A Time to Heal; The Autobiography of Gerald R. Ford

454 pages. Illustrations. Index. Some foxing to top edge, small chips to DJ edges. Front DJ flap creased and price clipped. Bookplate of Gerald R. Ford signed by the author. Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr. (born Leslie Lynch King Jr.; July 14, 1913 - December 26, 2006) was an American politician who served as the 38th president of the United States from August 1974 to January 1977. Before his accession to the presidency, Ford served as the 40th vice president of the United States from December 1973 to August 1974. Ford is the only person to have served as both vice president and president without being elected to either office by the Electoral College. "'What are the results of twenty-one months of Jerry Ford as President of the United States?" I asked the depot crowd at Durand, then proceed to tell them: "We have restored trust in the White House. We have been open. We have been candid. We have been forthright. We have talked straight to the American people. I think that deserves your support." (p 386). President Ford is the least appreciated of all our modern presidents -- this book demonstrates that he was placed by no choice of his own into exceedingly challenging circumstances. Ford didn't do anything hugely memorable during his presidency -- which is why the title is "A Time To Heal", because he viewed his presidency as the period of post-Watergate and post-Vietnam healing. The two seminal events of his presidency revolve around those two issues -- pardoning Nixon and the fall of Saigon. They both ended dark moments in American history and Ford got the country through both. . This book will someday be the centerpiece of a new understanding of his importance in getting through a period of crisis in American history -- and recognizing his role in doing so at the time of his actions, including a recognition at the time that he would not be respected until some future generation. -- derived from Jesse Gordon, OnTheIssues editor-in-chief, May 2012.…