-lot-of-actors-said-they-hated-the-studio-system-but-i-loved-it-it/)

[Richard Widmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-widmark/)

> [Marilyn was terrible to work with. I was fond of her, she was a nice girl, but she was a damaged girl. She was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-widmark/marilyn-was-terrible-to-work-with-i-was-fond-of-her-she-was-a-nice/)

[Richard Widmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-widmark/)

> [I felt pretty comfortable with Westerns, apart from the fact I couldn't ride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-widmark/i-felt-pretty-comfortable-with-westerns-apart-from-the-fact-i-couldn/)

[Richard Widmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-widmark/)

> [John Ford was so funny that I couldn't wait to go to work in the morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-widmark/john-ford-was-so-funny-that-i-couldn-t-wait-to-go-to-work-in-the/)

[Richard Widmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-widmark/)

> [Death's a path we're all on, son](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-widmark/death-s-a-path-we-re-all-on-son/)

[Richard Widmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-widmark/)

> [Gary Cooper was a good friend. He was a great nature lover. He was like an American Indian, he knew every leaf that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-widmark/gary-cooper-was-a-good-friend-he-was-a-great-nature-lover-he-was-like/)

[Richard Widmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-widmark/)

[Explore all 21 Richard Widmark quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-widmark/)

## More Accordions quotes

> [I play, like, 12 instruments. Guitar, piano, harmonica, African drums... I'm working on mastering the accordion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucas-grabeel/i-play-like-12-instruments-guitar-piano-harmonica-african-drums-i-m/)

[Lucas Grabeel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucas-grabeel/)

> [My father bought me a little cardboard accordion, and when I was three I got this little machine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toots-thielemans/my-father-bought-me-a-little-cardboard-accordion-and-when-i-was-three/)

[Toots Thielemans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toots-thielemans/)

> [To sing you must first open your mouth. You must have a pair of lungs, and a little knowledge of music. It is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/to-sing-you-must-first-open-your-mouth-you-must-have-a-pair-of-lungs/)

[Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/)

> [Rosa Hubermann was sitting on the edge of the bed with her husband's accordion tied to her chest. Her fingers hovered above the keys.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/rosa-hubermann-was-sitting-on-the-edge-of-the-bed-with-her-husband-s/)

[Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/)

> [Time collapses and expands like an erratic accordion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bel-kaufman/time-collapses-and-expands-like-an-erratic-accordion/)

[Bel Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bel-kaufman/)

> [She didn't dare to look up, but she could feel their frightened eyes hanging onto her as she hauled the words in and breathed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/she-didn-t-dare-to-look-up-but-she-could-feel-their-frightened-eyes/)

[Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/)

> [“HAPPINESS I ASKED the professors who teach the meaning of life to tell      me what is happiness. And I went to famous executives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sandburg/happiness-i-asked-the-professors-who-teach-the-meaning-of-life-to/)

[Carl Sandburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sandburg/)

> [A new study found that women think men holding a guitar are more attractive, even if they are not playing it. In a related…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/a-new-study-found-that-women-think-men-holding-a-guitar-are-more/)

[Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/)

> [And I can promise you something, because it was a thing I saw many years later - a vision in the book thief herself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/and-i-can-promise-you-something-because-it-was-a-thing-i-saw-many/)

[Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/)

> [No, but a cello is the perfect string bass for an accordion. Works with it beautifully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-moon/no-but-a-cello-is-the-perfect-string-bass-for-an-accordion-works-with/)

[Elizabeth Moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-moon/)

> [ The editor, Stephen Segal, actually called me with the idea of creating an accordion book \[ "The Thorn & The Blossom"\], and asked if… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodora-goss/the-editor-stephen-segal-actually-called-me-with-the-idea-of-creating/)

[Theodora Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodora-goss/)

> [Papa was a man with silver eyes, not dead ones. Papa was an accordion! But his bellows were all empty. Nothing went in and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/papa-was-a-man-with-silver-eyes-not-dead-ones-papa-was-an-accordion/)

[Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/)

> [He wanted to play accordion on something of mine and I said you can play accordion, but I want you to play piano and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-sweet/he-wanted-to-play-accordion-on-something-of-mine-and-i-said-you-can/)

[Matthew Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-sweet/)

> [ The book itself \[The Thorn and The Blossom\] is bound accordion-style: it has no spine, so it can open in either direction, and it's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodora-goss/the-book-itself-the-thorn-and-the-blossom-is-bound-accordion-style-it/)

[Theodora Goss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodora-goss/)

> [A gentleman is someone who can play the accordion, but doesn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-waits/a-gentleman-is-someone-who-can-play-the-accordion-but-doesn-t/)

[Tom Waits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-waits/)

Browse all 58 Accordions quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Ford used to come to work in a big car with two Admiral's flags, on each side of the car. His assistant would be there with his accordion, playing, Hail to the Chief.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Richard Widmark"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-widmark/ford-used-to-come-to-work-in-a-big-car-with-two-admiral-s-flags-on/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Accordions"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-widmark/ford-used-to-come-to-work-in-a-big-car-with-two-admiral-s-flags-on/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d36/richard-widmark-27238_accordions_ford-used-to-come-to-work-in-a-big-car-w_383514.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d36/richard-widmark-27238_accordions_ford-used-to-come-to-work-in-a-big-car-w_383514.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d36/richard-widmark-27238_accordions_ford-used-to-come-to-work-in-a-big-car-w_383514.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Ford used to come to work in a big car with two Admiral's flags, on each side of the car. His assistant…” — Richard Widmark",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Richard Widmark",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-widmark/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Ford used to come to work...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-widmark/ford-used-to-come-to-work-in-a-big-car-with-two-admiral-s-flags-on/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-widmark/ford-used-to-come-to-work-in-a-big-car-with-two-admiral-s-flags-on/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```