Hank Meijer, Mike Grass
America's Senator:  Arthur Vandenberg:  Highlights and Commentary
December 8, 2011  7:30 p.m.

Ann Arbor -- The Library premiered highlights from Mike Grass' newly-released documentary on the Michigan Senator's life.   Live commentary was provided by Vandenberg biographer Hank Meijer, writer/producer Mike Grass, and Gleaves Whitney, of the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies at Grand Valley State University.

Roy B. Norton
235 Years of Canada-USA Relations--in an hour!
November 7, 2011, 7:30 p.m.

ANN ARBOR --   The Consul General of Canada, based in Detroit, delivered a comprehensive, informational and entertaining history of U.S.- Canadian relations in just over one hour, to a captivated audience. 

James Baker III
Reflections:  The Ford Administration
October 30, 2011 3:00 p.m.

GRAND RAPIDS -- Former Secretary of State James Baker II recalled President Ford’s leadership qualities in a special 30th anniversary talk at the Museum. 

Ron Nessen
Making the News, Taking the News
October 12, 2011

Grand Rapids -- President Ford’s press secretary, Ron Nessen, discussed his new book, Making the News, Taking the News:  From NBC to the Ford White House.

Andrea Mitchell
The View from Washington
October 6, 2011,  7:00 p.m.

ANN ARBOR --   A capacity crowd attended a special 30th Anniversary talk by Andrea Mitchell, chief foreign affairs correspondent for NBC and host of MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell Reports.   Susan Ford (right) was on-hand to introduce Ms. Mitchell, a longtime Ford family friend.

Frank Zarb 
Our Most Important Policy Failure: Energy
Tuesday, September 20, 2011, 7:30 p.m.                     

GRAND RAPIDS -- Frank Zarb, President Ford’s assistant for energy affairs,  launched a new Gerald R. Ford Energy Lecture Series with a talk about energy issues and the Ford administration’s contributions.  Steve Ford and energy partner Bruce Goodman from co-sponsor Varnum LLP also participated.

Honorable Dick Cheney
In My Time:  A Personal and Political Memoir
September 21, 2011, 6:00 p.m.

GRAND RAPIDS -- The Museum hosted former Vice President Dick Cheney for a talk about his new autobiography.  His daughter and contributing writer, Liz Cheney, participated.  The talk was held at the Amway Pantlind Hotel.

Andrew Cooper
The Oil Kings: How the U.S., Iran, and Saudi Arabia
Changed the Balance of Power in the Middle East            
Wednesday, September 21, 2011, 7:30 p.m.

ANN ARBOR -- Author Andrew Cooper toured the Library's archives prior to delivering a fascinating talk
about his compelling first book, based on
previously-classified documents revealing how the price of oil drove U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.  

Steven Thomma
The White House Message Machine:  How it Spins Faster Than Ever
Thursday, September 15, 2011, 7:30 p.m.

ANN ARBOR -- The Library launched the Fall season of its 30th anniversary year with a talk by Steven Thomma, Senior White House Correspondent for McClatchy Newspapers and winner of 2010 Gerald R. Ford Journalism Prize for Distinguished Reporting on the Presidency.

Ben Feller    
Front and Center: The White House Story from the First Row                
Wednesday, April 13, 2011  7:30 p.m.
ANN ARBOR –- Ben Feller takes more questions from a charmed audience at a reception following his well-received talk about his life as Chief White House Correspondent for the Associated Press.  Mr. Feller is a 2010 winner of the Gerald R. Ford Journalism Prize for Distinguished Reporting on the Presidency.

Ron Chernow
Washington - A Life
Monday, March 28, 2011, 7:00 p.m.

Grand Rapids --   Award-winning biographer and free lance journalist Ron Chernow discussed his new book about George Washington in a speaking engagement co-sponsored with Grand Valley State University’s Hauenstein Center for the Presidency.

H.W. Brands
American Ulysses:  The Journey of General Grant
Thursday, April 7, 7:30 p.m.

Grand Rapids -- Award-winning author and presidential historian H.W. Brands made a return visit to Grand Rapids in a speaking engagement co-sponsored with Grand Valley State University's Hauenstein Center for the Presidency. 

William T. Coleman, author of Counsel for the Situation: Shaping the Law to Realize America's Promise
Wednesday, March 30 7:00 p.m.  Ann Arbor

ANN ARBOR --   At the conclusion of an engaging onstage discussion The Honorable William T. Coleman posed with Library Director Elaine Didier, University of Michigan Law Professor Sallyanne Payton, discussion moderator, and his daughter Lovida H. Coleman, Jr., discussion participant.

Joe Galloway
Wednesday, March 16, 2011, 7:30 p.m.  

GRAND RAPIDS --  Award-winning author Joe Galloway opened the Museum’s new feature exhibit, The American Soldier - A Photographic Tribute to Soldiers and Marines from the Civil War to Iraq, with recollections from his broad experience as a combat correspondent.

Donald Rumsfeld
Known and Unknown:  A Memoir
Monday, March 7, 2011 7:00 p.m.

GRAND RAPIDS -- Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation trustee Don Rumsfeld and historian Richard Norton Smith conclude an onstage conversation about the two-time Secretary of Defense’s longtime relationship with President Ford and career in public service, as revealed in his new memoir. 

Ken Walsh
Saturday, February 19, 2011, 2 p.m.   Grand Rapids
Sunday, February 20, 2011,  2 p.m.   Ann Arbor

In celebrating Black History Month, the Library and Museum hosted back-to-back book talks by 2008 Gerald R. Ford Foundation Journalism Prize winner Ken Walsh about his just-published book Family of Freedom:  Presidents and African Americans in the White House.

Carl Anthony
Like No One Else           
Wednesday, February 9, 2011 7:30 p.m.        

GRAND RAPIDS -- Following a talk about Betty Ford Carl Anthony greets program attendees and signs copies of his book, American’s First Families:  An Inside View.