When the Center Held: Gerald Ford and the Rescue of the American Presidency

Rumsfeld, Donald

ISBN 10: 1501172948 / ISBN 13: 9781501172946

Published by Free Press (edition Reprint), 2019

About this Item

It's a well-cared-for item that has seen limited use. The item may show minor signs of wear. All the text is legible, with all pages included. It may have slight markings and/or highlighting.

Seller Inventory # 1501172948-8-1

Bibliographic Details

• Title: When the Center Held: Gerald Ford and the Rescue of the American Presidency
• Publisher: Free Press (edition Reprint)
• Publication Date: 2019
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1501172948
• ISBN 13: 9781501172946
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition: Reprint.
• Condition: Very Good

About this title

Synopsis

“A personal look behind the scenes” (Publishers Weekly) of the presidency of Gerald Ford as seen through the eyes of Donald Rumsfeld—New York Times bestselling author and Ford’s former Secretary of Defense, Chief of Staff, and longtime personal confidant.

In the wake of Richard Nixon’s Watergate scandal, it seemed the United States was coming apart. America had experienced a decade of horrifying assassinations; the unprecedented resignation of first a vice president and then a president of the United States; intense cultural and social change; and a new mood of cynicism sweeping the country—a mood that, in some ways, lingers today.

Into that divided atmosphere stepped an unexpected, unelected, and largely unknown American—Gerald R. Ford. In contrast to every other individual who had ever occupied the Oval Office, he had never appeared on any ballot either for the presidency or the vice presidency. Ford simply and humbly performed his duty to the best of his considerable ability. By the end of his 895 days as president, he would in fact have restored balance to our country, steadied the ship of state, and led his fellow Americans out of the national trauma of Watergate. And yet, Gerald Ford remains one of the least studied and least understood individuals to have held the office of the President of the United States. In turn, his legacy also remains severely underappreciated.

In When the Center Held, Ford’s Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld candidly shares his personal observations of the man himself, providing a sweeping examination of his crucial years in office. It is a rare and fascinating look behind the closed doors of the Oval Office, including never-before-seen photos, memos, and anecdotes, from a unique insider’s perspective—“engrossing and informative” (Kirkus Reviews) reading for any fan of presidential history.

About the Author

Donald Rumsfeld was the United States Secretary of Defense for Gerald R. Ford and George W. Bush. He served as chair of the Rumsfeld Foundation, which was dedicated to the support of leadership and public service at home and the growth of free political and free economic systems abroad. He is survived by his wife Joyce, their three children, seven grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. He died in 2021.