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Document identity
localId
6713607
label
My Definition of a Statesman as Opposed to a Politician
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
6713607
sourceUrl
contentType
document
title
My Definition of a Statesman as Opposed to a Politician
citationUrl
collections
Gerald R. Ford's Material from the Writing of "A Time to Heal"
Interviews and Subject Files
subjects
Presidential personal matters
Public officers
Statesmen
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1
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yes
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naId
6713607
coverageEndDate
logicalDate
1978-12-31
year
1978
coverageStartDate
dateQualifier
ca.
logicalDate
1977-01-01
year
1977
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item
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description
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nara-archive
Single page context
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1
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0
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document
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c40b09ce5807af00
ocrText
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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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.
my depution of a statemen as opposed to a polition
a politician is interested in The nept lection.
a statement is concerned about the next generation.
no statement approved short them benefits if they unlermine
long mange propress. a politician talks of water to
patch over goundnamental problems with wheral
a statesmen is ml who stands before an
antagonistic and and desgree with conoration,
strength and persuasion. a politician Tells a whit Pring
what it wants to hear, knowing fully that want
is not in Their or the nations best interest
a statesman is one who belowes in the uttimate
good judgment 7. The american people and therefore
takes the position that if all The facts are Anan
he will survive The next election of The nation
will be letter offe The politician in contrast is not
willing to use his hadership to guide the people 4 The
nation down a path of scenfied & long many success
My Definition of a Statesman as Opposed to a Politician
A politician is interested in the next election. A statesman in concerned about the next
generation. No statesman approves short term benefits if they undermine long range progress. A
politician talks & votes to patch over fundamental problems with superficial solutions.
A statesman is one who stands before an antagonistic audience and disagree with conviction,
strength and persuasion. A politician tells a group what it wants to hear, knowing fully that what
they want is not in their or the nation's best interest.
A statesman is one who believes in the ultimate good judgment of the American people and
therefore takes the position that if all the facts are known he will survive the next election & the
nation will be better off. The politician in contrast is not willing to use his leadership to guide
the people & the nation down a path of sacrifice and long range success.