The Ford Presidency

Event Details

As former chief of staff for Vice President Ford, counselor to President Ford with cabinet status and author of Palace Politics: An Inside Account of the Ford Years, Hartmann discusses the Ford presidency. Hartmann begins his lecture by exploring the unique appointment of Ford to both the office of Vice President and President, addressing the various problems derived from being appointed through the twenty-fifth amendment. Hartmann attributes Ford's unique leadership to restoring the public's respect and faith to the office. He continues that while Ford's place in history should not be equated with Lincoln or Roosevelt, he should be revered as Eisenhower and Truman were, in retrospect. Hartmann sees the executive office as bearing too much responsibility and with too little power. While Hartmann's praise for Ford is abundant he is distinctly aware of the former president's shortcomings.