Write It When I’m Gone-Thomas M. DeFrank

Write It When I’m Gone
Thomas M. DeFrank
Putnam, Nov 2007, $25.95
ISBN: 9780399154508

This is an interesting look at the late President Ford through his off the record discussions with reporter Thomas DeFrank over the three plus decades. The book is more anecdotal than a biography, but remains prescient as the audience obtains how Mr. Ford saw the direction of the country, Nixon and Watergate, being an unelected president, his political party, and the presidents that followed him. The latter is the most fun as Mr. Ford blames Reagan not Nixon and the pardon for his loss in 1976 when the then California governor attacked him giving Carter and the Democrats some strong ammunition; Mr. Ford bitterly pointed out that the famous Reagan eleventh commandment was created when the great communicator became the star attraction front runner. He admitted that he admired the incredible communications skills of Reagan and Clinton, especially the latter’s ability to grasp and explain complex issues; Reagan he felt was to lazy to bother beyond a sound bite. The best moments to this reviewer are his prediction that Bush II will have problems justifying the Iraq invasion on WMDs and during the Clinton presidency predicted that Hilary will be on the national ticket in 04 or 08. It is interesting to read how one president evaluated his living exclusive club members and those who failed to win entry like Perot, WRITE IT WHEN I’M GONE proves that LBJ was wrong about Mr. Ford; he obviously wore a helmet when he played center at Michigan.

Harriet Klausner