Extraordinary Circumstances: The Presidency of Gerald R. Ford

by David Hume Kennerly, Richard Norton Smith, Tom Brokaw (Introduction)

Gerald R. Ford stepped into the American presidency during a constitutional crisis that many believed was the country’s worst since the Civil War. Extraordinary Circumstances is a stunning collection of behind-closed-doors images by President Ford’s personal photographer, David Hume Kennerly. Seen here are intimate scenes of the inner workings of the White House; Ford’s family and much-beloved wife Betty; and many of the twentieth-century’s most compelling and elusive figures, including Queen Elizabeth II, Leonid Brezhnev, Emperor Hirohito, Deng Xioping, Anwar Sadat, Yitzhak Rabin, Richard Nixon, Andy Warhol, and George Harrison. The book follows Gerald Ford from the day President Nixon appointed him as vice president through the tumultuous early crises of his presidency, including his controversial pardon of Nixon, the U.S. withdrawal from Vietnam, and his wife Betty’s breast cancer, to the end of his presidency after losing to Jimmy Carter. Adding depth and perspective to the photos are excerpts from exclusive interviews with President Ford, President Jimmy Carter, President George H. W. Bush, Henry Kissinger, Donald Rumsfeld, Richard Cheney, Alan Greenspan, and other prominent members of the Ford administration. Extraordinary Circumstances is sponsored and published by the Center for American History at the University of Texas at Austin, the home of the David Hume Kennerly Photographic Archive. It features an introduction by NBC’s Tom Brokaw and an overview of Ford’s life by famed historian Richard Norton Smith.

Genres: Presidents, Nonfiction

232 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2007

Reviews

[Brian Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extraordinary Circumstances: The Presidency of Gerald R. Ford, a collection of photographs by David Hume Kennerly, was published in 2007 by the University of Texas Center for American History and is, perhaps unsurprisingly, a somewhat academic treatise. The print quality is excellent and Kennerly’s photographs are pretty much a staid academic record. There are no iconic images in this volume. Nevertheless, Extraordinary Circumstances is an interesting and enjoyable book; but I think it will appeal mostly to those of us who lived through the years of Ford’s presidency.

The photos are accompanied by various essays such as the one by Richard Norton Smith wherein Smith observes that, “Ford had, in short, the mandate of character that is spelled out nowhere in the Constitution, yet is essential to any government built on public confidence.” (p. 213) Tom Brokaw’s Introduction notes that, “David Kennerly’s photographs are reminders of Ford’s endearing qualities, but also of plaids that are best forgotten.” (p. 10) Did we really dress like that back then? I guess so, judging by speechwriter Robert Hartmann’s outfit on page 39! Finally, I hope that someday soon to hear again the same words spoken by President Ford immediately upon being sworn in as President following the resignation of Richard Nixon: “Our long national nightmare is over.” (p. 219)

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kennedy was Ford's White House photographer, and anyone with an interest in Ford's presidency -- and the times surrounding it -- will enjoy these great photographs, as well as Kennedy's text.

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

Watching one of the Sunday morning news shows with my mother, there was an interview with David Hume Kennerly. He spoke of the amazing time in his life when he was photographer assigned to then President Gerald Ford. I had to see this and thankfully my library provided.

Coming out of the Watergate scandal, President Ford wanted as much transparency as possible to his presidency, in contrast to Nixon's - and gave Kennerly full access to photography both work life and family life.

Some of the pictures in this book I would hang on my wall. Kennerly really captured the day-to-day as well as the special parts of Ford's presidency, and it sounds like, from all the many quotes that accompany the pictures, he captured the man as well.

I was about 4-5 years old during Ford's presidency, so I remember nothing of it. I feel like I know him better as a president after reading this. Definitely recommend.