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6713593
label
Learning How to Be Alone
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doc
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document
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1
Source metadata
id
6713593
sourceUrl
contentType
document
title
Learning How to Be Alone
citationUrl
collections
Gerald R. Ford's Material from the Writing of "A Time to Heal"
Interviews and Subject Files
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Presidential personal matters
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6713593
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1978-12-31
year
1978
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ca.
logicalDate
1977-01-01
year
1977
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nara-archive
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1
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0
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document
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0299f67b6d9cb9f0
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President Gerald R. Ford's handwritten reflections, 1977 or 1978
Scanned from the collection Gerald R. Ford: Materials from the writing of A Time
To Heal at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
While writing his autobiography, A Time to Heal (New York: Harper & Row, 1979), President
Gerald R. Ford composed a series of personal reflections on twenty-seven topics. What makes
these documents so unusual is not only their introspection but also their form. President Ford
recorded these observations by hand, writing in blue ball point on his favored yellow writing
tablets. He did not expend time and energy to polish and edit his writing, apparently planning to
do so when incorporating them into the book. Therefore occasional spelling or grammatical
errors or incomplete thoughts appear.
For each reflection the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library has scanned President Ford's
handwritten document and added a Library-produced transcription below to aid in reading the
reflection.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald R. Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Fearning How to Be alone
Being alone is a wonderful feeling if onis minl,
lady & conscined are at lase. 2 anyoy being
thinking. my mind must be occupied, my Body
alone if 2 am meading, writing on constructively
free of pain and my consence clear. solitude
under there conditions is a Imper feeling especially
if the previous atmosphere is our of noisly crimite,
theory pressure on decisions on just withing to do.
alone is not enough. four walls without
work 4 a alean conscence is devestating mentally
alone in Thinking the Oral office with the telephone shut-M,
working efferience. on reading WAS a stimulating, engryable
Learning How to be Alone
Being alone is a wonderful feeling if one's mind, body, and conscience are at ease. I enjoy being
alone if I am reading, writing, or constructively thinking. My mind must be occupied, my body
free of pain and my conscience clear. Solitude under these conditions is a super feeling
especially if the previous atmosphere is one of noisy crowds, heavy pressure on decisions or just
nothing to do.
Alone is not enough. Four walls without work & a clear conscience is devastating mentally.
Alone in the Oval Office with the telephone shut off, working, thinking or reading, was a
stimulating, enjoyable experience.