An eye-opening and exceptional view of the Ford presidency by one of his closest and most-trusted advisors.
Except for his wife Betty, no one was closer to Gerald Ford during his presidency than Bob Barrett. Bob carried the “nuclear football”—the American nuclear codes—and could not let Ford out of his sight. This nerve-wracking job led to a deep friendship with the First Family and gave Bob an unparalleled view of Ford’s historic and unusual presidency. In his memoir, Inside the President’s Team, Bob takes readers into the White House and the Ford home to show the administration and the couple as few others could see them.
Bob gives new insights into why Ford decided to pardon Nixon and how he responded to criticism of it; how Ford chose his own vice president (and another for his run in 1976); and what he did with potentially difficult members of the former administration, such as Al Haig and the now-infamous Michael Flynn. Bob provides a front-row view of Ford’s meeting with Leonid Brezhnev in Russia during their famous summit on arms control, and he shows how abandoning our ally South Vietnam put a greater strain on Ford than deciding whether to pardon his predecessor.
Bob reveals what happened during the two assassination attempts and reveals the flawed inner workings of the 1976 campaign. Meanwhile, he became so close to the family that he took part in Betty Ford’s intervention and recalls scenes that show Ford to be, as Bob describes him, “the most decent, honorable, trustworthy person I ever met.”
Ford's legacy as a reconciler and a healer of a deeply divided America during a time of strife comes alive in Inside the President's Team, and it is a celebration of the impact of living a life of service.
“Barrett is a natural storyteller. Each chapter includes fascinating vignettes brimming with intimate details. Barrett’s biography is informative, entertaining, and provides an insider’s account and personal stories from the president’s inner circle.”
“Bob Barrett’s insider account of some of the darkest days in American history is riveting. Barrett provides us with a behind-the-scenes view of a much underappreciated administration. From Day One, Ford faced a worsening economic crisis, while confronted with difficult decisions on whether to pardon Nixon and how to extricate ourselves from Vietnam. Despite the gravity of the subject matter, Barrett writes in a friendly, lighthearted style. A deeply personal and delightful journey alongside Jerry, Betty, and the Ford family."
“Bob Barrett’s Inside the President’s Team, gives us a deeply intimate and personal view into the world of one of the nation’s most underrated presidents. In BarretT’s poignant and humorous memoir, we see why Gerald R. Ford was the right man to lead the nation during one of the most trying periods in American history.”
"From his ringside seat inside the White House, Robert Barrett illuminates the trials and tribulations during a tempestuous period in American history. The chaotic withdrawal from Viet Nam, Richard Nixon’s resignation, the pardon that ended President Gerald Ford’s political career and Betty Ford’s heart wrenching intervention. This book has all this and so much more."
