Ask the Scholar
Document scope · 1 page
Scholar
Ask about this object, its catalog metadata, its source description, or the page inventory.
For page-specific OCR and visual context, open one of the page chats.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
6713568
label
Advice to a Young Man Going Off on His Own
core
doc
dtoType
document
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
6713568
sourceUrl
contentType
document
title
Advice to a Young Man Going Off on His Own
citationUrl
collections
Gerald R. Ford's Material from the Writing of "A Time to Heal"
Interviews and Subject Files
subjects
Presidential personal matters
largeImageUrl
imageCount
1
hasImages
yes
source
import
hasTranscription
no
Source extras
naId
6713568
coverageEndDate
logicalDate
1978-12-31
year
1978
coverageStartDate
dateQualifier
ca.
logicalDate
1977-01-01
year
1977
levelOfDescription
item
recordType
description
ocrSource
nara-archive
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
document
mediaId
9695134d346e4b91
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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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.
advice to a young man going no his own.
Lork upon "going off on your oron" as a
might mental attitude is crucal. you must believe
new challenge with optimion of opportunity. The
in yourself and you must have conviction that
"out there "ther is a "pot of gold at the end of
the It matters not that our goals are different.
Insurtally they Cover The spectrum life
will be disappointments and the best way to avoid
you must recognize along the path of life there
another is to plan better of work harden Remember-
the harden you work The luchin you are
be different for each individual. Satirfaction of happeness
you must set a goal realizing that it will
are the best targets. for one The target is material with.
for another it mians public recognition. To another it is
which by unlocking the mysters Incrince. OThers
might prefer a quet, metine life.
Whatever your objective get up everyday pledging to
yourself 2 am going to make propers and remember one
fundamental - one must learn to walk before trying to then.
Advice to a Young Man Going Off on his Own
Look upon "going off on your own" as a new challenge with optimism & opportunity. The right
mental attitude is crucial. You must believe in yourself and you must have conviction that "out
there" there is a "pot of gold" at the end of the rainbow. It matters not that our goals are
different. Inevitably they cover the spectrum of life.
You must recognize along the path of life there will be disappointments and the best way to
avoid another is to plan better & work harder. Remember - the harder you work the luckier you
are.
You must set a goal realizing that it will be different for each individual. Satisfaction &
happiness are the best targets. For one the target is material wealth. For another it means public
recognition. To another it is achieved by unlocking the mysteries of science. Others might
prefer a quiet, routine life.
Whatever your objective get up every day pledging to yourself I am going to make progress and
remember one fundamental - one must learn to walk before trying to run.