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    "id": "6713608",
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    "contentType": "document",
    "title": "How I Make Decisions",
    "citationUrl": "https://catalog.archives.gov/id/6713608",
    "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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    "coverageEndDate": {
        "logicalDate": "1978-12-31",
        "year": 1978
    },
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        "logicalDate": "1977-01-01",
        "year": 1977
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    "type": "document",
    "url": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/8/7136/6713608/content/library/document/0065/atth-decisionmaking.pdf",
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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 Gerald R. Ford donated to the United\nStates of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.\nWorks prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public\ndomain.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.\nHow 2 make decisions\n7 make decreims in different ways Reginding\non The uncomotances. In those uncumstance involving\ntechnical mattine where Annoledgeable d experience are\nan immunable resourch 2 call upon them for options\neach with an open give & tabe in a conference\nin writing where pointle and then interrorate\nsetting. of atten such a meeting 2 normally nature\nImport Int\nfor an opportunity for me to Analyze the written\nbackground 2 select an option on propose a combination\noptions of the Young my own practical\nof compremise.\nIn those instances which are mon technical\non are broad, practical problems 2 subjectively call\nupon my lifetime experiences in dialing mith\npeople one problems. Such judgments not always\ncme easily but 2 have learned to not procrestinate\nand have faith in The ultimate guidance of the Lord.\nHow I Make Decisions\nI make decisions in different ways depending on the circumstances. In those circumstances\ninvolving technical matters where knowledgeable & experience are an invaluable resource I call\nupon them for options in writing where possible and then interrogate each with an open give and\ntake in a conference setting. After such a meeting I normally retire for an opportunity for me to\nanalyze the written options & the dialogue. Using my own practical background I select an\noption or propose a combination or compromise. [Unrecognized comment written in the left\nmargin]\nIn those instances which are non technical or are broad, practical problems I subjectively call\nupon my lifetime experiences in dealing with people or problems. Such judgments not always\ncome easily, but I have learned to not procrastinate and have faith in the ultimate guidance of the\nLord."
}