“Gerald R. Ford: A Test of Character”
is the documentary film that tells the story of how Ford’s character impacted decisions that
helped shape and define the future of a nation and world.

Although President Ford is often overlooked in the pantheon of U.S. presidents, his story illuminates a vital and fascinating moment in U.S. history. Ford assumed the presidency when the twin crises of Watergate and Vietnam threatened to undermine our democracy. Having never stood for election to national office, Ford was all but unknown to the American public. Whether he had the skill and character to steer the country through this period was an open question.

“Gerald R. Ford: A Test of Character” was made by New York-based Ark Media with Chris Durrance as the producer and Barak Goodman as the senior producer. The film is narrated by the actor and Michigan native, Jeff Daniels. The film aired on May 27th, 2016 at 9:00 pm EST on National Geographic.

The film features in-depth interviews with major figures from the period, including Ford’s cabinet members and staff including Dick Cheney, Henry Kissinger, and Donald Rumsfeld; two of Ford’s children, Steve Ford and Susan Ford Bales; Tom Brokaw, who covered the Ford presidency as a young reporter; and the historian, Richard Norton Smith, among many others.