Gerald Ford’s son says film about father’s legacy is just in time

Ford stepped away from the cameras eight years ago to devote more time to the foundation that supports his father’s presidential library and museum, mostly quiet, behind-the-scenes work, though now he’s promoting a new documentary about his father’s life and legacy: on Friday, the National Geographic Channel will debut “Gerald R. Ford: A Test of Character.”

Ford said the film, which is narrated by fellow Michigander and actor Jeff Daniels and includes interviews with Ford cabinet members Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld and Henry Kissinger, comes at an apropos moment in American politics.

“I have to laugh about the timing, because there couldn’t be a bigger difference between what’s going on today and when Dad ran against Reagan and Carter — he knew how to disagree with someone without being disagreeable,” Ford said.

The film, he said, coincides with a new learning center for students at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, which will aim to teach young people about civics and leadership, Ford-style. “They’ll learn how to be a leader with integrity,” he said.

He noted that his mother, who drew attention by publicly discussing her battles with breast cancer and alcoholism — both subjects rarely talked about at the time — had been the subject of several films. But his father, a mild-mannered former Boy Scout, hasn’t assumed nearly the place in pop culture that many other former presidents in modern history have.

But who knows — perhaps the fickle winds of culture might shift, and Gerald Ford could have a moment (hey, there’s an opera about two Supreme Court justices, so anything’s possible).

In case that happens, who might Steve Ford pick to play his father on the big screen?

“I’m not sure,” he said, sounding thoughtful. “I think if Dad would want to be remembered, it would be as just a humble public servant.”