Product Description

As the 38th U.S. president Gerald Ford holds the unique position of being the only person to serve as both vice president and president without ever being elected.Sometimes called the "accidental President" Ford's refreshing honesty and integrity helped restore the nation's confidence in the White House following the scandalous Nixon years. Before his appointment to the vice presidency Ford served as a popular member of the House of Representatives for 25 years and as House Minority Leader for eight of those years. From his service in World War II to the controversial pardoning of Richard Nixon to his failed 1976 reelection bid this is the fascinating story of one of the most remarkable leaders America has ever known.Through interviews with family friends and former colleagues BIOGRAPHY reveals the man behind one of the most notable presidencies of the 20th century.System Requirements:Running Time 50 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: MISCELLANEOUS/SPECIAL INTEREST UPC: 733961752502 Manufacturer No: AAE-75250

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #30198 in DVD
• Brand: A&E
• Released on: 2006-02-14
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Black & White, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
• Running time: 50 minutes

Features

• As the 38th U.S. president, Gerald Ford holds the unique position of being the only person to serve as both vice president and president without ever being elected. Sometimes called the "accidental President", Ford's refreshing honesty and integrity helped restore the nation's confidence in the White House following the scandalous Nixon years. Before his appointment to the vice presiden

Amazon.com
History has not been kind to Gerald Ford. As a president, he is best remembered for his controversial pardon of Richard Nixon, his merciless lampooning at the hands of Chevy Chase on Saturday Night Live, and his less-than-accurate statement that "there is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe." As a result, his place in the American landscape is that of a bungling nitwit who headed a remarkably unremarkable administration. Regardless, A&E's Biography: Gerald Ford, Healing the Presidency bathes our 38th president in a warm, somewhat melodramatic light. A former college football star, Ford entered politics in 1948 and quickly became a prominent and well-liked figure in the Republican Party. However, Biography continually plays up Ford's image of a solid, decent man who lucked into becoming the leader of the free world. Fans of the Ford administration will not be disappointed, but viewers hoping for clues as to the inner workings of Ford's mind and motives will be better served elsewhere. --Tim Brennan

Customer Reviews

The end of a "national nightmare"
This "Biography" look at the country's 38th president is kinder than his critics have been. When he ascended to the presidency by way of Richard Nixon's resignation, the country was still wounded by the illegal acts of a criminal administration and, least of all, a sense of betrayal by the leader who was pushed out of office in disgrace. It is little surprise, then, that Gerald Ford assumed a massive restoration of the dignity of the office and the American public's trust in it. It is little further surprise that he came under attack from every side when he pardoned the ex-president of any and all crimes committed in the Watergate and other covert operations. Now, with the luxury of time as the great healer, this look at the embattled non-elected president makes it so very clear that Ford did what he did to end what he called "our long national nightmare." In so doing, Ford perhaps had the foresight to recognize the country then had to get past the crimes of the previous administration at risk of actually imploding. In the end, we can hopefully understand that America's history required Ford. It is doubtful any other political leader at the time could or would have emerged as a peacemaker. This bio-piece also touches on the unkind and supposedly funny treatment of Ford on the early days of "Saturday Night Live" and his participation on the controversial Warren Commission that concluded JFK was killed by a lone assassin. All facets of Ford's public life considered, though, we hopefully can now be grateful that this man who expected nothing more than retirement in Michigan after the end of his congressional service really did heal an entire nation.

comzmm3
This documentary provides an in-depth insight to the emotional and personal side of Gerald Ford and what he was asked to inherit. Post Nixon politics in shambles as well as public trust for the civil servant/government needed a truly benign and decent individual, if only to transition us to the next election. I remember Ford well, and the events surrounding his presidency. This video really rounds out some of the internal struggles he had to endure as well as criticisms and a wife with serious addiction problems. I recommend this documentary for educational as well as those interested in that political time period. It is a little too scant in places, however there are sections on his person points of view that your unlikely to see in any other documentary, and I own 3 of them.