Write It When I'm Gone: Remarkable Off-the-Record Conversations With Gerald R. Ford

by Thomas M. DeFrank

In 1974, Newsweek correspondent Thomas M. DeFrank was interviewing Gerald Ford when the Vice President blurted out something astonishingly indiscreet. He then extracted a promise not to publish it. “Write it when I’m dead,” Ford said – and thus began a thirty-two-year relationship.

During the last fifteen years of their conversations, Ford opened up to DeFrank, speaking in a way few presidents ever have. Here the award-winning journalist reveals these private talks, as Ford discusses his experiences with his fellow presidents, the Warren Commission, and his exchanges with Bill Clinton during the latter’s impeachment process. In addition, he shares his thoughts about both Bush administrations, the Iraq war, his beloved wife Betty, and the frustrations of aging. Write It When I’m Gone is not only a historical document but an unprecedented portrait of a president.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, Presidents, Politics, Memoir, Us Presidents

258 pages, Hardcover

First published October 30, 2007

Reviews

[Aaron Million · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written by a journalist who covered President Ford during his brief tenure as Vice President and then as President, the bulk of this book concerns Ford's post-presidency. DeFrank and Ford had basically a handshake agreement that Ford could speak candidly, mostly on the record, about people and events that normally he would speak of to anyone except close personal friends or his wife. But the understanding was that DeFrank could not publish any of the material until Ford died. Thinking about how much the media is despised in today's political climate, it is somewhat amazing that a former President would trust enough in a reporter to agree to give such non-political commentary about his contemporaries. That says something about both Ford and DeFrank.

DeFrank begins with covering Ford's vice presidency from 1973-1974. Ford, unlike most other politicians who rise to the top level, already remained an unpretentious and amiable Midwesterner who valued honesty and integrity above all else. Ford made people feel comfortable about him because he exuded kindness and, while not always giving reporters the answers that they were after, did not treat them with disdain or disrespect. As a result, DeFrank and the others who covered him came to have a great deal of respect and admiration for Ford while being able to maintain professional objectivity when reporting about him (Ford did not like everything that these journalists wrote about him, but both sides kept disagreements civil).

But the interesting parts of the book have to do with Ford's real, unvarnished thoughts on other Presidents that he knew, especially Nixon and Reagan, as well as people such as Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney. Ford could not stand Reagan and basically blamed him for his loss to Jimmy Carter in 1976. Ford remained loyal to Nixon even though Nixon clearly misled him on Watergate and did not treat Ford particularly well once Nixon resigned. DeFrank also includes Ford's thoughts on Bill Clinton and both Bushes. Since George W. Bush was in office when Ford died and when the last several interviews took place, quite a bit of the discussions revolved around his administration and the handling of the Iraq war. Privately, Ford was critical of Bush's handling. Publicly, he supported the President and his administration.

It is interesting now to read Ford's thoughts on Hillary Clinton. He accurately predicted that she would run for President one day and she would be the Democratic nominee, although he did get the year wrong. Still, he had been around politics for a long time and he could see from her personality that she was highly ambitious.

Part of the book also deals with Ford's activities as an ex-President. Unfortunately, he does not come off looking particularly well here as he basically made a ton of money flying around the country giving paid speeches and spending time on Boards of large corporations. Of course he did charity work as well, and that cannot be counted out. But DeFrank points out that even some of Ford's friends winced at some of the things that he did.

DeFrank, despite his vocation, does not put together a particularly well-written book. The time period jumps around quite a bit, and he has a tendency to repeat things that he mentioned in previous chapters. Only later in the book does it move more chronologically. But it is a worthwhile read for anyone interested in Ford or former Presidents in general.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly, this book is not the undisclosed look into the private thoughts and opinions of Ford. For three decades of interviews, there wasn't much substance. Ford must have been a very honest politician because didn't give the author much more than he gave the rest of the world. The book felt like a collection of short essays and not one flowing book. The chapters kept referring back and repeating information that was only printed a few pages before.

Unless you're a huge Ford fan, I'd pass on this one. Folks just curious about Ford should find another book, this assumes you know the main players and issues of his presidency.

[Anthony Bergen · Rating 5 out of 5]

(Review originally posted on Dead Presidents)

Write It When I'm Gone:  Remarkable Off-the-Record Conversations with Gerald R. Ford
By Thomas M. DeFrank
Hardcover.  2007.  258 pp.  Putnam.

As I mentioned prominently in my review of Bob Greene's "Fraternity", what interests me primarily about the Presidents and the Presidency is not policy, politics, or administrative accomplishments, but the personality of the individuals who have held the most powerful office in the world.  All of those other things DO interest me, but I enjoy digging deeper into the personal aspect of each of the Presidents and it is difficult finding books that really are a home run in that department.  It takes the rare combination of understanding, access, and interest by the author to reach beyond the politics of a President and illuminate what he is as a person.

Reporter Thomas M. DeFrank not only possessed those abilities, but took the study of a Presidential personality to the next level in 2007's "Write It When I'm Gone:  Remarkable Off-the-Record Conversations with Gerald R. Ford".  As a correspondent for Newsweek in 1974, DeFrank was assigned to cover Gerald Ford -- Vice President at the time and clearly destined for the Presidency due to the Watergate scandal hanging over President Richard Nixon.  When Ford made a verbal slip during an interview with DeFrank and said something he shouldn't have, he grabbed DeFrank by the tie and wouldn't let the young reporter leave until he promised not to publish the remark.  "Write it when I'm dead," said the Vice President, sparking a 32-year-long conversation between Ford and DeFrank which culminated in this fascinating book.

Ford became President upon Nixon's resignation on August 9, 1974 and served until 1977.  A lifelong Congressman from Michigan, Ford's career goal was to become Speaker of the House, not President.  When Nixon's first Vice President, Spiro Agnew, resigned in disgrace in 1973, Congressional leaders responsible for confirming the President's new Vice President practically forced Nixon to nominate Ford.  Easily confirmed and sworn in as Vice President in December 1973, Ford took office as Nixon's attempts to defend himself against Watergate began to fall apart amongst more-and-more evidence implicating the President in the scandal's cover-up.  Just eight months after becoming Vice President, Ford was sworn in as President of the United States -- the only man to hold the office without winning a national election.

"Our long national nightmare is over," Ford said, minutes after taking the oath of office in the East Room of the White House.  However, the nation was far from healed and the Executive Branch had been wounded severely by Nixon's criminal activities.  Ford may have cost himself election as President in his own right by pardoning Nixon just one month after taking office.  An extraordinarily unpopular move at the time, history -- along with most Americans and most politicians on both sides of the aisle -- has vindicated Ford for the pardon, which helped make the scandal of Watergate a thing of the past rather than an ongoing struggle and saved the nation the ordeal of a criminal trial and possible prison sentence for a former President of the United States.  Ford lost the 1976 election to Jimmy Carter, but even upon leaving office, he was already seen as succeeding at helping to heal the divisions created by Nixon and Watergate.

"Write It When I'm Gone" is DeFrank's record of embargoed off-the-record conversations with Ford during Ford's time as Vice President, President, former President, happy retiree, and elder statesman.  By allowing DeFrank to release his book only upon his death, Ford was able to allow himself to drop his defenses and speak candidly about nearly every topic imaginable from contemporary politics and current events to memories of earlier life and the philosophy of getting older to thoughts on politicians and Presidents that he had known and continued to meet.  Ford doesn't pull any punches, but he's honest and straightforward in the genial, respectful manner that Gerald Ford always came across as to the American public.

While it is interesting to listen to Ford reveal the inside details of the last days of Nixon's Presidency, his own thoughts leading to the pardon of Nixon, and his timely and thoughtful discussions of the issues of the day as the 32-year-long conversation progresses, to me, two things stand out most in "Write It When I'm Gone".

First of all, I was fascinated by Ford's opinions on the Presidents that he knew best, particularly those who followed him.  Although disappointed in Nixon's failures, Ford seemed to treasure the friendship he shared with a man not well-known for his friendly qualities and had an unwavering belief that Nixon was the best President for foreign policy in Ford's long lifetime.  Ford's relationship with his 1976 opponent, Jimmy Carter, evolved from frosty during and shortly after Carter's single term in the White House to an extremely close friendship in Ford's later years.  At times, it is easy to see a major disconnection and frustration between Ford and Ronald Reagan and Ford wasn't high on Reagan's ability to understand the job of President.  Any animosity, though, was no longer important when Ford -- always forgiving -- let things pass as it became clear that Reagan was ailing with Alzheimer's Disease.  George H.W. Bush was Ford's CIA Director and a potential Vice Presidential nominee and they seemed to have a strong, friendly relationship.  Bush's son, George W. Bush, the 43rd President, came along late in Ford's life and an aging Ford claimed not to know him very well, yet he makes interesting observations on the War in Iraq and the role of Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld, two of the Bush administration's powerhouses who both served as Chief of Staff to President Ford.

Most interesting of all of his comments about Presidents and former Presidents is his forthright assessment of Bill Clinton and the sex scandal that resulted in Clinton's impeachment.  Ford makes it clear that he liked Clinton personally and appreciated his abilities, calling him "the best politician I've ever seen", yet he was confused and disappointed by some of Clinton's character issues and worriedly told DeFrank, "The President's sick...he's got a sexual addiction...and it affects his judgment."  These are the types of frank, sincere observations that makes "Write It When I'm Gone" a completely different form of Presidential biography.

The other thing that stands out in "Write It When I'm Gone" is more poignant.  The longest-living President in American history, Ford's last interviews with DeFrank were in the 93rd year of his life, prior to his death on December 26, 2006.  Ford was in spectacularly good health until he turned 90 and continued the athletic pursuits he loved throughout life until his body forced him to stop skiing, golfing, and, finally, swimming.  There is something moving about DeFrank's descriptions of the former President in the last years of his life, as his health finally began to fail him and his incredible resources of energy finally began to deplete.  The reader is heartbroken when we find out that Ford and his beloved wife, Betty, will never be able to revisit their longtime vacation home in Vail, Colorado again, and DeFrank's very brief final visit to a bedridden Ford just a month prior to the former President's death is a tearjerker.

In some way or another, we feel like we know our Presidents because they are constantly covered.  Even Presidents who lived and died long before we were born are familiar to us in some way because history is a perpetual and constantly-evolving and revolving form of the media.  As a more recent President, we know Gerald Ford better than most of our Presidents, but in "Write It When I'm Gone", Ford becomes more than the guy who became President without being elected or the guy who pardoned Nixon or the guy who stumbled down the steps of Air Force One or the guy who survived two separate assassination attempts in California by two different women in two weeks during September 1975.  DeFrank's concept for "Write It When I'm Gone" doesn't simply point to an official White House portrait and begin telling us "That was Gerald Ford -- this is what he did"; it tries to tell us, "Here is Gerald Ford -- this is who he was."  DeFrank may have needed to wait until Ford died before bringing this story to us, but by doing so he ultimately succeeded in bringing Gerald Ford to life.

Highly recommended.
A-

[Kyra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw this book in the Gerald Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids about 4 years ago and recently decided that it was time to read it. I’ve been listening to it while packing to move and it’s a very, very good book. It loses a star for dragging a bit in the middle, but provides a lot of depth to Ford before, during, and after his presidency—particularly after. It’s written by a journalist who covered Ford during his time in the White House, and it’s interesting to watch both men progress in their careers and their friendship. There’s a decent amount of detail regarding the politics after Ford leaves the presidency, which I found especially interesting. Definitely recommend.

[Lukasz Pruski · Rating 3 out of 5]

"[...] the simple ground rules we'd already established: nothing he said could be printed until after his death."

Thomas DeFrank, the author of Write It When I'm Gone (2007), was a Newsweek correspondent and journalist when in 1973 he was assigned to cover Vice President Gerald R. Ford. At that time it was gradually becoming clear that Mr. Ford might soon become the 38th President of the United States. The relationship between the author and Mr. Ford - something more than a professional acquaintance, perhaps even friendship - lasted for one third of a century until the politician's death in 2006. The book, based on 16 years of interview sessions that had begun in 1991, is a memoir of Mr. Ford's political career viewed through the prism of his conversations with the author.

To me absolutely the best aspect of the book is that the only unelected Vice-President and the only unelected President of the U.S. comes across the pages as a real person. Not "an accident-prone bumbler" as portrayed in press and comedy (SNL) but indeed a "most remarkably guileless political figure." While not gifted with a commanding intellect, charisma, or communication skills, Mr. Ford appears to be a fundamentally honest and surprisingly warm person of goodwill.

The reader will learn a lot about Mr. Ford's short presidency troubled by his pardon of R.M. Nixon and ended by his defeat to Jimmy Carter in 1976. We also read about Mr. Ford's withdrawal from the 1980 presidential race. One should not expect to find any earth-shattering revelations in the book: for example, I have found only two fragments that surprised me. Mr. Ford makes a strong point to stand by the Warren Commission report (he was a member of the Commission) and seems to claim that all conspiracy theories about the Kennedy assassination are absurd, yet, at the same time, he "forewarns" that the report, so far unreleased in its entirety, contains "stories" that can be "harmful" to some people. How's that for equivocation? The other surprise is the extreme dislike that Mr. Ford had for Ronald Reagan, moderated only by the decency with which the half-term president talked about the two-term president at the time when the latter was dying of the Alzheimer disease.

Two items of personal interest: several conversations with Mr. Ford occurred when he was over 90 years old. Although physically frail, and perhaps not too eloquent, he was still in full command of facts. This should be a huge source of hope for us geezers. The other tidbit is just a tiny personal connection: at one point the book mentions the 1996 presidential debate which took place in the building that I sometimes lecture in and in preparations to which I participated, albeit in a totally minuscule way.

Well written, interesting book, certainly worth a read. I'm including two strong quotes after the rating.

Three and a half stars.

"He was an ordinary guy in the noblest sense of the term, a steady, solid Michigander whose old fashioned virtues were the perfect antidote for a nation desperate for stability and civility."

"He considered Reagan a superficial, disengaged, intellectually lazy showman who didn't do his homework and clung to a naïve, unrealistic, and essentially dangerous worldview."

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Twenty-Seven of my presidential challenge.

"I'm a Ford, not a Lincoln" - Gerald Ford

Sometimes you just have to take one for the team. Gerald Ford knows that more than most. In the wake of the Watergate scandal, someone needed to step in and calm the country down. Ford was that guy. The perfect guy for that really. He wasn't showy or flashy, he was a horrible public speaker and he was clumsy (like insanely clumsy).

Ford's first major act as President was to unconditionally pardon Richard Nixon. Ford thought this would put the issue to rest. Instead, it woke it back up and everybody freaked out. It instantly doomed his presidency and is literally the only thing that people remember about the man. Until his dying day, he maintained that he'd been correct in this decision but who knows what he really thought in the still of the night, with only his thoughts to keep him company.

This book doesn't cover much of Ford's Presidency, not directly that is. Rather, it is a series of interviews that Thomas Defrank had with Ford spanning Ford's vice presidency until Ford's death. The majority of the interviews were given on the condition that they not be printed until Ford died.

The book loses something with this approach because it mostly just becomes a bitchfest (technical term) for Ford. I think it's safe to say Ford was a bad judge of character. He never really got upset with Nixon and doesn't hold a grudge years later, even when Nixon clearly thought Ford was an idiot and never properly thanked him for what he did. Ford also loved Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney, two of the largest douchebags who ever graced the American government. (I can say that with more authority now that I've read many, many books on presidential history).

Who did Ford dislike? Carter. At least at first. He only made up with Carter when they decided it would be better if they both just hated Reagan. I love a good friendship based on hate. Ford respected Clinton as a politician but couldn't get over Clinton's sexual indiscretions. Ford is probably the only President (other than Carter) in modern history who didn't cheat on his wife but Ford was clearly obsessed with sex and brought it up constantly only to show that he wasn't obsessed with it. Riiiigggghhhhtttt. Paging Dr. Freud.

I ultimately just feel bad for Ford. He was put in a tough situation and did poorly. Then he had to go and live for over 30 years and think about the mistakes he'd made. He took one for the team. The fact that the Republican party even still EXISTS is a testament to Ford, so thank you, I guess?

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would actually give this 3.5 stars. It's been sitting on my shelf for months because I wasn't eager to tear into it. I was surprised that it was such an insightful read. I thought that it was going to be about Ford's presidency. While it did touch on the Nixon/Ford years, the book was more of a series of interviews about his political observations over the years. Sort of a People Magazine for political junkies. I was also touched by Ford's convictions. He wasn't a partisan hack. While I didn't agree with a lot of his ideas, I was touched by his desire to do what was he thought was right for the country rather than looking out for his party first and foremost.

[Mara · Rating 2 out of 5]

For the first two chapters of this book I thought it was kind of a breezy, superficial romp with Ford by a journalist who clearly adored the man.

Jerry Ford is a human being cum laude, a down-to-earth, earnest, genuinely likable guy with an infectious laugh and not the slightest hint of pretentiousness.

There was some nice narrative-style analysis of the unique position in which Ford found himself, including a nice little tidbit from William Safire (totally forgot that he had a career in politics prior to his On Language era):

He [Ford] must be at once loyal and independent; both his own man and the president's man; a defender uncorrupted by the defense.

It was interesting to read an insiders view of how Ford reacted to his two attempted killer ladies within 17 days, and Ford seemed like a genuinely laid back guy with the press, which definitely couldn't have been said of his predecessor. Sure, I started to question author Thomas M. Defrank's characterizations a bit when he portrays Dick Cheney as a sort of merry prankster while on the road with Gerald Ford and his cadre of journalists, but I wasn't looking for a hard-hitting piece of journalistic investigation here. (N.b. Yes, it isGerald with a "G" and Jerry with a "J"!) The chapter "Jerry Ford Inc." was a fine defense as to why and how Ford turned being an ex-president into such a hot commodity.

However it's in Tom's subsequent "interview" chapters that this book devolves into kind of a hot mess (by the way, you never forget his name is Tom as he leaves that in to almost every line of Ford's responses to his questions). Things are just poorly organized, and the author fails to give us even the briefest of backgrounders re. the situations/relationships that Ford is discussing. By chapter 11, Defrank even admits to doing this:

As every write understands, sometimes useful insights and vignettes that help illuminate a person's life don't neatly fit into a chapter.
What follows, then, are random human glimpses, including some of my favorite moments with Ford, that deserve a better home than the cutting-room floor.

Sorry, Tom, I'm gonna have to disagree with you on that assessment of where you should have put those tidbits. I get it. We all are going to get old, and I'm sure I'll be just as, if not more annoying to listen to in my golden years than your average nonagenarian, but here are just a few of the topics of discussion that I'm not so sure were journalistic gold:
1. Details regarding Ford's latest trip to the urologist. I don't know what PSI and PSA are (I'm pretty sure the P stands for prostate), and definitely don't want to hear anything about the 38th presidents colonoscopy.
2. Joint replacements. I get it- really, I do, I've had knee surgery too- but multiple knee replacements, how long a shoulder replacement is going to keep you out of your golf game etc. definitely can be scrapped from at least every other conversation.
3. You young people and your fandangled computer machines! Anyone who was born in the 80s with a grandparent knows this scene all too well. This really doesn't count as a "remarkable off-the-record conversation" as far as I'm concerned.
4. Tuesdays with Fordie. Dying is sad. Seeing people who were once vibrant and alive slip away is hard, but the way that the author captures this part really just told me that maybe he needed to wait a little longer for the dirt on the grave to settle before considering this book edited and ready for print. (Seriously, Ford died in December of 2006, and the book was on the shelves in the Fall of 2007- I don't know much about publishing, but that seems like a pretty quick turnaround.)

Anyway, I'm sure Ford was a hoot and a genuinely nice guy, this just wasn't the window into his take on his life in politics that I hoped it would be. It gets an extra star for the first two chapters being non-terrible, and for being mercifully brief.

[Gary Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Newsweek reporter Thomas DeFrank was assigned to cover newly-appointed Vice-President Gerald Ford, he knew there was a good chance his beat could be the advent of a new presidency. Vice-President Ford was an easy-going fellow with his press contingent, and DeFrank and Ford forged a relationship based on mutual trust and respect which continued during Ford’s eventual presidency. The “remarkable” conversations referenced in the subtitle began in Ford’s post-presidential years when he granted interviews to DeFrank several times a year with the understanding that none of it would be published until after Ford’s death. (Little did either man know that Ford would become the longest-living ex-president in American history with the longest post-presidency, although his longevity has now been surpassed by George H. W. Bush, and the span of Ford’s post-presidential years has now been surpassed by Jimmy Carter’s.) During their wide-ranging discussions, Ford was candid about his complex attitudes toward Presidents Carter, Reagan, Bush 41, Clinton, and Bush 43, along with other prominent politicians including John McCain, Hillary Rodham Clinton, and Dick Cheney among others. Ford was also forthcoming with opinions about all kinds of issues not published elsewhere: the direction of the country, foreign relations, the role of ex-presidents … and the guilt of O. J. Simpson. (Ford died in 2006, and this book was published in 2007. Interestingly, there is no mention of Barack Obama who was elected president in 2008.)

DeFrank’s book is full of insightful perspectives from one of the most interesting American citizens of the last half of the Twentieth Century, but the chronology became confusing at times as Ford occasionally talked about parallel events that occurred decades apart. I was also a little put off by the borderline-lugubrious detail about Ford’s physical and mental deterioration in his final months as the nonagenarian former president continued to meet with DeFrank, even though his stamina and ability to engage were slipping away. At first, I wasn’t sure how much to trust a writer who extensively quoted someone no longer living, but DeFrank is a well-respected journalist, and this book is one of only a few titles on sale at the Gerald R. Ford Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan, which I consider an endorsement of a kind.

[srdjan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty terribly organized book whose insights are minimal and dissappointing. The books title grossly exaggerates a relationship between author and subject that seemed little more than 'cordial', while Gerald Ford comes across as a plain jane jock/frat boy who lacked depth -

"At 12:30 in the morning, he exited the press room... I thought he looked like a man with the world's weight still on his broad shoulders. Just before he disappeared into the residence, he turned to an aide and posed a question. A couple days later, I caught up with the aide and asked about his query. Ford had merely asked, 'Say, does anyone know who won the Bullets game?'"

I walked away with a sense that he was a man who was both deceptively crafty and at the same time fundamentally decent... but not enough of either to be really compelling. He certainly made the most of his hand, but at the end you feel like you watched a guy play 10/jack really well- commendable but not engrossing. You dont walk away dying to talk to Ford. In fact, you wonder how long you could hold the conversation.

The second half of the book is an eye opener about aging, and the part of the book that salvaged the second star of my rating. DeFrank captures Ford's slow decline in a way that makes you want to swim, travel, ski and fuck while you still can.

Anyway, he seemed like a kind man who served his country well, so rest in peace

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never knew a whole lot about Pres. Ford, but after reading this I have a lot of respect for him. Ford was a dedicated public servant who brought dignity back to the White House after the turmoil of Watergate. I never knew that he was criticized so harshly for the money he made after being in office. His successors owe him for paving the way in the post-presidential speaking circuit. Also, I didn't know how Ford really felt about Reagan...the political life isn't always fun. Really liked the easy style of this book as opposed to the more stuffy bios of former presidents. You kind of feel like a fly on the wall as Ford speaks off the record about everything from raising money for his Presidential Library to his opinions about O.J. Simpson. Interesting stuff. I'll never forget watching Ford's funeral a few years ago--a lovely service for a great guy. Our country could use more people like Gerald R. Ford.

[Pamela Okano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tom DeFrank, a political journalist, had a deal with Jerry Ford. DeFrank could have regular access to Ford, who would speak his mind, but only on condition that his remarks would not be published until after Ford's death. This is the result. What becomes clear is that Jerry Ford was truly a decent and good man. In this day where radicalism and self-interest in politics seems so prevalent, it was refreshing to read the remarks of a career politician who had the country's, not his own, best interests at heart. Nothing too startling. He didn't like Ronald Reagan, and that dislike, among other things, probably helped bring him and Jimmy Carter together after their retirements. Early on, he predicted Hillary Clinton would run for president by 2004 or 2008. He remained active until very late in life--DeFrank chronicles his decline.

[August Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall an interesting political biography. Ford's thoughts on Nixon, his successors, and other political contemporaries are the strongest chapters of the book. His animosity towards Reagan comes through loud and clear and we learn that as early as the late 1990s, he imagined Hillary Clinton would make a "darned good" candidate for President (he apparently had high hopes for a blockbuster race between Hillary and Rudy Giuliani in 2008).

The latter chapters in the book were exceedingly tedious, with Ford's declining health being a central focus. It was touching at times, but I really didn't need to hear the details of President Ford's prostate condition.

[Stacy Jensen · Rating 2 out of 5]

From a historical point of view, interesting but Tom DeFrank isn't the greatest writer. He seemed to make a big deal out of a couple of political instances that don't seem to resonate with another generation and I'm not talking about Watergate. Interesting note: He was on the original Warren commission and was very upset with the Oliver Stone movie and felt it did great damage to those in the future who might believe the movie to be fact and never take the time to investigate the story.

[Mom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many new opinions were gleaned from the reading of this book. Revelations were introduced that I was unaware of when I was growing up. Not sure how this one sits with me.

[Michael Loveless · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author, who was originally a reporter covering Vice-President Ford, wrote about numerous interviews he had with Ford in which the former president spoke candidly with the understanding that his comments would not be published in his lifetime. The first half to two thirds of the book is a selective biography. It focuses on the time period during which he became vice-president to the end of his life, giving an overview of important events. The last third to half of the book relays Ford’s opinions about the presidents and events that came after him.

The book is a historical version of Tuesday’s with Morrie. The author has great respect for Ford. The former president is almost always described as smart, humble, and down-to-earth. Although DeFrank mentions controversial moments in Ford’s life, he writes as if he is Ford’s apologist. The biggest flaw the author addresses is the way Ford aggressively marketed himself as former president for the purpose of making money. The off the record comments Ford makes are not exactly powerful or surprising. In some cases they have the tone of gossip that is not worthy of print.

The book is not terribly useful in the history classroom, but there are some interesting anecdotes that illustrate Ford’s character. His relationship with Nixon is probably the most useful material in the book.

[Tom Schulte · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting collection of interviews and reflections on the former president with excellent narration from Scott Brick, one of my favorite narrators. DeFrank was a friendly associate from the veep days, so nothing controversial there. Here, Ford sticks by the Warren Commission findings and was too far out of Nixon circle to know of any crimes ordered by the president, though he faults Nixon for letting a sloppy cover-up appear out of inaction. In 2004 Ford openly loathed Dick Cheney and although this ardent supported of his Republican Party changed that opinion to one of respect he never stopped being a critic of the WMD premise for invading Iraq. He felt Saddam was premised himself. Ford is the only person to have served as both vice president and president without being elected to either office. Add to this being defeated by Carter in the election and not given another opportunity to try and you have the biggest regret documented here.

[Jesse Hertstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a different angle towards a biography, based on conversations with a journalist who became close to President Ford. It was all off-the-record conversations intended to be published after Ford's death. But it also includes a lot of anecdotes and insights that the journalist picked up along the way. Of course, I like to hear all of the connections to my hometown, Grand Rapids, and how Ford always felt that it was his hometown. But in 2018, it is just good to hear about a decent human who lived with integrity, more than most presidents and more than most people. This doesn't necessarily check him off my list for reading presidential biographies, but I really do feel like I know him now.

[Clayton Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thomas DeFrank: “It’s over. He can’t survive, and you’re gonna be president.”

Vice President Ford: "You’re right. But when the pages of history are written, nobody can say I contributed to it.”

“You didn’t hear that. “Tom, you did not hear that.”

DeFrank: “But I did."

Ford walked around his desk and confronted me directly, face-to-face. I got an unobstructed view of his blue eyes; they weren’t friendly.

Towering above his quarry, he gently grabbed my tie and said in a firm tone of voice,

VP Ford: “Tom, you are not leaving this room until we have an understanding... Write it when I’m dead.”

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Being the political junkie that I am, I thoroughly enjoyed DeFrank's perspective as one of the "inner circle" journalists who traveled with Ford from his Veep days. DeFrank deeply respected Ford, who appeared to return that respect, notwithstanding times of estrangement when he was angered by something DeFrank had done. DeFrank's account shows Ford's humanity and allows the reader to relate to him in many ways as a "regular" guy. A fast read if you like the topic.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done. Respectful and respectable. Perhaps not too groundbreaking in content- there are no shocking revelations that anyone politically or historically aware would find revealing. Still a wondrous look at Ford's post-presidency and some of the effect he has had on what it means to be an ex-president.

[Dave · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author overplays his hand a bit - in hindsight, I don't think any of the revelations in this book are explosive - but this was an interesting and accessible firsthand account of a period in recent history that was largely a blank spot for me.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good review of Ford's life by a journalist who was enamoured by him. Good witness to history, but a lot of it is either decades-old gossip or insights about Ford the man, rather than the president, something DeFrank is pretty...frank about.

[Chuck McGrady · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable book that provides some insight into both Gerald Ford and the presidency before Trump.

[Michael Walker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Three decades' worth of off-the-record conversations between a journalist and the 38th U.S. President. Not a biography, it's an easy read. 2-1/2 stars.

[Michael Burnam-Fink · Rating 3 out of 5]

Write It When I'm Gone is pleasant, if a little scattered. In 1974, a then Vice President Ford was finishing up an interview with 28 year old Tom DeFrank, a reporter with Newsweek, when Ford said "When I'm President...", and then swore DeFrank to silence. With the Watergate Investigations ongoing, and Nixon wounded by not defeated, his Vice President had to be a company man, 110%. The gaffe lead to an enduring friendship and a series of candid interviews, to be published after Ford's death in 2006.

The book is best when it talks about Ford the person. He seems to have been one of the better people to inhabit the Oval Office, an unprepossing midwesterner who genuinely cared about the people around him, who didn't let the position go to his head, and had good relationships with the press and other politicians. Ford's long and happy post-Presidency retirement, golf, swimming, corporate boards, family, charity, was a well deserved second act.

There also a lot of gossip. Ford, the consummate party man, never cared much for Ronald Reagan, who he saw as intellectually incurious, and who he resented for challenging him in the 1976 primary and not doing enough in the campaign against Carter. Ford also personally liked Bill Clinton, but thought the Lewinsky scandal was a blot on the Presidency. Cheney and Rumsfeld had their first taste of Presidential authority under Ford, and he supported both of his former staffers, but was skeptical of how they had handled the War in Iraq. Of course, by then he was approaching the end of his life.

Beyond the platitudes and light gossip, there's not much there about the Presidency, or Ford's role in history, particularly pardoning Nixon. Pleasant, and helped me some at a hard point in my life, but not a must-read.

[Josh Mirabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn't find a true Ford biography available as a free audiobook, so I read this instead. I am slightly disappointed for myself that I wasn't successful in my search, but I liked this book and I'm happy to be getting on with my Presidential crawl.

Not much at all in Ford's upbringing and start in politics, or even his Presidency, but what we do get is to hear Ford's thoughts on his political and personal life. I particularly enjoyed his thoughts on a potential 2008 race between Giuliani and Clinton. Oops!

[Fredr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our country could use more people like President Ford. He looked out for what was best for the country and knew that politicians should be straightforward and honest. Thomas DeFrank did a wonderful job with the book. Sad today with what has devolved in our country as politicians these days.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to this one. I thought Gerry would be narrating it idk why. Anyways, he wasn’t. But I liked this. And I love Gerald Ford

[Will Warnuu · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was not nearly as interesting as the title.

However, I did get two remarkable (and opposed) ideas from it. One, Ford seemed like a good guy for whom integrity was important. Two, like the Grinch's opinion of Cindy Lou Who, Ford was a "Cute kid. Baaaad judge of character." This is in reference for his adoration and respect for Don Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney. His love fest for these guys made me wonder about his 'good guy' image.