Chapters 8-9 Summary and Analysis

In 1968, Henry hired Bunkie Knudsen from General Motors as the president of Ford Motor Company. They knew that Iacocca was upset and told him that he was still young (forty-four) and that his turn would come. He considered other job offers but decided to stay at Ford.

Knudsen did not fit in with the management style at Ford and alienated people by making decisions on his own. He lasted for nineteen months before Henry fired him. They tried a three man presidency of which Iacocca was a part, and then on December 10, 1970, Iacocca was made president of Ford Motor Company.

One of Iacocca's first moves as president was a cost reduction program. They cut the changeover period to two days, and cut freight costs and money losing products. In spite of his increased responsibilities, he still kept weekends free...