Tag Archives: Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation

Operation Babylift: 50th anniversary of history’s largest aerial evacuation to be commemorated at Ford Museum on May 9

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The Vietnamese American community of West Michigan will honor President Ford’s legacy of giving new hope to thousands of refugees with a special program free to the public (Courtesy, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation)


By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org


The Vietnamese American community of West Michigan will mark the 50th anniversary of Operation Babylift and President Ford’s legacy of giving new hope to thousands of refugees with a special program, 50 Years After Saigon: Vietnamese Stories of a New Home.

Hosted by The Gerald R. Ford Museum from 6:30-9 p.m. on May 9, the event will highlight Ford’s leadership during the Vietnamese refugee airlift, the largest aerial evacuation in history. The evacuation encompassed a series of overlapping operations which relocated thousands of Vietnamese children and families: Babylift, New Life, Frequent Wind and New Arrivals.

Operation Babylift (President Ford, right) rescued over 3,000 babies and orphans from Vietnam (Courtesy, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation)

“This event marks 50 years since the Fall of Saigon, which led to the Refugee Act and the resettlement of Vietnamese families in West Michigan,” said Le Tran, art teacher and Asian Student Union Advisor at East Kentwood High School, and chair of the West Michigan Asian-American Association.

“It’s time to reflect on our journey, honor President Ford’s compassionate leadership, and celebrate the resilience and contributions of our community.”

During the program, President Ford’s youngest son, Steve Ford, will offer an inside look into the motivation behind his father’s call to action to save the Vietnamese orphans.

Additional program features are Vietnamese musical performances, reflections from an Operation Babylift adoptee, and a panel discussion offering insight into experiences of Vietnamese Americans and the impact of Ford’s refugee support.

A compassionate call to action

Steve Ford (Courtesy, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation)

In a recent conversation with WKTV Managing Editor Deborah Reed, Steve Ford revealed that Operation Babylift was near and dear to his father’s heart.

“Dad found out that there were over 3,000 babies and orphans in Vietnam that had been fathered by American servicemen,” said Ford. “A lot of these babies had been put in orphanages or given up, and he felt a deep concern about that.”

Not only were thousands of babies abandoned, they were in danger of being killed by the Ho Chi Minh army as they took over Saigon.

President Ford’s empathy, his son said, stemmed from his own turbulent past as an infant.

Born to Leslie Lynch King and Dorothy Ayer Gardner, and originally named Leslie Lynch King Jr., President Ford was only weeks old when his physically abusive father threatened Gardner with a butcher knife. Gardner fled, eventually settling at the home of her parents in Grand Rapids.

Gardner divorced King and eventually married Grand Rapids businessman Gerald R. Ford.

The Ford family (Steve Ford, right) pictured in front of the White House (Courtesy, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation)

“Gerald R. Ford Sr. is the one that took Dad under his wing, raised him, invested in his life – and gave him his name,” said Ford. “Dad’s history…very much played into his empathy for these young babies that had been fathered by U.S. servicemen and were being abandoned. So he made a great effort for these babies.”

In the National Geographic article titled “Resettling Vietnamese Refugees in the United States,” President Ford stated, “[T]o ignore the refugees in their hour of need would be to repudiate the values we cherish as a nation of immigrants, and I was not about to let Congress do that.”

A 50-year ripple effect

On April 3, 1975, President Ford launched Operation Babylift. Through private contractors and U.S. military planes, thousands of orphaned children were airlifted out of Saigon and brought to the United States for adoption.

A doctor attends to a Vietnamese baby during Operation Babylift (Courtesy, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation)

In A Time to Heal: The Autobiography of Gerald R. Ford (p. 252), President Ford stated:

“I ordered American officials in Saigon to cut through any red tape that might stand in the way of the children’s escape. Then I told our Air Force to begin those mercy flights as soon as possible. Everyone suffers in a war, but no one suffers more than the children, and the airlift was the least that we could do.“

President Ford feeds a Vietnamese refugee baby (Courtesy, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation)

President Ford and his wife Betty greeted the first plane at the San Francisco International Airport and helped carry babies off the plane.

Numerous foster and adoptive families were waiting to open their doors to the Vietnamese orphans, with several churches and organizations helping facilitate the adoption process.

Fifty years later, those babies are now lawyers, doctors, homemakers, teachers and nurses. Ford said he is often approached by those orphans at speaking engagements, where they thank his father for saving them.

“It’s amazing how something 50 years ago is still rippling today and causing such good.”

One of those orphans, Thuy Williams, has become a good friend of Ford and his wife.

Separated from her mother and slated to be on the first airlift flight that ended in tragedy, Williams will share her journey of heartache and healing during the commemoration event.

President Ford carries a Vietnamese baby from “Clipper 1742,” a plane that transported approximately 325 South Vietnamese orphans from Saigon to the United States (Courtesy, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation)

Recognizing the good and the bad

The local Vietnamese American panel discussion will give perspective regarding the Vietnam War and its aftermath.

“There’s good and bad,” said Ford. “It’s the reason we do these stories at the Museum. There were definitely both sides, and we always feel it’s important to show both sides because that’s what history looks like. It’s never one way.”

A country of immigrants

“If Dad were here today, he would want people to remember that we are a country of immigrants,” said Ford. “We’ve gone through periods all through our history of welcoming people here. We’ve always stepped forward when these crises have happened and been willing to welcome people in the country.”

Ford went on to say that his father tried to heal the nation in many ways.

President Ford visited refugee camps in May 1975 (Courtesy, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation)

“There were scars on this country, there were wounds that needed help,” said Ford. “Dad would tell you war is ugly, it’s tragic. But if you try to do your best, you can look deeper and find some of these stories where you have good coming out the other side.

“I think the story of these babies – Operation Babylift – is one that makes America look like a country with great empathy and humanity.”

Event and resource links

Ford Museum event registration and information can be found here.

More information about the Vietnamese refugee airlift evacuation and the Vietnamese American community can be found below:

Powerful new exhibit unveiled at Ford Museum – “Casting Light: Photographs of the Vietnam War”

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Ford Museum’s latest showcase exhibition captures the realities of one of the most turbulent periods in American history (Courtesy, GRFM)


By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


Casting Light: Photographs of the Vietnam War, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum’s latest showcase exhibition, captures the realities of one of the most turbulent periods in American history.

Open to the public since April 21, the exhibition features iconic and thought-provoking images taken by photojournalists and military photographers.

The “Casting Light” exhibit is an opportunity to reflect on a pivotal era in our nation’s history (Courtesy, GRFM)

Through the lens of those who witnessed it firsthand, Casting Light brings to life the experiences of those who served, protested, and endured the consequences of the Vietnam War. Among those photojournalists was President Ford’s White House photographer, David Hume Kennerly, who won a Pulitzer Prize for his efforts in 1972.

“This exhibit is an opportunity to reflect on a pivotal era in our nation’s history,” said Brooke Clement, Director of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum. “President Ford played a crucial role in the final chapter of the war and managing the aftermath.

“Through these photographs, we hope to foster a deeper understanding of the War’s impact.”

A comprehensive and powerful firsthand look

The showcase exhibit is composed of free-standing text panels and iconic photographs that provide a moving, intimate and powerful look at the Vietnam War. A comprehensive examination of the conflict, the photographs capture how presidents grappled with the reality of war as they made executive decisions, soldiers on the ground in Vietnam and the American public’s changing responses to the conflict as they processed the war at home.

During the conflict, the U.S. military allowed more documentation than ever before, including by the military’s own photographers and videographers. Thousands of images were captured.

U.S. troops waiting for the arrival of President Johnson at Cam Ranh Bay, South Vietnam on Oct. 26, 1966 (Courtesy, GRFM)

These journalists, photographers, and film crews had considerable access to ground soldiers, officers, and battlefields. These firsthand accounts in turn influenced public opinion.

Images of the conflict far from home appeared on the front pages of newspapers, magazine covers and television screens across the country, underscoring its human toll. Dubbed “The Living Room War,” Americans back home watched the fighting unfold on their television screens.

Casting Light: Photographs of the Vietnam War will be on display through Dec. 14. More exhibit information can be found here.

Additional free programs

In conjunction with the exhibition, the Ford Museum invites the public to attend a series of free programs exploring key themes surrounding the Vietnam War, including the challenges faced by Vietnamese refugees, the continued aftershocks and the lasting impact of the War on American society.

A full schedule of programs and registration details can be found here.


(Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

Fredrik Logevall to discuss how to think about the Vietnam War legacy after 50 years on April 30

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Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Fredrik Logevall will visit the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum to discuss a fresh viewpoint on the War and its legacy (Courtesy, GRFM)



By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


It has been 50 years since the guns fell silent on the battlefields in Vietnam. Yet many people still wonder how to think about the War’s origins, escalation, ultimate resolution, aftereffects and its continued resonance in U.S. politics and society today.

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Fredrik Logevall will visit the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum on Wednesday, April 30 to discuss a fresh viewpoint on the War and its legacy via his book, Embers of War.

This event begins at 6:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged and can be completed here. A book signing will follow the public program at 7:30 p.m.

About Fredrik Logevall

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and author Fredrik Logevall (Courtesy, GRFM)

Fredrik Logevall is the Laurence D. Belfer Professor of History and International Affairs at Harvard University. He is the author or editor of eleven books, including most recently JFK: Coming of Age in the American Century, 1917-1956 (Random House, 2020), which won the Elizabeth Longford Prize and was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year.

His book Embers of War: The Fall of an Empire and the Making of America’s Vietnam (Random House, 2012), won the Pulitzer Prize for History, the Parkman Prize, the Arthur Ross Book Award and the American Library in Paris Book Award.

Logevall’s essays and reviews have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, The Times Literary Supplement, The New Republic, Politico, Daily Beast, the London Review of Books, and Foreign Affairs among other publications.

A native of Stockholm, Sweden, Logevall lives in Cambridge, MA.

Event and live stream registration

The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library in Ann Arbor will also be hosting an Embers of War book discussion on April 29 at 6:30 p.m. Registration for the Library event can be found here.

Those unable to attend in person can live stream the lecture via Zoom on April 29. Registration for the Zoom option can be found here.

Veteran France Hoang to share his journey, “From Saigon to Service: One Refugee’s Story of Gratitude and Giving Back,” at Ford Museum April 24

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France Hoang’s powerful presentation recounts his journey of personal perseverance and how America’s promise of opportunity can transform lives across generations (Courtesy, GRFM)


By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


Veteran and entrepreneur France Hoang will visit the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum on April 24 at 6:30 p.m. to share his remarkable story, From Saigon to Service: One Refugee’s Story of Gratitude and Giving Back.

In this powerful presentation, Hoang recounts his journey: arriving in America as a child refugee, attending West Point, serving in a war zone, advising at the White House, and ultimately coming full circle to help evacuate Afghan allies during America’s withdrawal. His story is not just a testament to personal perseverance, but a living example of how America’s promise of opportunity can transform lives across generations.

Hoang will also be sharing his story at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library in Ann Arbor on April 23 at 6:30 p.m. For those unable to attend the April 23 event, a Zoom option is available.

(Courtesy, GRFM)

“We are honored to welcome France Hoang to the Ford Library and Museum,” said Brooke Clement, Director of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum. “His inspiring talk, exploring themes of compassion, courage, and duty, demonstrates the ripple effect of President Ford’s values and leadership during Operation New Life, which welcomed Vietnamese refugees to the United States.”

Both programs are free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged.

A life of service

Hoang is an accomplished entrepreneur who has helped build companies, generating over $600 million in combined sales and employing more than 1,200 professionals across various sectors. He holds degrees from West Point, Washburn University, and Georgetown University Law Center, where he graduated magna cum laude.

Hoang currently serves as Co-Founder and CEO of BoodleBox, developing innovative AI technology platforms, and as a Distinguished Visiting Lecturer at West Point and as a Senior Fellow with the National Security Institute at George Mason University. He also serves on the boards of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund and No One Left Behind.

Registration Links

For more information and to register for these events, click here. Registration for the April 23 Zoom can be found here.

“Surviving War, Oceans Apart” – Author Yanek Mieczkowski shares true story of resilience and hope through adversity, March 18-19

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Yanek Mieczkowski’s book, “Surviving War, Oceans Apart,” tells the true story of two teenagers on opposite ends of the globe fighting for survival during World War II (Courtesy, Gerald R. Ford Museum)


By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org


Professor and author Yanek Mieczkowski shares the true narrative of two teenagers destined for life together in his new book, Surviving War, Oceans Apart.

A book discussion and signing will be held at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library in Ann Arbor on March 18, and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids on March 19.

Preserving history…

Author and professor Yanek Mieczkowski (Courtesy, Gerald R. Ford Museum)

Mieczkowski’s parents, Bogdan and Seiko, grew up on opposite ends of the globe yet both found themselves fighting for survival during World War II. Oceans Apart is their story of resilience, hope and love in the face of adversity.

“We’re so glad to be able to welcome Yanek back to the Ford Library and Museum…to share his new book Surviving War, Oceans Apart,” said Brooke Clement, Director of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum.

“The themes of resilience, perseverance and the power of hope are timeless and serve to embolden every reader.”

Mieczkowski, a professor at the Florida Institute of Technology, attributes his passion for history and economics to his parents. Mieczkowski has always recognized the value of his parents’ life experiences but recently realized that, with both parents aging, his family history might soon disappear.

“As my parents got older, I realized their stories had tremendous historical value and they needed to be recorded and memorialized or else they would be gone forever,” said Mieczkowski. “If I didn’t record their World War II experiences, they would vanish with them.”

Seiko: Dreams amidst tragedy

In Japan, school was suspended during the war, and Seiko worked in a wartime factory while her older brother trained as a kamikaze pilot. Then Seiko’s older sister died, leaving the teenager devastated.

Members of the Imperial Japanese Navy Kamikaze unit, Daisanryoukotai (Courtesy photo)

“My mother felt shattered after her older sister died. All she could do was continue to read, study and tend to a vegetable garden. That was her daily activity and goal: tend to the vegetables. She had a love for gardening the rest of her life.”

After the war, Seiko resumed her education and began teaching English at a Japanese junior high school in exchange for a tuition reduction. However, Seiko wanted to improve her English skills and traveled to Berea College in Kentucky to work, save money and improve her English.

Only intending to stay one year, Seiko remained long enough to obtain a second college degree. She then traveled to New York City to pursue a graduate degree in history and political science.

As Seiko worked to acquire her dream, Bogdan’s path also led him to New York City.

Bogdan: A lesson in adaptation

The son of an extremely wealthy industrialist, Bogdan experienced an affluent lifestyle…until the Germans invaded Poland.

“All that was taken away,” said Mieczkowski. “It required a lot of adaptation to a radically different life where the family is just scraping by and trying to avoid death. The game was survival.”

Bogdan’s family fled to Warsaw where he fought for the Polish Home Army. During the Warsaw Uprising in 1944, Bogdan sustained severe injuries and endured seven POW camps.

“Every step required tremendous resilience, optimism, adaptation and survival, and those are all themes that I lean into in the book,” said Mieczkowski.

Exhausted soldier of the Polish Home Army emerging from a sewer after escaping from German encirclement (Imperial War Museum)

After the war, Bogdan intended to continue the fight for Poland. “He called it the white knight syndrome,” said Mieczkowski. “He pictured himself going back to his home country, which he loved. His intention was to fight to free Poland from the grip of communism.”

Bogdan quickly realized, however, that his efforts would have been futile. Instead, Bogdan refocused his goals. 

Enrolling in courses at London University, Bogdan fell in love with economics and earned a degree.

However, an aura of condescension toward Polish veterans in London unsettled Bogdan, and he immigrated to Chicago. He lived with an uncle and received his masters and doctorate in economics at the University of Illinois. A few years later, Bogdan accepted a position at a Polish research agency in New York City.

A leap of faith…

(Courtesy photo)

The title of Mieczkowski’s book portrays a sense of destiny as two paths from opposite sides of the planet converge after a war and immigration to the United States.

“Surviving the war was a feat itself,” said Mieczkowski. “And then meeting – it was a stroke of sheer serendipity.”

Mieczkowski has always admired his parents for their resilience and achievements in the face of adversity. Writing Oceans Apart only increased Mieczkowski’s appreciation for what his parents lived through.

“I got a real appreciation for the hardships, the adversity, my parents lived through, and their ability to bounce back from all that and have a sense of optimism and perseverance through it all.”

Daily survival…

When recording their stories, Mieczkowski individually asked his parents what allowed them to survive the war when everything seemed so bleak. Their responses were identical: It was a day-to-day instinct for survival.

“You get up in the morning, you don’t set huge goals for yourself, you just try to make it through the day,” Mieczkowski said. “You knew in the back of your mind that the war would have an end, but to get to that end you just have to focus on the short-term. And the short-term is just making it through the day.”

A sense of family and the importance of education also sustained Bogdan and Seiko.

“Throughout the war they never gave up on learning,” said Mieczkowski, adding that his mother continued learning about music, chemistry, and other subjects while working at the factory. His father learned English and Italian from fellow POW soldiers and read every newspaper he could find.

“This is amazing, what my parents did, coming from a loss of everything in the war and refocusing, setting new goals of getting educated. I really admired that in my parents and always will.”

A labor of love…

“This was a real labor of love,” said Mieczkowski about Oceans Apart. “This book really hit home [and] by far was the most personal.”

Soldier of the Home Army laying his rifle down after the Uprising’s surrender (Imperial War Museum)

While writing Oceans Apart, Mieczkowski utilized newspapers and magazines from that time period while also reading secondary literature. During that research, he realized how few books explained the Japanese home front experience.

“That’s one of the real contributions of my book, that it gives readers a window to what Japanese citizens experienced during the war, as well as Polish citizens,” said Mieczkowski.

Mieczkwoski also visited the hometowns of his parents in Poland and Japan.

“I got a real sense for the environment in which my mother grew up,” said Mieczkowski. “It was a beautiful city with a latticework of canals that wind through the city. I got a real sense for the placid life my mother led up until the war.”

Bogdan’s family home in Bydgoszcz, Poland – built by Mieczkowski’s grandfather – was still standing.

“I got a real feeling for what my father lived with when he was growing up, this very comfortable life, and then having to leave suddenly,” Mieczkowski said. “Being in those countries really helped me to write and narrate my parents’ stories a lot better than I could if I had never gone there.”

A unique contribution…

Mieczkowski said Oceans Apart is a unique contribution to World War II literature because it offers a transnational experience. It is also as personal as it is factual.

“Readers can hear my parents’ voices through this, and I hope readers can be inspired by this book and by my parents’ experiences,” said Mieczkowski.

Bogdan Mieczkowski passed away in 2020 at the age of 95. Seiko is approaching her 96th birthday and resides in Cocoa Beach, FL with Yanek.

Event registration and additional resource links:

Register for the free Oceans Apart book discussions with Yanek Mieczkowski below:

Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library (Ann Arbor) – March 18

Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum (Grand Rapids) – March 19

Read more about Bogdan’s wartime and combat experiences here and here.

Learn more about Yanek Mieczkowski’s published works, including an essay and book on Gerald R. Ford, here.

Gerald R Ford Museum (Courtesty, Deborah Reed WKTV)

Cents vs. Sense: Megan Gorman to share financial feats and faux pas of U.S. presidents Feb. 19-20

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Acclaimed wealth manager Megan Gorman will visit both the Gerald R. Ford Library and the Gerald R. Ford Museum to discuss the many ways presidents have made – or lost – money (Courtesy, GRFM)


By Deborah Reed

WKTV Managing Editor

deborah@wktv.org


Megan Gorman, tax attorney, wealth manager and author (Courtesy, GRFM)

Megan Gorman, tax attorney, wealth manager and author, will be discussing the financial feats and faux pas of U.S. presidents at both the Gerald R. Ford Library in Ann Arbor (Feb. 19) and the Gerald R. Ford Museum in Grand Rapids (Feb. 20).

During these free events, attendees will have the opportunity to learn the many ways presidents have made – or lost – money as disclosed in Gorman’s book, All the Presidents’ Money: How the Men Who Governed America Governed Their Money.

“We are fortunate to be able to bring Megan Gorman to both of our locations as a guest speaker,” said Brooke Clement, Director of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum.

“Her expertise as a wealth advisor will help guide the audience through the various financial identities of our nation’s leaders.”

The American Dream

“There’s something unique in the course of American history where we’re all dealing with these same problems under the context of everybody wanting to achieve the American financial dream,” said Gorman.

Though Gorman is founder and managing partner of Chequers Financial Management, a female-owned high-net-worth tax and financial planning firm in California, and a senior contributor at Forbes, she is no stranger to financial woes.

“I grew up very middle class in southern New Jersey, and the idea of being able to understand money and how to use it really appealed to me,” Gorman said.

When entering law school, Gorman knew she wanted to work with people – and that she didn’t want to practice law in the traditional sense. It was during her first tax class that Gorman realized she enjoyed problem solving and puzzles, and “it all clicked together for me.”

Fascinated by wealth and the journey to achieving it, Gorman embarked upon a path that opened up a new understanding of the psychology of money.

“Money is emotion”

“Over the years I have learned that the psychology of money – and the ability to understand our individual money stories no matter how much money we may have – is the key to making better financial decisions,” said Gorman. “I enjoy exploring financial issues through the lens of psychology, pop culture and history.

“Money touches every area of life, and money is emotion,” Gorman continued. “We all wake up at two in the morning at some point in our life worried about money.”

Gorman found that many prominent individuals – whether presidents, rock stars or actors – have faced financial struggles.

“Once you start to scratch at the surface, you realize that everybody’s struggling. Everybody makes good financial decisions, and everybody makes bad financial decisions.”

Making our own way

President Gerald R. Ford (Supplied)

Gorman has loved reading about U.S. presidents since she was a young girl.

“I connected a lot as a child to their stories because a lot of the presidents grow up in small towns and eventually make their way out in the world,” said Gorman.

Realizing deep studies into the personal finances of the presidents did not exist, Gorman began her own research. She found that, regardless of the time period in American history, everybody has the same financial issues.

Anxiety about paying bills, affording college or buying a house is a unique human experience affecting all demographics.

Grand Rapids’ very own Gerald R. Ford was no exception.

“Ford lived paycheck to paycheck even when he was in the White House,” said Gorman. “It’s something you don’t think about the president worrying about, but of course he was worrying.”

What made Ford unique, Gorman continued, was his fearlessness when encountering a challenging financial moment.

Gerald R. Ford (left) is sworn in as the 38th President of the United States by Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger on Aug. 9, 1974 (Courtesy, GRFM)

“He was willing to make decisions with his money that might have run contrary to what would be the normal path,” said Gorman. “I think that is why he ended up being so successful with money.”

Ford was one of the presidents Gorman enjoyed learning about most – and she is excited to share what she has learned with residents of his home state.

“Speaking at both the Library and the Museum is so exciting because [Ford] really transformed how presidents deal with money,” said Gorman. “He was a fascinating man, an incredible patriot, and he hated debt. He wanted to have no mortgages, and he worked very hard after the presidency to make sure that happened.”

The good, the bad, and the ugly

Along with Ford’s financial legacy, Gorman will discuss various other presidents and how timing and individual personalities impacted their presidency and financial situations. 

(Courtesy photo)

“One of the best people with money in the course of the American presidency was actually Herbert Hoover,” said Gorman, adding that most people associate Hoover with the Great Depression. “He just had the misfortune of being president when it happened. And it was a pretty hard challenge to take that on. When you actually look at [Hoover], those four years were the worst four years of his life.”

However, the Quaker system taught Hoover how to budget money at a very young age, and he was known for giving back to the community.

In contrast, Thomas Jefferson was a founding father, wrote the Declaration of Independence, was a great thinker – but struggled with finance management.

“As talented as he was with all those other areas, he was not good with managing his own money,” said Gorman. “At the end of his life, Jefferson was about to lose Monticello, his debt was that bad.”

Even wealthy presidents such as Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy faced financial challenges.

Learning more about the U.S. presidents, Gorman said, reminded her of their humanity. “Some of them were really interesting people, just not great presidents.”

A solid…maybe

While Gorman says she would love to write another book, All the Presidents’ Money was a labor of love spanning four and a half years.

“Trust me, anyone who’s written a book will say you want to give up constantly,” Gorman said with a laugh, adding that the answer to whether another book is forthcoming is a solid…maybe.

“Maybe I’ll do this again,” said Gorman. “But I can tell you [All the Presidents’ Money] is one of the best things I’ve ever done, and I’m excited about it.”

Event details

Scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 19 at the Library and Feb. 20 at the Museum, these programs are free and open to the public.

Registration is encouraged. A Zoom option on Feb. 19 will be available for those who cannot attend in-person.

Both programs will conclude with a book sale and signing.

(Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

These events were made possible by the collaboration of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum, Barack Obama Presidential Library and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation.

Dr. Scott Kaufman to speak at Ford Museum on President Ford’s legacy and relationship with President Carter

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President Jimmy Carter (left) and President Gerald R. Ford formed a friendship based on common ground (Courtesy, Ford Library & Museum)


By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


Dr. Scott Kaufman will give insight into President Ford’s long-lasting impacts (Courtesy, Ford Library & Museum)

President Ford’s relationship with President Carter demonstrates how leaders can transcend political divides for the greater good of a nation.

Esteemed author and professor Dr. Scott Kaufman will visit the Gerald R. Ford Library in Ann Arbor, and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, to discuss President Ford’s legacy and relationship with President Carter.

Attendees will have the opportunity to hear about the fascinating relationship between Ford and Carter – two presidents from opposite political parties who found common ground in public service and bipartisanship. Their relationship evolved into a friendship that is cited as a model of post-presidency cooperation.

“We are fortunate to be able to bring Dr. Scott Kaufman to both of our locations as a guest speaker,” said Brooke Clement, director of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum. “It’s an honor to have the opportunity to hear his insights on President Ford’s long-lasting impacts, especially during this 50th anniversary year.”

Event details

Scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 30 at the Library and Oct. 31 at the Museum, these programs are free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged, and a Zoom option on Oct. 30 will be available for those who cannot attend in-person.

Both programs will conclude with a book sale and signing.

About Dr. Kaufman

(Courtesy photo)

Dr. Kaufman is professor of History and a Board of Trustees Research Scholar at Francis Marion University in South Carolina where he has taught since 2001.

He is the author, co-author, or editor of twelve books, including A Companion to Gerald R. Ford and Jimmy Carter (2015) and Ambition, Pragmatism, and Party: A Political Biography of Gerald R. Ford (2017).

Dr. Kaufman is currently working on two books: a history of impeachment in the United States, and a comparative history of the Panama and Suez Canals.

Register today!

For more information and to register for the events, click here.

This event is made possible by the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation.

Renowned author and legal analyst, Barbara McQuade, will discuss her new book and tactics to fight disinformation

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McQuade’s book focuses on breaks down the ways disinformation has become a tool to drive voters to extremes, disempower our legal structures, and consolidate power in the hands of the few (Courtesy photo)



By WKTV Staff

deborah@wktv.org


Esteemed author Barbara McQuade will visit the Gerald R. Ford Museum as a guest speaker to discuss her book Attack from Within: How Disinformation is Sabotaging America. Scheduled for June 3 at 6:30 p.m., this free program is open to the public.

During the event, McQuade will focus on identifying ways disinformation is seeping into facets of society and how to fight against it.

“After a thought-provoking program with Barbara McQuade in Ann Arbor in April, we are very excited to welcome her to our West Michigan audience at the Ford Museum,” said Brooke Clement, Director of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum. “We hope our guests will enjoy hearing her describe her research and practical solutions to combat disinformation.”

Attendees will have the unique opportunity to engage with McQuade in an inclusive setting, posing questions and delving deeper into this timely topic. A book signing will follow the event.

“We are delighted to partner with the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum and Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation to host Barbara McQuade as she shares her insights about the dangers of misinformation,” said Megan Rydecki, Director of the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies.

“As we seek to grow a community of ethical, effective leaders for the 21st century, it is imperative that we advocate for truth and fact-based information.”


(Courtesy, Deborah Reed WKTV)

Author details and event links

McQuade is a professor at the University of Michigan Law School, where she teaches criminal law and national security law. She is also a legal analyst for NBC News and MSNBC.

From 2010 to 2017, McQuade served as the U.S Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan.

She was appointed by President Barack Obama, and was the first woman to serve in her position.

McQuade also served as vice chair of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee and co-chaired its Terrorism and National Security Subcommittee.

For more information and to register for the event, click here.

This event is a collaborative effort between the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation and the Hauenstein Center at Grand Valley State University.

Ford Airport dedicates tribute room to 38th U.S. President

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Ford Airport Officials & Ford Foundation Officials Celebrate the President Gerald R. Ford Tribute Room Ribbon-Cutting

Two organizations bearing President Gerald R. Ford’s name came together to celebrate a ribbon-cutting and dedication for a tribute room at the airport in  the late president’s honor.

 

Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GFIA) and Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation
officials joined President Gerald R. Ford’s son, Steve Ford, Joan Secchia representing the
Secchia Family Foundation, and Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation Airport Tribute
Room Chairman Fred Keller, for the official opening of the President Gerald R. Ford Tribute
Room.

 

“Dad would be extremely proud to know that the foundation and the airport that bear his
name came together to honor him with this tribute room,” said Steve Ford. “He loved growing up in Grand Rapids, and it is humbling to know that he will always have a place to
be remembered. This tribute room at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport is a terrific
place for generations that knew my father to spend time reflecting on the past, but also for
future generations to learn about what he meant to our country and to West Michigan.”

 

The airport worked with the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation to incorporate an
exhibit space dedicated to the 38th President, which is located pre-security as a part of the
newly renovated Gateway Transformation Project. The exhibit includes photos, an aircraft
carrier model, displays, and rotating historical pieces.

 

“Jerry would not have wanted this much attention on him, but I know he would be proud of this tribute room, and honored that so many came to celebrate his legacy,” said Secchia. “It was important for those of us that knew him well to give him full recognition in a space that bears his name. We appreciate this partnership with the airport authority, and we look
forward to opening this space for all visitors to enjoy.”

 

“When I approached Peter about having this room at the airport, it was a natural fit and he
and many others that knew President Ford personally jumped on board to make this
tribute room a reality,” said GFIA Board Chairman Roger Morgan. “Our Airport Board
appreciates those that helped raise the funds for this space, and we are anxious to show
this off to the millions of visitors that pass through our airport each year.”

 

The Tribute Room is open 24 hours a day to visitors and airport patrons.

Meijer Great Choices Student Film Festival ready to receive entries for 2017

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The Meijer Great Choices Student Film Festival kicks off its ninth year of encouraging young film makers from around the state to create short PSAs that inspire K-12 students to make positive life choices!

 

The Meijer Great Choices Film Festival offers two levels of competition:

 

HIGH SCHOOL COMPETITION

 

Public Service Announcements submitted by high school students are part of a state-wide education initiative promoting positive lifestyle choices. Students in grades 9 through 12 are asked to create a PSA that is no more than 30 seconds in length and address one of three topics: 1.) Building Character 2.) Healthy Living or 3.) Celebrating Diversity. Each student must also specify a target audience for their PSA(s) as either K-6th or 7th-12th grade.

 

Entries (:30 PSAs) submitted on DVDs will be accepted now through Feb. 10. The cost is $10 per entry or $5 per entry if submitted by the Jan. 19 Early Discount Deadline. Judging will take place March thru April and winners will be announced in late April. An awards event will be hosted for the 60 high school finalists, their families and friends on June 3, at the Van Singel Fine Arts Center, when more than $21,000 in prizes will be granted in the form of gift cards to Meijer or Apple. Six students will receive top prizes of $1,500, six second place winners will receive $1,000, six third place filmmakers will receive $500 and 42 semi-finalists will each receive $75.

 

JUNIOR CLASSROOM COMPETITION

Michigan K-8 teachers can win up to $500 for their classrooms by entering their class in the 2016 Meijer Great Choices Junior Competition. Teachers are asked to guide their students through the process of making a 0:30 Public Service Announcement(s) for K-6th grade audiences, addressing issues of Good Character, Celebrating Diversity, or Healthy Living.  PSA submissions will be accepted Feb. 1 through 24. Winning PSAs are determined by public vote and winners will be notified in April.

 

Students and their teachers can download registration materials and guidelines at www.meijergreatchoices.com.

 

The competition’s Legacy Partners, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, The Vander Laan Family Foundation, and the Van Singel Fine Arts Center will once again team up with Meijer in promoting positive choices for Michigan students.

 

Audio/Visual students and professors from Compass College of Cinematic Arts, Cornerstone University, Ferris State University, Grand Valley State University, and Western Michigan University are the preliminary judges and will choose the finalists based on specific criteria.

 

In the Fall, the Film Festival makes 5,000 DVD copies of the winning PSAs for distribution to all schools in the State of Michigan (public, private and charter), to A/V teachers, students, and media. The schools are able to use as the DVDs as tools for their Character, Health and Diversity Education programs for the 2017-2018 school year.

 

For more information contact the Van Singel Fine Arts Center, at 616-878-6801 or 616-878-6135.