Tailgate Latch

I recently discovered I had keyless entry on my , 97 wagon, but the remote doesn't unlock the hatch. Is it supposed to? Is there any other option than having to put the key in to open it?

Usually there is a button for the trunk...
Pressing the unlock button twice should unlock both doors... try pressing it three times and see if the trunk unlocks... if not, it isn't gonna happen.

On the '97 it appears there were two options: driver's door only, or an all-door system. If you have the remote unlocking function for the rear hatch then it's pretty much as mightymoose described it - press once to open the driver's door and then press again within five seconds to open passenger doors and wagon liftgate, if equipped. It's all fully explained in the owner's manual, which if you don't have one you can download one free in PDF format from this Ford site (https://www.fleet.ford.com/maintenance/owners_manuals/default.asp).

Owner's manual, why didn't I think of that? Yeah, the tailgate is supposed to unlock when the unlock button is pressed a second time. I guess my tailgate lock is messed up...??? I can't even pull up on the lock button. It only goes up and down with the key in it. Is that right?

Here's a little more info on my tailgate. As I stood observing the tailgate lock button and hitting the remote, the second time I hit the Unlock button, I can see the lock trying to move. It looks like something is mechanically preventing the lock from popping up.
I will remove the door panel and see what's up, hopefully this weekend.

Well apparently, if not sold as keyless equipped, the 97's had the lock cylinder that interferes with the action of the electric relay. I took the door panel off and disconnected the linkage from the lock cylinder to the lock. Now, when you press UNLOCK twice the button pops up and when you press LOCK the button goes down. I guess that makes my Speedwagon fully converted to keyless entry. Heck, I even discovered that it has an alarm too. Before I converted it, I tried to open the tailgate with a key, the whole neighborhood knew it!