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Obras de Thomas M. DeFrank

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Etiquetado

Conocimiento común

Nombre canónico
DeFrank, Thomas M.
Nombre legal
DeFrank, Thomas Michael
Fecha de nacimiento
1945-06-13
Género
male
Ocupaciones
journalist
Organizaciones
Newsweek

Miembros

Reseñas

Quite an interesting, well written and effective book. I learned a lot that I didn't know about an era in which I grew up. I was roughly 15-17 during the Watergate scandal and already a political junkie. Even though I am liberal politically I was about the only one in Scarsdale High School who supported Ford's pardon of Nixon.

My only quibble with the book is that Defrank spends far too much time on the excruciating details of Ford's fatal illness. I think that is best left as a private matter, and adds little to public edification.… (más)
 
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JBGUSA | 8 reseñas más. | Jan 2, 2023 |
Great anecdotes about Gerald Ford during his vice presidency through post presidential life. Ford was much more impressive than most ever gave him credit for. Did you know he swam laps every day, even when he was President?
The stories are told in an interesting and engaging way, however, the author seems to skip around quite a bit which I find a little disconcerting.
Definitely worth the time to read or listen to. Gives great insight into the times as well as a good portrait of Ford's character.… (más)
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Caspaulding | 8 reseñas más. | Aug 23, 2013 |
Best I can figure, the unholy combination of the discovery of political satire, a teacher’s ability to make our country’s history and the workings of our republic exciting (Thanks, Mrs. Henderson!), and the unceasing desire of a semi-literate adolescent boy to be a smartass, converged to give me my admiration of President Gerald R. Ford. “Write it when I’m Gone: Remarkable Off-the-Record Conversations with Gerald R. Ford by Thomas Defrank only confirmed and deepened that esteem.

Regardless of any political disagreement one might have with President Ford, his decency as a human being is unquestionable. Knowing what the country needed, as well as knowing that by answering that need he was all but certainly destroying any hope he might have of winning re-election, President Ford stepped in from of America and the world to say “our long national nightmare is over.”

In an age when finding a politician who actually believes in something is about as likely as Bill Clinton becoming a Jesuit, President Ford’s words and deeds demonstrated what belief in a principle, an ideal – no matter the cost – looks like.

The most poignant moments, when the ability of Michigan All-American Center begins to falter, are described by Mr. Defrank with such compassion and earnestness that rather than feel sorrow for President Ford, I began to share Defrank’s grief for such a mentor and great man. Defrank did this by subtly repeating Ford’s comments, and reflecting the slight loss of memory experienced as one ages.

Ford’s concern and compassion for others is easily seen in two examples from late in his life. As the war in Vietnam came to it’s conclusion, Ford kept the American embassy open as long as possible. The iconic image of that time became the thousands who climbed the ladder on top of the embassy and onto helicopters that offered freedom and safety. Today that ladder is the center piece of President Ford’s library and is something Ford took great pride in. The other example is his treatment of Ronald Reagan. Ford was no fan of Ronald Reagan, and to his dying day believed that Reagan ultimately cost Ford re-election. If ever Ford had an enemy, it was Reagan. That all changed when President Reagan’s Alzheimer’s was made public in 1994. From that moment until his death, President Ford stood by his rival in every way possible. President Ford knew that the most important aspect of leadership, regardless of all other variables, is the care, empathy and genuine love of one’s fellow man.
… (más)
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lanewillson | 8 reseñas más. | Mar 4, 2013 |
Interesting and helps to understand what was going on in our country at a time when I wasn't paying attention!
1 vota
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NancyJak | 8 reseñas más. | May 8, 2011 |

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Obras
2
También por
1
Miembros
367
Popularidad
#65,579
Valoración
½ 3.6
Reseñas
9
ISBNs
8

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