Her acceptance speech spoke hopefully of the prospect that attitudes towards HIV/AIDS would shift, being de-stigmatized as cancer and alcoholism had (in part due to her contribution). [3] The campaign made a deliberate effort, ahead of the 1976 Republican National Convention, of sending Ford to liberal and moderate-leaning states and not more conservative states in the western and southern United States. "She was Jerry Ford's strength through some very difficult days in our country's history, and I admired her courage in facing and sharing her personal struggles with all of us. With Betty Ford you had a progressive woman . [84], Ford published her first memoir in 1978, The Times of My Life, in which she discussed her battle with addiction. Betty White in her kitchen in Carmel, California. It was not until 2016 that a Michigan wine would again be served at a White House state dinner. Betty Ford may be the most famous and least known First Lady in history. [25][26] At the first state dinner that she arranged as first lady, Ford revived dancing as an activity of White House state dinners. AP. [3] As a mother, Ford never spanked or hit her children, believing that there were better, more constructive ways to deal with discipline and punishment. See full answer below. The November 12, 1974 state dinner for Austrian Chancellor Bruno Kreisky saw the first instance in which a wine from the Fords' home state of Michigan was served at a White House state dinner, with wine from the Tabor Hill Winery being served. The former, then in her 90s, sent the latter a letter in 2009, shortly after Barack Obama's presidential inauguration. The campaigns of the previous three presidents that sought election to an additional term (Dwight D. Eisenhower, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon) had needed to manufacture campaign publicity involving their first ladies (Mamie Eisenhower, Lady Bird Johnson, and Pat Nixon). In December 1999, he told interviewer Larry King that he, too, was pro-abortion rights and had been criticized for that stance by conservative forces within the Republican Party. Her overall approval rating was, at times, as high as 75%. As first lady, she was active in social policy and set a precedent as a politically active presidential spouse. [21] In addition to the arts, Ford also gave focus to projects helping the disabled during her time as second lady. [98] That same year, a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars was dedicated to her and her husband. Betty Ford, the outspoken and much-admired wife of President Gerald R. Ford who overcame alcoholism and an addiction to pills and helped found one of the best-known rehabilitation centers in. [3], On March 12, 1974, the Fords hosted a state dinner for King Hussein of Jordan after president Nixon, with a week's notice, asked Vice President Ford to take over for him in hosting the already-scheduled state dinner. [3], Ford campaigned actively both during primary elections and the general election. [8], When Bloomer was 16, her father died of carbon monoxide poisoning in the family's garage while working under their car, despite the garage doors being open. She was also the Second Lady of the United States from 1973 to 1974, when Ford served as the 40th U.S. vice president. [83] The fact that Ford had, for years, been given tranquilizers to treat a pinched nerve in her neck, was public knowledge as far back as her time as second lady. [105] In terms of cumulative assessment, Ford has been ranked: The 2008 Siena Research Institute survey ranked Ford the 5th-highest of the twenty 20th and 21st century First Ladies. When they returned to Grand Rapids, she worked again at Herpolsheimer's, this time as the fashion coordinator. [35] The New York News Service wrote that Ford was, "constitutionally incapable of uttering 'no comment' or otherwise fudging an answer.". She supported the equal rights amendment and the legalization of abortion. Take a look at images from Betty Ford's years in the White House. What many don't know is that she was also a talented modern dancer. Ford took these stances despite recognizing that they created a political risk of conservative backlash against her husband. Betty White died from a stroke suffered on Dec. 25, 2021, six days before her Dec. 31 death at age 99, according to her death certificate, the Associated Press reports. 4 Mrs. Ford later reasoned, "I thought that there are women all over the country like me. Kalb shares a few things you may not know about the 38th . Ford did indirectly indicate her willingness to step into the role of first lady by affirming that she would make any sacrifices required for her husband to carry out his constitutional obligations, but also opined that it would be traumatic if the nation had to endure a president being forced from office. . By the time Betty Ford became first lady in August 1974the month her husband, Gerald Ford, succeeded Richard Nixon the former dancer had already been taking prescription pills for years to. Gerald Ford was in the middle of his campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives. In this statement, Ford disclosed, "I have found I am not only addicted to the medication I have been taking for my arthritis but also to alcohol". Reagan had contrasting views on issues such as drug experimentation by teenagers and the Equal Rights Amendment (which she opposed passing). Bette Ford came to New York City from a small town outside of Pittsburgh, PA, with big dreams . [98] That same year, she and President Ford were given a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars. [76] In her remarks, Mrs. Cheney noted that July 14 would have been Gerald Ford's 98th birthday. Ford also became famous as a pioneer in the battle against substance abuse. Phyllis Schlafly accused Ford of acting improperly by intervening in state affairs. I took that first hit and it was the most beautiful thing I had ever experienced. Los Angeles: Sage Publications. Gerald and Betty Ford on their wedding day, October 15, 1948 In 1947 a friend introduced her to Gerald R. Ford, Jr., a young lawyer who had served as Navy lieutenant during World War II. Through the work she did at the Betty Ford Center, Ford recognized the link between drug abuse and AIDS. [3], In 2013, Ford was posthumously inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame. [3], Ford's busy life took a toll. July 8, 2011 — -- Betty Ford, wife of former President Gerald Ford and the founder of the Betty Ford Center for substance abuse and addiction, has died at age 93. Betty's two older brothers were Robert (d. 1971) and . [15] An anecdote that was later reported was that, when Gerald Ford left Grand Rapids for Washington, D.C., Betty Ford's new sister-in-law Janet Ford remarked to her, "with Jerry, you'll never have to worry about other women. Her role as a public health advocate distinguishes her as one of the most influential women of the latter part of the twentieth century.[104]. "In terms of the White House atmosphere, there's no doubt that Mrs. Ford wanted to, in her own words, let open the windows," said Richard Norton Smith, a presidential historian and one of the eulogists at the funeral for President Ford. The Betty Ford Center board endorsed the merger Tuesday. [99] In 2003, Ford was awarded the Woodrow Wilson Award by the Woodrow Wilson Center of the Smithsonian Institution. (National Archives Identifier 187012) Gerald R. Ford, the nation's 38th president, died on this day in 2006. [3][5], In August 1947, she was introduced by mutual friends to Gerald Ford, a lawyer and World War II veteran who had just resumed his legal practice after returning from Navy service, and was planning to run for the United States House of Representatives. . [66], According to Tasha N. Dubriwny, the massive media coverage of Ford's mastectomy was constrained by stereotypical gender roles, particularly the need for breast cancer patients to maintain their femininity. Jacqueline Kennedy, Pat Nixon and Betty Ford all smoked cigarettes but were never photographed doing so. The series lovers highly anticipate the show and are peculiar to know about Betty Ford's first husband. [19] For a long time, it was unclear whether Gerald Ford shared his wife's pro-abortion rights viewpoint. [3][12] With her husband assuming the office of vice president, Ford became the second lady of the United States. LOS ANGELES, California -- Actress Betty White passed away in her sleep on Friday, her agent has confirmed to ABC News. [3], Ford accompanied her husband on a trip to mainland China in 1972. [3][19] Ford registered herself at the hospital on April 11, 1978. [3], The Fords meet with President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan in the White House Oval Office in March 1981. [3] At one point, Ford disclosed to the public that her husband had previously promised her that he would retire from the House of Representatives in 1976 in order to return to private legal practice and dedicate more time to his family. Where did Betty Ford die? In 2003, Ford produced another book, Healing and Hope: Six Women from the Betty Ford Center Share Their Powerful Journeys of Addiction and Recovery. [19] Ford lobbied state legislatures to ratify the amendment, and took on opponents of the amendment. This prospect elated Ford. She also co-authored with Chris Chase a book about her treatment, Betty: A Glad Awakening (1987). She worked a production line for a frozen food company in Fulton, New York. She was working in a fashion job in Grand Rapids where Gerald lived. Fellow first lady Nancy Reagan also was "deeply saddened" by the news. As First Lady of the United States from 1974-1977, Betty Ford was known for her candor. [7] Early into her time in the White House, during a televised tour of the White House she once again noted that she and her husband shared the same bed. Showtime's "The First Lady" flips the camera's focus to the women who brought about transformational change from the East Wing of the White House. If she could help women win full equal rights with men under the U.S. Constitution, Betty Ford wanted to give it her all. This response proved effective in killing the speculation that she was covering-up her past, and earned her some admiration in the media. [90] She was an active member of the Junior League. [3], Despite the brevity of her husband's presidency (roughly two and a half years), he hosted 33 state dinners, the fifth most state dinners of any United States president. In 1977, President Jimmy Carter appointed Ford to the second National Commission on the Observance of International Women's Year (the first had been appointed by President Ford). [35] In a 1975 interview with McCall's, Ford remarked that she was asked just about everything, except for how often she and the president had sex. [91], In 1978, the deadline for ratification of the ERA was extended from 1979 to 1982, resulting largely from a march of a hundred thousand people on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington. I got the stuff and got back to my place and did it. No one confronted life's struggles with more fortitude or honesty, and as a result, we all learned from the challenges she faced. [117], Second Lady of the United States (19731974), First Lady of the United States (19741977), Ranking in Gallup's annual poll of "Most Admired Women", Recovery from alcoholism and prescription drug addiction, Steinhauer, Jennifer (December 31, 2006). In addition, she was a passionate supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). The cause of Betty Ford's death was never disclosed. This led her to seek psychiatric assistance. We were proud to know her. 9 min read. [115] That same year, Ford received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement, presented by her husband, President Gerald Ford, an Academy Awards Council member. "[3][13] For their honeymoon, the two briefly traveled to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where they attended a college football game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Northwestern Wildcats, before driving to Owosso, Michigan, to attend a campaign rally for Republican presidential nominee Thomas Dewey. Ford's transparency was praised by experts in drug abuse treatment, who predicted that it would make a major and positive impact. They took away my tension and my pain". Betty and Gerald Ford embrace in the White House in 1974. [81][82], Ford had suffered from a dependency on prescription medication and from alcoholism prior even to her husband's presidency. [3] The broadcast of the interview saw strong interest from the public. But, before . "First Ladies and the Cultural Everywoman Ideal: Gender Performance and Representation. [54] She placed first in 1975. Surveys of historians conducted by the Siena College Research Institute have shown that historians regard Ford to be among the best and most courageous American first ladies. After graduating from high school in 1936 she attended the Bennington School of Dance in Vermont for two summers, where she met choreographer Martha Graham. She was 93 years old when she died. Among the revelations in the biography: 1. [3] Following her husband's death, Ford continued to live in Rancho Mirage. She had held the top post at the center since its founding. [110], Ford's life is the focus of the 1987 ABC biographical television film The Betty Ford Story, which has a story adapted from her memoir The Times of My Life. Betty Ford, the first lady of the United States from 1974 to 1977, died at the age of 93. "[3], At the time her husband assumed the presidency, reporters speculated on what kind of first lady Ford would be, as they thought her predecessor, Pat Nixon, as noted by one reporter, to be the "most disciplined, composed first lady in history. She also, ultimately agreed to attend rehab at the Naval Regional Medical Center in Long Beach, California. [7][36] While President Ford never attempted to silence his wife, some of his senior staff resented her independent candor. The couple moved frequently because of his work. Betty" (2013). [3], The heavy campaigning placed a strain on Ford's health. She was married to Gerald Ford for 58 years. That is why I loved this stuff so much. [12] Ford felt an obligation to attend her husband's testimony at his confirmation hearings. "And if they'd asked me that I would have told them," she said, adding that her response would be, "As often as possible. [19] Ford had, particularly, become addicted to prescription medication (opioid analgesics) that she had been originally prescribed in the early 1960s to treat a pinched nerve. [63], Ford's involvement in political issues received some conservative criticism. [3][19] Ford's health problems and the stress of her husband's career (which saw him frequently away from their household) compounded, particularly after her husband's career became even more demanding after he became House minority leader in January 1965. President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also cited Ford's dedication to woman's rights and substance abuse issues, and recalled honoring her during her lifetime. Mrs. [21] During her time as first lady, there had even been some speculation about substance abuse by friends and members of the press who observed occasional slurred speech from Ford. [21] Ford would, ultimately, for most of the nine months she was second lady, be a high-profile public figure. [31] Active in social policy, Ford broke new ground as a politically active presidential spouse. But the approach was almost unheard of decades ago when the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation came to be. From a young age, she had a passion for dancing. Live July 9, 2011 -- Former first lady Betty Ford, whose candor about her own battles with substance abuse helped erase much of the stigma attached to addiction, has died. Betty Ford, or Elizabeth Anne Ford, was the wife of the 38th U.S. president, Gerald Ford, and thus the First Lady of the United States from 1974 to 1977. In a tribute, Mark Updegrove, Director of the LBJ Library, who wrote much about the Ford family, said: Betty Ford was a thoroughly modern first ladyand among the most progressive we've ever had in the White House. [84], Funeral services were held in Palm Desert, California, on July 12, 2011, with more than 800 people in attendance, including former president George W. Bush, then-First Lady Michelle Obama, then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, herself a former First Lady, former First Ladies Rosalynn Carter, who gave a eulogy,[76] and Nancy Reagan. Betty Ford saw her role in the White House as official hostess and a goodwill ambassador. [33], Steinhauer of The New York Times described Ford as "a product and symbol of the cultural and political timesdoing the Bump dance along the corridors of the White House, donning a mood ring, chatting on her CB radio with the handle First Mamaa housewife who argued passionately for equal rights for women, a mother of four who mused about drugs, abortion and premarital sex aloud and without regret. [84], In 1987, Ford underwent quadruple coronary bypass surgery and recovered without complications. In 1978, the Ford family staged an intervention, and forced Betty to confront her addition to alcohol and pain pills. She drew boos from demonstrators against the Equal Rights Amendment in stating, "This exhibit about neglected Americans should give us strength and courage to seek equal rights for women today."[64]. In 1982, she co-founded the Betty Ford Center in California. ", Gregory Knight, Myra. [3] Gerald Ford was confirmed as vice president by the United States Congress on December 6, 1973, and Gerald Ford took the oath of office before a joint session of the United States Congress, placing his hand upon a bible which Betty Ford held. Betty Ford began taking prescription pain killers in the 1960s for a pinched nerve. [5] At the time they married, Warren worked for his own father in insurance sales. Her own battle with breast cancer led to her advocacy for early breast cancer detection. Days later, Ford also disclosed to the public that she had come to realize that she was additionally an alcoholic. [3], Between Labor Day and election day, for the general election campaign, Ford conducted multi-stop speaking tours, during which she visited western states (including California, Colorado, Texas, and Utah) as well was northern midwest states including Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin. She desired to have a family with children and was unhappy with the frequent moves between cities she had experienced in her marriage. On August 9, 1974, Betty Bloomer Ford was thrust onto the world stage when her . Betty Ford wanted to be a professional dancer She wrote about it in her book, "A Glad Awakening." [3] Ford received support from her family and managed to resume a busy lifestyle. The President outlined his criteria for the post: quality, confirmability, ageso that the nominee could be there for a whilebreadth on the Court so the Court did not have eight people of any. Your cross will be his work. This is my problem". ", This page was last edited on 14 January 2023, at 22:04. She continued to strongly advocate and lobby politicians and state legislatures for passage of the ERA. [3][19] Ford also posed for newspaper publicity photographs and was a clothing model for charity fashion shows, after a Republican had urged her to do so since they felt that Democratic Party spouses had far outnumbered Republican spouses in such publicity-generating activity. Ford reads her husband's 1976 presidential concession speech to the press. Established in 1949 on lakeside acreage in Center City, Minnesota, the Hazelden Betty Ford . Ford also, in a television interview with Barbara Walters, expressed her support for the United States Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision ruling abortion as constitutionally protected. In fact, when Mrs . [19][61] In a 1975 interview with the news program 60 Minutes, Ford called Roe v. Wade a "great, great decision". By February 1948 the couple was engaged to be married. Ford has consistently ranked among the top-nine most highly assessed first ladies in these surveys. [24] Ford's attendance at the funeral was, in actuality, a break from the administration. [22] Two days later, on October 12, 1973, President Richard Nixon nominated Gerald Ford to serve as vice president. Betty Ford dies at 93; former first lady. The 10-episode biographical drama, which . Murray Close/SHOWTIME. Ford's failure to conduct a solo trip is not all that extraordinary, however. [14] The Fords would ultimately be married for the next 58 years, until Gerald Ford's death. In addition to founding the Betty Ford Center, she remained active in women's issues, taking on numerous speaking engagements and lending her name to charities for fundraising. [24] The Carters would, ultimately be the Fords successors as president and first lady after Carter defeated Ford in the 1976 United States presidential election. [3], During the campaign, many Ford supporters wore campaign buttons with phrases like "Betty's Husband for President in '76" and "Keep Betty in the White House". The week she entered rehab, Ford disclosed her addiction to prescription medication. Gerald and Betty Ford with Richard and Pat Nixon as the latter depart the White House in disgrace on August 9, 1974. [33], Ford was also unapologetically pro-abortion rights. She visited states, including Illinois, where ratification was believed to have the most realistic chance of passing. She also fundraised for No Greater Love, in appreciation of its work benefiting Children of Vietnam War MIA and POWs. [21], Both Betty and Gerald Ford refuse to comment on speculation that President Nixon might be forced out of office due to the Watergate scandal. The LA County death . Ford also served as the second lady of the United States from 1973 to 1974 when her husband was vice president. Poor health and increasing frailty due to operations in August 2006 and April 2007 for blood clots in her legs caused her to largely curtail her public life. Bush called her, "a wonderful wife and mother; a great friend; and a courageous first lady. "I certainly did not want it, and neither did our children. I embrace it, not only for me, but all the many others who are here to participate." 12/26/2018 05:25 AM EST. That same year, she joined First Ladies Lady Bird Johnson and Rosalynn Carter to open and participate in the National Women's Conference in Houston, Texas, where she endorsed measures in the convention's National Plan of Action, a report sent to the state legislatures, the U.S. Congress, and the President on how to improve the status of American women. "But the fact that I was the wife of the President put it in headlines and brought before the public this particular experience I was going through. ABC News' David Reiter and Michael S. James contributed to this report. Among the nations that Ford accompanied her husband to were China, Poland, Romania, and Yugoslavia. He died of a heart attack just four years after leaving office. [105] In the 2014 Siena Research Institute survey survey, Ford and her husband were ranked the 19th-highest out of 39 first couples in terms of being a "power couple". Ford was the most prominent national supporter of the project. [76] Many of Ford's most significant contributions as an activist came following the Fords' departure from the White House. She would be given prescription medication, including Valium. She was also outspoken on women's rights issues. She served as the honorary president of the National Lupus Foundation, regarding lupus as a disease which impacted women, yet received minimal public attention. [3], Before the end of December, Ford played a role in establishing the Republican Women's Federal Forum, partnering with Barbara Bush, whose husband George H. W. Bush was chairman of the Republican National Committee at the time. At the time Betty Ford, the wife of former President Gerald Ford, was one of the most admired women in the United States. Ford also became involved in causes related to HIV/AIDS. ", President George W. Bush said he and his wife Laura "admired her as a first lady and valued her as a friend. Gerald Ford: Gerald Ford was president of the United States between 1974 and 1977. ", President George H.W. She accompanied her husband to congressional and White House events, as well as on some trips abroad, and made herself available to newspaper and magazine articles. She agreed, that day, to detox from her medicine. White House photographer David Hume Kennerly took a photo of her on the table. However, she abused these prescriptions, regularly taking many more pills than prescribed. On April 1, 1978, her family staged an intervention which forced her to acknowledge the negative impact that her addiction was having on her health and family relationships. They married in 1948, two weeks before he was elected to his first term in Congress. [87] She served as chair of the board of directors. President Richard Nixon selected Gerald Ford to serve as his vice president after the resignation of Vice President Spiro Agnew. Betty Ford. Afterwards, Ford stated she was impressed with the conduct of the refugees. Betty Ford is awarded the nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, by President George H. W. Bush, 1991. [25], Ford dancing with comedian Marty Allen in the Entrance Hall of the White House of the White House during a September 21, 1976 state dinner in honor Liberian President William Tolbert, Ford reviews the table settings while preparing for the September 21, 1976 state dinner in honor of Liberian President William Tolbert, Ford and Social Secretary Maria Downs give the media a tour of the tent errected in the South Lawn for the July 1976 state dinner honoring Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip of Great Britain, Ford and Social Secretary Maria Downs inspect centerpiece sculptures designed by Frederic Remington and Charles Russell ahead of an October 1975 state dinner honoring Anwar Sadat, the president of Egypt, The Fords escort Japanese Emperor Hirohito and Empress Kjun down the Cross Hall towards the East Room during an October 1975 state dinner honoring the Japanese royals, Ford accompanied her husband abroad on several diplomatic trips. July 8, 2011 Mrs. Betty Ford passes away at 93 years of age. [61][33] Ford utilized phone calls, letter-writing, and telegrams as means of lobbying in support of the ERA. She was the wife of President Gerald R. Ford, the 38th President of the United States. During her stay at the White House, her dependency on these drugs seemingly dissipated. As the First Lady . As it turns out, Betty Ford did send a letter to Michelle Obama. [3] Ford remarked, "I agree with the Supreme Courts ruling. He was a Bristol, Tennessee, native who had a 40-year career as a music . [25] The first of these came only a week into Ford's presidency, hosting King Hussein of Jordan on August 16, 1974. She also organized her own dance group and taught dance at various sites in Grand Rapids, including the Calla Travis Dance Studio. [19] In her 1987 memoir she reflected on these addictions, writing, "I liked alcohol, it made me feel warm. 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