The revelation of Watergate media source Deep Throat has spurred renewed interest in Watergate and the Nixon presidency. A documentary chronicling the man, Gerald R. Ford, who stepped into the White House at that moment in history and pardoned Richard M. Nixon will air soon on PBS stations in Washington, D.C. and Maryland.
"I think he saved the country. In fact, he saved it in such a matter-of-fact way that he isn't given any credit for it." Those are the words of former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger about former President Gerald R. Ford. The statement capsulizes the 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 title, is a documentary about the man who was never elected to higher office but who served in the presidency for nearly 1,000 days in 1974-77, when the nation was challenged by war, inflation and political turmoil. The 60-minute film by WGVU Productions traces Ford's formative years in Grand Rapids, Michigan and chronicles his political career as a 13-term congressman, vice president and president. It is the first full-scale documentary of Ford. 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.
Two upcoming airings will be in the Washington, D.C. area on WETA-TV on June 19 at 4:30 p.m. and in Maryland on MPT on July 14 at 11 p.m. The film made its televised debut on WGVU-TV in September 2004.
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 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 (who served as Ford's White House chief of staff); L. William Seidman, CNBC and former Ford economic adviser; James M. Cannon, Ford biographer, journalist, author, political adviser; former President Jimmy Carter; Marty Allen, president of the Ford Presidential Foundation; Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm; Sen. Edward Kennedy and former Secretary of State Colin Powell.
The film has been honored as a finalist in the Telly Awards, and has received an MAB Merit Award for Best News Special, a Crystal Award of Excellence from the Communicator Awards and an Award of Excellence from the Videographer Awards. Time and Chance was also named Best News Documentary by the Associated Press Awards and has been nominated for a Michigan Emmy.
For more information, contact Grand Valley State University's News and Information Department, 616-331-2221.
