Family dynamic, Clara Ford, Edsel & Henry

[jiminbartow]

Most everyone agrees that Henry Ford thought his son Edsel was weak and spent much of his energy trying to toughen him up, to no avail. I think Edsel was a gentle soul that would have loved nothing better than to spend his time with the engineers designing better cars rather than in management trying to fill the shoes of Henry. Car design is where Edsel’s talents lay and his Father squandered them by killing his spirit through constant criticism of the very things that made Edsel who he was. Edsel died in 1943 at the young age of 49 from stomach cancer, no doubt brought on by a gastric ulcer caused by the tremendous pressures he was under that he was not equipped to deal with.

I would imagine that Edsel was close to his Mother and confided in her about what Henry and his tough bodyguard/enforcer, Harry Bennett, was putting him through so that Clara was most likely privy to his daily dilemma. After Edsel’s sudden, unexpected death, do you think that Clara blamed Henry for the death of her son? I know That Edsel’s son, Henry II did. I recall reading once somewhere where that he was heard to say of his Grandfather, Henry Ford, “My Grandfather killed my Father in my mind. I know he died of cancer, but it was because of what my Grandfather did to him…”. Edsel may have confided his problems with his Father to his son, as well unless it was common knowledge by those who witnessed the abuse at the office, first hand and passed it onto Henry II after he assumed the Presidency of the Company in 1945. One of his first acts as President was to fire Harry Bennett.

There is a famous picture of Henry Ford at the front the church at Edsel’s funeral, looking very sad and deep in thought. Perhaps he had regrets at the way he treated his gentle genius of a son. The Ford Motor Company would look very different today had Edsel been allowed to spread his wings and function at his full potential at what he was best at. Jim Patrick

PS. Henry Ford II, in his Naval uniform was on leave to attend Edsel’s funeral and can be seen in the photo with his wife, Anne, second couple from the right. Ford Motor Company tried to get him discharged from the Navy early to assume control of the Company, but he refused in order to fulfill his obligation to the Navy and to his Country and went back to his duties until the end of the war in 1945. He had integrity and I like him for that. Edsel raised him right.

[TXGOAT2]

Edsel was a born stylist/designer. Clara was a bit on the "woke" side. Henry was a mechanical/business genius, and very cost/productivity concious. I don't think he ever really appreciated how much style and comfort mattered to car buyers, especially after about 1920, when styling and comfort features began to reach the low price car field.

[TXGOAT2]

Ford was about utility and low cost. The American public falls in and out of love with practical cars. Truly low cost cars are no longer legal to manufacture, sell, or import into this country.

[jab35]

Clara Ford did not need Edsel to 'confide' the abuse he received early on at the hands of his father and later, Bennett, she was smarter and more aware than that. And smarter too, than most people assume, in her understanding of the Dahlinger affair. If you have some free time, read or reread her biography. jb

[Charlie B in N.J.]

Three occasions come to mind; First is keep your mouth shut and build the car the backers want. That happened after 2 companies went south. Second he comes in one day after years of fighting it and says the T is done we're changing models. And Third is coming in one day after battling the Union and a number of deaths and saying OK we'll sign. Lay you $5 the missus was behind all 3 because the stubborn old man wouldn't listen to any one else. There's probably more.

[OilyBill]

I have nothing but sympathy for Edsel. To me he was the best Ford. All that artistic skill, hindered by Henry, when Henry should have just retired and stayed at home, and given Edsel a free hand.
I have heard that Clara was at the movies when they played a newsreel of the "battle of the overpass" during the Ford labor troubles, and I heard that she was shocked by the film, and that she and Henry had words that evening when he got home. I don't know if that story is true or not, but it sounds like Clara.

[ModelT46]

The story that has been told is that Clara told Henry that if he did not recognize the union she would sell her stock in the Ford Company (she held quite bit of stock in her name).

[ModelT46]

I may be related to Clara Ford. Her mother was Martha Beach and I had relatives (Beach) living in the area where Clara's family lived. My greatgrandmother on my mother's side was of the Beach family.

[perry kete]

So, what you're telling us is that you're a "Son of a Beach"!

[Dropacent]

Your brain needs to go to science, Dennis. Wait until you are done with it, though.

[frontyboy]

A few years ago I was privileged to view some very interesting Ford family and company letters and correspondence. Clara and Elinor after Edsel died were the largest 2 stock holders in the Ford Motor Company. When Henry had the stroke both Clara and Elinor wrote a letter to Henry and both signed this letter, which stated if Henry did not resign effective immediately, they would put all their stock on the open market and take the company public. I then saw Henry's letter dated the day after the wives letter resigning effective immediately the day it was written. These ladies had the stock and wielded the power and they used it.

Very interesting times for sure,

brasscarguy

[ModelT46]

Heny II was an officer in the navy at the time of his father, Edsel, death. The US government suggested the he be discharged and return to the Ford Company as the chief operating officer.

[frontyboy]

I also saw the letter Henry II wrote accepting the presidency on one condition, that Harry Bennett be removed from the presidency and stripped of all power and barred from all Ford properties. The rest they say is history.

brasscarguy

[John Codman]

I agree with the OP. Unfortunately Henry was not the type to relinquish authority. Edsel was a genius, but I doubt that he could possibly worked well in any capacity with his father as his boss. Ford would have been well ahead of where it was in 1927 if Edsel had his way. Ford didn't really catch up with GM and Chrysler until about 1939.