David Hume Kennerly

A good leader is decisive.  When President Ford died in 2006, The New York Times asked me to write an op-ed about a “favorite” photo that I had taken of President Ford. Instead, I offered them this picture, not necessarily a favorite, but one that accurately captured him in a moment of crisis.

I know a good leader when I see one, and have photographed hundreds during my 50-plus years of documenting history. Some of them are definitely better than others.

President Gerald R. Ford was not only a good leader, but in my opinion one of the best.  There are many qualities that inhabit a good leader, and President Ford had most of them.