"I think he saved the country. In fact, he saved it in such a matter-of-fact way that he isnt given any credit for it." Those are the words of former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger about former President Gerald R. Ford. The statement capusulizes the rather unique place our 38th president holds in the history of our country.
Time and Chance-Gerald Ford's Appointment with History , adapted in part from James M. Cannon's book by the same name, is a documentary about the man who was never elected to higher office but who served in the presidency for some 1000 impactful days. The 60-minute film by WGVU Productions traces Ford's formative years in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and chronicles his political career as a twelve-term congressman, vice president and president.
Ford is prominently profiled in the program during the dark days of Watergate and the politically turbulent 1970s. The film also profiles Betty Ford and the role she played as one of the most influential First Ladies since Eleanor Roosevelt. Time and Chance was directed by WGVU Producer/Director Rob Byrd, produced by WGVU Assistant General Manager - Operations, Ken Kolbe and was written and produced by Mike Grass of Strategic Communications.
The new documentary will premiere on September 8 at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids; the 30th anniversary of President Ford's pardon of Richard Nixon. The premiere party is by invitation only. Attendees will have the opportunity to view the film in the Museum's auditorium.
Time and Chance will make its televised debut on WGVU on Saturday, September 11 at 8 p.m. and will repeat that night at 9 p.m. The film will also air on Tuesday, September 21 at 8 p.m. and on Sunday, September 26 at 7 p.m. on WGVU in west Michigan. It will air on Thursday, September 23 at 1 p.m. as part of WGVU's Instructional Television Service, to be used as a learning aid by teachers across West Michigan. Consult PBS listings in local areas for air dates in particular regions.
Time and Chance includes detailed interviews with and speech excerpts from President Ford, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, former President George H.W. Bush, Vice President Richard B. Cheney, L. William Seidman, CNBC and former Ford economic advisor, James M. Cannon, Ford biographer, journalist, author, political advisor, former President Jimmy Carter, Marty Allen, president of the Ford Presidential Foundation, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, Senator Edward Kennedy and Secretary of State Colin Powell.
An earlier documentary, Gerald R. Ford: Turning 90 , which was produced in 2003 by WGVU Productions to mark the former President's 90th birthday, has been honored with a Telly Award, an Omni Award, an Associated Press Award for Best News Documentary and a Michigan Association of Broadcasters Award for Best News Special.
