An Ordinary Man

The Surprising Life and Historic Presidency of Gerald R. Ford

By: Richard Norton Smith

Narrated by: Fred Sanders

Length: 36 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

“Gerald Ford is probably remembered more for how he got to the presidency than for what he did there. In this brilliant book, Richard Norton Smith tells the rest of the story. On every other page I found something I didn’t know, bringing new and important insights into how Ford kept the nation together and moved it past its most severe political crisis since the Civil War. It will become the definitive work on Ford and his presidency."—Bob Schieffer, CBS News

From the preeminent presidential scholar and acclaimed biographer of historical figures including George Washington, Herbert Hoover, and Nelson Rockefeller comes this eye-opening life of Gerald R. Ford, whose presidency arguably set the course for post-liberal America and a post-Cold War world.

For many Americans, President Gerald Ford was the genial accident of history who controversially pardoned his Watergate-tarnished predecessor, presided over the fall of Saigon, and became a punching bag on Saturday Night Live. Yet as Richard Norton Smith reveals in a book full of surprises, Ford was an underrated leader whose tough decisions and personal decency look better with the passage of time.

Drawing on hundreds of interviews and thousands of documents, Smith recreates Ford’s hardscrabble childhood in Michigan, his early anti-establishment politics and lifelong love affair with the former Betty Bloomer, whose impact on American culture he predicted would outrank his own. As president, Ford guided the nation through its worst Constitutional crisis since the Civil War and broke the back of the most severe economic downturn since the Great Depression—accomplishing both with little fanfare or credit (at least until 2001 when the JFK Library gave him its prestigious Profile in Courage Award in belated recognition of the Nixon pardon).

Less coda than curtain raiser, Ford's administration bridged the Republican pragmatism of Eisenhower and Nixon and the more doctrinaire conservatism of Ronald Reagan. His introduction of economic deregulation would transform the American economy, while his embrace of the Helsinki Accords hastened the collapse of the Soviet Union.

This definitive biography, a decade in the making, will change history’s views of a man whose warning about presidential arrogance (“God help the country”) is more relevant than ever.

©2023 Richard Norton Smith (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers

Interesting reflection

Well done. I want him back as president of the U S. We could use his qualities

Great book about an underrated man.

Very interesting and detailed about Ford’s early life and career.

The coverage of his presidential years seemed to be a bit less detailed than is typical.

Certainly a great book and a must listen to anyone interested in American history.

Well done1

Well written, comprehensive look at the man and his presidency. Should be a mandatory read for all current politicians.

A underrated president

Ford is often forgotten to history in between Nixon and Carter but the author did a great job shedding light on his legacy.

very detailed

One of the best presidential biographies I've read. very informative. gave me New perspective. up there with the years of Lyndon Johnson, team of rivals, and McCullough's Adams

Terrific!

This is a fascinating in-depth exploration of an under appreciated President. Definitely worth a read!

A New History

I was very impressed with the book in general mainly because it educated me HARD on the surprising man that is Gerald R. Ford. At once he is a genius and a jock, and emphatic civil rights advocate and a racist (by today’s standards) and at once One of our better presidents and the man who pardoned Nixon. In just two years Ford managed to leave a larger impact than presidents with quadruple his time and many had high approval ratings and a cooperative congress. Every page I turned I learned something new and shocking. My only criticism is that the writers style has a tendency to take the prose out of the moment and reflect on a different moment in Fords presidency or introduce the Authors opinion rather clunkaly. Recommend to anyone and everyone, shoulda been elected in ‘76 and thats from someone who likes Carter.

Inspirational

It was interesting to learn about his life and his public service. He lived and served with integrity.

A wonderful insightful look at underrated POTUS

Gerald Ford only served as President for 29 months, however, those 29 months required a steady hand, and Gerald Ford provided that steadying hand. This biography will do for Ford and his legacy what Truman did for the historical legacy of Harry Truman.

Must-read Polemic

Definitely appreciate Mr. Smith providing this important biography of President Ford. A long overdue topic for an understandably respected biographer. Which is why the polemical quality of the finished product is so disappointing and occasionally frustrating. For example, how can Mr. Norton laud the foresight of President Fort in supporting the Helsinki Accords when those agreements - ratifying Soviet Terrorism in Central and Eastern Europe - only achieved force and meaning after Ronald Reagan defeated Jimmy Carter, reinvigorated our military, and was able to transform Kissinger detente into a rollback of Communism? A very good book that could have been great.