"The Queen and Her Presidents: The Hidden Hand That Shaped History" with Susan Page

Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum

Queen Elizabeth II met with President Ford at the White House – not to mention with four of his predecessors and eight of his successors. Indeed, she met with more U.S. presidents than any other person in history. What did she do with that unprecedented access? Quite a bit, journalist Susan Page discovered in her new book, being published at the 100th anniversary of Elizabeth’s birth. Her Majesty was more than a stoic figure in a colorful hat, waving from a balcony. She was a deft diplomat, a shrewd judge of character and, by the way, a skilled mimic. She was also the most effective force maintaining Great Britain’s voice in the world even as its empire declined. A look at how she did that during her long reign, and at her sunny encounter with Jerry and Betty Ford during the Bicentennial celebration.