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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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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.
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"ocrText": "President Gerald R. Ford's handwritten reflections, 1977 or 1978\nScanned from the collection Gerald R. Ford: Materials from the writing of A Time\nTo Heal at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library\nWhile writing his autobiography, A Time to Heal (New York: Harper & Row, 1979), President\nGerald R. Ford composed a series of personal reflections on twenty-seven topics. What makes\nthese documents so unusual is not only their introspection but also their form. President Ford\nrecorded these observations by hand, writing in blue ball point on his favored yellow writing\ntablets. He did not expend time and energy to polish and edit his writing, apparently planning to\ndo so when incorporating them into the book. Therefore occasional spelling or grammatical\nerrors or incomplete thoughts appear.\nFor each reflection the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library has scanned President Ford's\nhandwritten document and added a Library-produced transcription below to aid in reading the\nreflection.\nCopyright Notice\nThe copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of\nphotocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald R. Ford donated to the United\nStates of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.\nWorks prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public\ndomain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to\nremain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid\ncopyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.\nFearning How to Be alone\nBeing alone is a wonderful feeling if onis minl,\nlady & conscined are at lase. 2 anyoy being\nthinking. my mind must be occupied, my Body\nalone if 2 am meading, writing on constructively\nfree of pain and my consence clear. solitude\nunder there conditions is a Imper feeling especially\nif the previous atmosphere is our of noisly crimite,\ntheory pressure on decisions on just withing to do.\nalone is not enough. four walls without\nwork 4 a alean conscence is devestating mentally\nalone in Thinking the Oral office with the telephone shut-M,\nworking efferience. on reading WAS a stimulating, engryable\nLearning How to be Alone\nBeing alone is a wonderful feeling if one's mind, body, and conscience are at ease. I enjoy being\nalone if I am reading, writing, or constructively thinking. My mind must be occupied, my body\nfree of pain and my conscience clear. Solitude under these conditions is a super feeling\nespecially if the previous atmosphere is one of noisy crowds, heavy pressure on decisions or just\nnothing to do.\nAlone is not enough. Four walls without work & a clear conscience is devastating mentally.\nAlone in the Oval Office with the telephone shut off, working, thinking or reading, was a\nstimulating, enjoyable experience."
}