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localId
6713600
label
Revenge or Forgiveness - Have I Attempted Revenge or Extended Forgiveness?
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doc
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document
citationUrl
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1
Source metadata
id
6713600
sourceUrl
contentType
document
title
Revenge or Forgiveness - Have I Attempted Revenge or Extended Forgiveness?
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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1
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yes
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6713600
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1978-12-31
year
1978
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ca.
logicalDate
1977-01-01
year
1977
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description
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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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b81be731bf7b1b9e
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.
Revenge on Forgerness - Have 2 attempted meverge
on extended forequeness
To my bot recollection f have new attempted
verye Revenge in The malescions serve is an
anotherna to me. 2 like to give of 2 effect to
receive on ince - visa but it is never m The
Anoe of getting even,
Forgromers, on The other hand is a trait that
2 none brought up with under my mothers guidance.
some of my frunds uspecially in the political avena,
belowe II overdid it. I was tought foregrveness
is a good relpons principle and 2 behave it & 2
also frunt us a progratic proviole it made good
frombs of whareel frendshing. However, it is important
insist that the benefactor knows that it is an act
generaty - not to embances the person but for him to
understand it is a whenting act
Revenge or Forgiveness - Have I Attempted Revenge or Extended Forgiveness
To my best recollection I have never attempted revenge. Revenge in the malicious sense is an
anathema to me. I like to give & I expect to receive or vice versa but it is never in the sense of
getting even.
Forgiveness, on the other hand is a trait that I was brought up with under my Mother's guidance.
Some of my friends, especially in the political arena, believe I overdid it. I was taught
forgiveness is a good religious principle and I believe it. I also found as a pragmatic principle it
made good friends & enhanced friendship. However, it is important to insist that the benefactor
knows it is an act of generosity - not to embarrass the person but for him to understand it is a
voluntary act.