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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 Fords 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.Illustrated with sixteen pages of black-and-white photos, this definitive biography, a decade in the making, will change historys views of a man whose warning about presidential arrogance (“God help the country”) is more relevant than ever.

Ordinary Man, An: The Surprising Life and Historic Presidency of Gerald R. Ford is a 2021 biography of the 38th President of the United States, Gerald Ford, written by historian and author Richard Norton Smith. The book delves into Ford's life, from his humble beginnings in Omaha, Nebraska, to his rise through the ranks of the Republican Party and his eventual selection as vice president under Richard Nixon. Smith draws on extensive research, including interviews with Ford's family, friends, and colleagues, to provide a comprehensive account of Ford's presidency and his lasting impact on American politics.

Smith begins by recounting Ford's early life and education. He describes Ford's upbringing in a middle-class family, his athletic prowess, and his decision to attend the University of Michigan, where he excelled in both academics and football. After graduating from law school, Ford served in the Navy during World War II, earning a Silver Star for his actions in the Battle of Okinawa. Following the war, Ford entered politics, winning a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1948.

Smith then examines Ford's career in Congress, where he quickly became a respected leader among his fellow Republicans. Ford's moderate views and ability to work across party lines made him a valuable asset to the Republican Party, and he eventually rose to the position of House Minority Leader. In 1973, President Nixon appointed Ford as vice president, following the resignation of Spiro Agnew. Ford assumed the presidency in August 1974, after Nixon resigned due to the Watergate scandal.

Smith argues that Ford's presidency was a significant turning point in American history. He describes Ford's efforts to restore public trust in the government after the Watergate scandal, his attempts to address the economic crisis of the 1970s, and his role in shaping American foreign policy during the Cold War. Smith also examines Ford's pardon of Nixon, a controversial decision that remains a topic of debate among historians and political scientists.

Ordinary Man, An is a well-written and informative biography of Gerald Ford. Smith has done an excellent job of capturing Ford's character and his impact on American politics. The book is a valuable contribution to the historical record of the Ford presidency and will be of interest to anyone interested in American history, politics, or biography.