[20] Such talk was due to Gerald Ford, following the Republican Party's failure to win a majority in the 1972 United States House of Representatives elections, seeing it as unlikely that he would ever fulfill his ambition of becoming speaker of the House. I did not know at the time what was going on. 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, whose husband, Gerald, died in December 2006, had undergone surgery for an undisclosed ailment in April 2007. This set a contrast with First Lady Pat Nixon, who routinely rejected invitations to give formal speeches. [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. [45] A Ford family friend said that he "about fell off his chair" when he saw the photo for the first time. Hazelden . [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. [36], During her time as first lady, Ford was an outspoken advocate of women's rights and was a prominent force in the Women's Movement of the 1970s. . She paused her divorce, and supported him, living at Warren's family's home for the next two years as his health recovered. 4 Mrs. Ford later reasoned, "I thought that there are women all over the country like me. Magazines such as Vogue and Ladies Home Journal were planning to publish spreads on Ford in upcoming issues. [116] She also received that year's "Commitment to Life Award" from the Los Angeles AIDS Project. [19] For a long time, it was unclear whether Gerald Ford shared his wife's pro-abortion rights viewpoint. She served as the honorary president of the National Lupus Foundation, regarding lupus as a disease which impacted women, yet received minimal public attention. The former, then in her 90s, sent the latter a letter in 2009, shortly after Barack Obama's presidential inauguration. "[34] Ford was open about the benefits of psychiatric treatment, and spoke understandingly about marijuana use and premarital sex. Phyllis Schlafly accused Ford of acting improperly by intervening in state affairs. "[21][24] The Fords had planned to make a diplomatic trip to European nations after the midterm elections. "In the end, simply by being herself, she made it easier for millions of American women to be themselves," Smith told ABC News. [84] In 1991, Ford was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George H. W. Bush[3][97] She and President Ford jointly received a Congressional Gold Medal in 1999. ", President George H.W. Betty Ford, the former first lady whose triumph over drug and alcohol addiction became a beacon of hope for addicts and the inspiration for her Betty Ford Center in California, died at age. Seated (lr): Lady Bird Johnson, Pat Nixon, Rosalynn Carter, Ford; Standing (lr): Nancy Reagan, Barbara Bush, President Bill Clinton speaks with the Fords at the White House ceremony awarding the at a 1999 Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony, Ford with other U.S. First Ladies at the 1994 National Garden Gala, which was themed "A Tribune to America's First Ladies". [3], The heavy campaigning placed a strain on Ford's health. Read the rest of "Betty Ford, champion of women's rights . [19] Ford also, unsuccessfully, lobbied her husband to appoint the first woman to the Supreme Court of the United States[7][33] or as a running mate in the 1976 election. This dinner was part of the American bicentennial celebrations, and was held in tents on the South Lawn of the White House. In attendance were former president Bill Clinton, former vice president Dick Cheney and former first lady Barbara Bush. [12] Ford felt an obligation to attend her husband's testimony at his confirmation hearings. [16][100] Ford left $500,000 to the Betty Ford Center. Hortense and William married on November 9, 1904, in Chicago. [7], Ford supported numerous charities as first lady. Days later, Ford also disclosed to the public that she had come to realize that she was additionally an alcoholic. As a young girl, Betty took up dancing, which quickly became her passion. Betty Ford began taking prescription pain killers in the 1960s for a pinched nerve. The union did not last, and they divorced amicably several years later. "[10], On January 19, 1977, her last full day as first lady, Betty Ford used her training as a Martha Graham dancer to jump up on the Cabinet Room table. [98] That same year, she and President Ford were given a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars. Bloomer became immersed in her life in Grand Rapids and did not return to New York. [32], Repeatedly speaking out on women's issues, Ford was a leader in the changing status of women in American society. This is the autobiographical story of the addiction and recovery of former First Lady Betty Bloomer Ford, wife of US President Gerald R. Ford. [3], Ford did not take any solo trips aboad as first lady. Because of her grief, there will be more joy. At 8:49 p.m. local time, President Ford's wife of 58 years, Betty Ford, issued a statement that confirmed his death: "My family joins me in sharing the difficult news that Gerald Ford, our beloved husband, father, grandfather . Ford was credited with rejuvenating the ERA movement and inspiring more women to continue working for the ERA. [7] Weeks later, when the Fords moved from their Virginia residence into the White House[3] their king size bed was photographed being moved into the White House, which prompted Betty to quip that they had been outed for breaking the tradition of first couples keeping separate bedrooms in the White House. As the First Lady . [96], On November 18, 1991, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George H. W. [40] By late-1975, Harris found Ford to have established herself as one of America's most popular first ladies. 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. The official cause of death listed on the Los Angeles County document obtained by CNN . The cause given for her death was "natural. [24] With her husband, as vice president, tasked with heavily campaigning on behalf of his party for the 1974 midterm elections, Ford occasionally hit the campaign trail herself. Ford died Friday at the Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, Calif., ABC News has learned. Los Angeles: Sage Publications. She made countless contributions to our country, and we especially appreciate her courage in calling attention to breast cancer and substance abuse. Warters, T. Alissa. Bush. The cause of Betty Ford's death was never disclosed. Because of her leadership, many lives were saved.". As we told you back in 2020, Betty rarely left her home once the COVID-19 pandemic began.. [3][20] However, notably, Ford had not managed to address her increasing prescription pain medication dependency, which sometimes saw her taking as many as twenty pills in a single day. The first instance of a first lady conducting one had been Eleanor Roosevelt in 1942. [3][5][12] They married on October 15, 1948, at Grace Episcopal Church in Grand Rapids. He later worked for the Continental Can Company, and after that for the Widdicomb Furniture Company. [4], In 1926, when she was eight years old, her mother, who valued social graces, enrolled her in the Calla Travis Dance Studio in Grand Rapids, where Ford was taught ballet, tap dancing, and modern movement. During his testimony, Gerald Ford was questioned about attending psychiatric care. LOS ANGELES, California -- Actress Betty White passed away in her sleep on Friday, her agent has confirmed to ABC News. She joined Graham's auxiliary troupe and eventually performed with the company at Carnegie Hall. Betty Ford dies at 93; former first lady. Ford was born Elizabeth Anne Bloomer in 1918 in Chicago, Illinois, the third child and only daughter of Hortense (ne Neahr; 1884 1948) and William Stephenson Bloomer Sr. (1874 1934), who was a traveling salesman for Royal Rubber Co.[3] She was called Betty as a child. [54] She placed first in 1975. [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). Photos of this moment were published widely in the American press, resulting in Betty Ford somewhat upstaging President Ford in the press. "I just think it's important to say how easy it is to slip into a dependency on pills or alcohol, and how hard it is to admit that dependency.". 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. [69], Among the most notable state dinners the Fords hosted was a July 7, 1976 state dinner honoring Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. Betty Ford was portrayed as an ideal patient within a success narrative that presented the key sequences of her breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in a progressive, linear fashion that inspired optimism. [24] Ford's attendance at the funeral was, in actuality, a break from the administration. After recovering, she founded and served as the first chair of the board of directors of the Betty Ford Center for substance abuse and addiction. [3], In November 1975, it was reported by the Associated Press that Ford's husband's advisors, who had previously worried her outspoken comments would hurt him in the 1976 presidential election, were now recognizing her popularity and desiring for her to have a greater role in the campaign. His wife, Betty, was the first lady during this time period. July 12, 2011 Her taboo-busting honesty about abortion, sex, gay rights, marijuana and the Equal Rights . 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. [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. 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. She visited states, including Illinois, where ratification was believed to have the most realistic chance of passing. She joined Graham's auxiliary troupe and eventually performed with the company at Carnegie Hall in New York City. [38] In January 1976, Ford made a cameo appearance on the popular television program The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Betty Ford became the first lady of the United States when her husband, Gerald Ford, assumed the office following President Richard Nixon's resignation. 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). [3], Spiro Agnew resigned as vice president on October 10, 1973. I think its time to bring abortion out of the backwoods and put it in the hospitals, where it belongs. Disregarding criticism to her stance, Ford would remark, Maybe I shouldnt have said it, but I couldnt lie. Her coverage minimized the complexity of breast cancer as a disease and ignored the debates surrounding best treatment practices. However, not everything Ford did as first lady broke tradition. Reagan had contrasting views on issues such as drug experimentation by teenagers and the Equal Rights Amendment (which she opposed passing). "Ford. [46][47] The photo was subsequently published and is regarded as an "iconic" photograph of Ford's time as First Lady. Later that day, President Ford was caught momentarily patting Betty's buttocks before the press gathered outside of their Virginia residence. [114], In 1975, when Time named "American women" as its "Time Person of the Year",[39] the magazine profiled Ford as one of eleven women selected to represent "American women". The Fords' children often also attended the dinners they hosted. She regularly drove her children around to their activities, such as her sons' Little League Baseball games and her daughter's dance classes. "[69], Dishes that Ford particularly liked serving at state dinners included wild rice,[25][74] Columbia River salmon, souffl, and flamb. ABC News' David Reiter and Michael S. James contributed to this report. 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. [3] Ford remarked, "I agree with the Supreme Courts ruling. This experience has been credited with further cementing Ford's understanding of gender-based income inequalities between individuals doing the same work. She continued to strongly advocate and lobby politicians and state legislatures for passage of the ERA. [3], During the primaries, Ford recorded radio advertisements on behalf of the campaign that were broadcast in New Hampshire. "I certainly did not want it, and neither did our children. [53][51] Contrarily to her, while President Ford ranked in the top-10 positions of most admired men in multiple years,[56][57][58][59] he never managed to top it. [37][33] In January 1976, the editors of the New York News Service wrote that Ford was, "one of the most charming and popular First Ladies ever to occupy the White House". Ford, who died Friday at age 93, was not intimidated by the public spotlight, and used her position to passionately promote causes important to her. Ford was also observed as upgrading her wardrobe, adding designer clothing. [25][26] At the first state dinner that she arranged as first lady, Ford revived dancing as an activity of White House state dinners. [49], Ford ranked as one of the top-10 most admired women in the results of Gallup's annual most admired man and woman poll every year from 1974 (the year her husband first became president) through 1991,[50][51][52] with the exception of Gallup having failed to conduct such a poll in 1976 (the final full year of her husband's presidency). Betty Ford, who died yesterday at the age of ninety-three, got married the year she turned twenty-four, to a furniture salesman who did not become the President of the United States. TMZ was the first to report the news.. A cerebrovascular accident, commonly known as a stroke, is a loss of blood flow to part of the brain, which damages brain tissue. Betty White in her kitchen in Carmel, California. She worked with children with disabilities at the Mary Free Bed Home for Crippled Children. She was a remarkable political spouse, whose courageous candor helped forge a new era of openness after the divisiveness of the Vietnam War and Watergate. [3], As she became a more active second lady, Ford adopted an objective of promoting the arts. [32] On September 4, 1974, weeks after becoming first lady, Ford conducted press conference in the State Dining Room of the White House in which she remarked that she, "would like to be remembered in a very kind way; also as a constructive wife of a president. The week she entered rehab, Ford disclosed her addiction to prescription medication. [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. Betty Ford (1918-2011) was the wife of Gerald Ford, who was the 38th president of the United States between 1974 and 1977. Ford succeeded in getting sober. That is why I loved this stuff so much. 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. [24] However, by the spring of 1974, Ford was seen as embracing her position as second lady, becoming less reclusive and more active. In April 1974, she made her first official solo trip as second lady when she spent two-days visiting the states of Georgia and Tennessee to help in publicizing the "ARTRAIN", which was a traveling exhibit of art, visual displays, and performance pieces housed in six railway cars, and which was to travel through small towns across the southern United States. She also, ultimately agreed to attend rehab at the Naval Regional Medical Center in Long Beach, California. As first lady, she was active in social policy and set a precedent as a politically active presidential spouse. Betty Ford was 93 years old when she died; therefore, she can be said to have died from old age. ", Gould, Lewis L. "Modern first ladies in historical perspective. [3], In 2013, Ford was posthumously inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame. JAKE TAPPER, KATIE HINMAN and MARTHA RADDATZ, founder of the Betty Ford Center for substance abuse and addiction. The Nixons had previously removed dancing from the state dinners during Nixon's presidency. Betty Ford was at his side. She also fundraised for No Greater Love, in appreciation of its work benefiting Children of Vietnam War MIA and POWs. She also traveled to Iowa before its caucus, and delivered a speech on behalf of the president (who had been unable to make his planned appearance) in which she labeled herself as being his political partner. But, before . "[34] This reflects a common trend of American first ladies often being more popular than the presidents to which they are married. Her own battle with breast cancer led to her advocacy for early breast cancer detection. When they returned to Grand Rapids, she worked again at Herpolsheimer's, this time as the fashion coordinator. Betty Ford died in 2011 at age 93, having overcome her addictions and founding the Betty Ford Center in 1982 to help other addicts recover. 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. [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. [19], In 1977, the Fords moved to Rancho Mirage, California. [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. 12/26/2018 05:25 AM EST. Shortly after leaving the White House in 1977, at a time when alcoholism was considered a shameful topic which should never be discussed or even mentioned, the Ford family held . 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. She disclosed her alcoholism through a statement that a family spokesman read on her behalf at a press conference (at which Ford was not herself present) held outside of the hospital. During her life she helped change the way Americans think and talk about breast cancer, women's rights and substance abuse. [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. Neither was shy about their mutual love and equal respect, and they were known to have a strong personal and political partnership. "Betty was a remarkable woman whose legacy will live on in people around the country whose lives are longer and better because of her work. In 1964, a pinched nerve on the left side of Ford's neck sent her to the hospital for two weeks. She was 99. In 2004, Ford reaffirmed her pro-abortion rights stance and her support for the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, as well as her belief in and support for the ratification of the ERA. [3], On August 9, 1974, after the resignation of Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford ascended to the position of president of the United States,[12] and Betty Ford became the first lady of the United States. YouTube. [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. ", President Carter and his wife Rosalynn, who succeeded the Fords in the White House, recalled "a close personal friend and our frequent partner in bipartisan efforts to improve mental health and substance abuse care in our nation. 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. "When other women have this same operation, it doesn't make any headlines," she told Time. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? He died of a heart attack just four years after leaving office. This video contains excerpts from the second ha. With Betty Ford you had a progressive woman . [76] In her remarks, Mrs. Cheney noted that July 14 would have been Gerald Ford's 98th birthday. [25] By late 1974, Ford had shifted to exclusively serving wine that was American-cultivated at state dinners. "My understanding is it was natural causes. "I'm not out to rescue anybody who doesn't want to be rescued," she once said. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Betty_Ford&oldid=1133654245, Dubriwny, Tasha N. "Constructing breast cancer in the news: Betty Ford and the evolution of the breast cancer patient. "Ford and Ford" in Scott Kaufman, ed. As a supporter of abortion rights and a leader in the women's rights movement, she gained fame as one of the most candid first ladies in history, commenting on the hot-button issues of the time, such as feminism, equal pay, the Equal Rights Amendment, sex, drugs, abortion, and gun control. [3] President Ford died, aged 93, of heart failure on December 26, 2006, at their Rancho Mirage home. President Obama noted how Betty Ford "distinguished herself through her courage and compassion. Ford would become the 38th president of the United States. "[88], Ford continued to be an active leader and activist of the feminist movement after the Ford administration. Betty was 93 years old at the time of death. While her death is a cause for sadness, we know that organizations such as the Betty Ford Center will honor her legacy by giving countless Americans a new lease on life. Fellow first lady Nancy Reagan also was "deeply saddened" by the news. Among the nations that Ford accompanied her husband to were China, Poland, Romania, and Yugoslavia. [5] After he recovered, they were divorced on September 22, 1947. Best known for her leadership in the founding of the Betty Ford Clinic in California to treat addiction. develop an addiction to prescription medication, 1974 United States House of Representatives election, 1972 United States House of Representatives elections, joint session of the United States Congress, Ford filmed an interview with the television news program, National Commission on the Observance of International Women's Year, secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Prime Minister of the Republic of Vietnam, List of state dinners in the United States, wine from the Fords' home state of Michigan, discrimination in the United States military, List of breast cancer patients according to occupation, List of first ladies of the United States, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum, "Betty Ford Dies at Age 93; A Look Back on the Former First Lady", "Betty Ford, Again Putting On a Brave Face", "Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum", "The 38th First Lady: not a robot at all", "Betty Ford, Former First Lady, Dies at 93", "Betty's life changed dramatically once she became", "Friends Asking: 'Is There A New Betty Ford? [3], Ford was also used, both by Ford supporters and detractors, as a symbol of liberal Republicanism, with her politics contrasting with the Republican Party's conservative and moderate wings. During and after her years in the White House, 1974 to 1977, Mrs. Ford won . She was raised by her parents William and Hortense Bloomer. [24] On May 31, 1973, Ford made her first major speech when she gave a commencement address to the graduates of the Westminster Choir College. At the time Betty Ford, the wife of former President Gerald Ford, was one of the most admired women in the United States. [50] In 1974, Ford placed second in the poll. [101], In July 2018, a statue of Ford was unveiled outside of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan. "Did they dislike her? Her cause of death was not immediately clear. [41], The Fords were among the more openly affectionate first couples in United States history. Her philanthropic support additionally placed a specific focus on charities serving children with special needs. She agreed, that day, to detox from her medicine. Elizabeth Anne "Betty" Bloomer Ford was the widow of former United States President Gerald R. Ford and served as the First Lady of the United States from 1974 to 1977. [71] As previously mentioned, the Fords had hosted a state dinner for King Hussein months earlier, during Gerald Ford's vice presidency, on March 12, 1974, after president Nixon asked then-Vice President Ford to take over for him in hosting a planned dinner for the King. Betty Ford may be the most famous and least known First Lady in history. [42][43][44] Gerald Ford did not know about or see the photo until 1994. During and after her years in the White House, 1974 to 1977, Mrs.. [92] In November 1981, Ford stated that Governor of Illinois James R. Thompson had not done enough in support of the ERA as well as her disappointment with First Lady Nancy Reagan not being in favor of the measure, though also relayed her hopes to change the incumbent First Lady's mind in further encounters with her. Ill health prevented Ford from attending the funeral of former First Lady Lady Bird Johnson's in July 2007, and her daughter Susan Ford Bales instead represented her at the funeral service. [67] The spike in women self-examining after Ford went public with the diagnosis led to an increase in reported cases of breast cancer, a phenomenon known as the "Betty Ford blip". In public, she was one of the most visible and outspoken first ladies in history. She supported the equal rights amendment and the legalization of abortion. "[19], Ford avidly supported the proposed Equal Rights Amendment. Article continues below advertisement. [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". Where did Betty Ford die? She desired to have a family with children and was unhappy with the frequent moves between cities she had experienced in her marriage. Betty Ford: Abortion is NOT a Partisan Issue - WCLA - Choice Matters Coming of age when Betty Ford and her husband found themselves accidental occupants of the White House, all I knew of Betty Ford was that she had big hair, and, subsequently, breast cancer and addiction issues. She became famous for her candor. However, she abused these prescriptions, regularly taking many more pills than prescribed. Soon after leaving office, she raised awareness of addiction when she sought help for and publicly disclosed her long-running struggle with alcoholism and substance abuse. [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. She was never more blunt and open than in 1978 when she revealed to the world her struggle to recover from her addiction to alcohol and prescription drugs. Betty Ford saw her role in the White House as official hostess and a goodwill ambassador. [3] Ford received support from her family and managed to resume a busy lifestyle. By February 1948 the couple was engaged to be married. Betty Ford wanted to be a professional dancer [19] The use of Ford in such a manner to promote her husband's candidacy was not the work of the campaign itself, but rather, produced by supporters outside of the campaign organization. Betty Ford. Ford had believed it to be of great importance for the administration to show an expression of direct concern pertaining to the assassination, while Nixon's staff disagreed with her. YouTube Betty White showing off her aquarium. [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. Ford was observed audibly telling her husband "I love you" following a kiss they shared right after he was sworn in as president. (National Archives Identifier 187012) The statement also declared, "I expect this treatment and fellowship to be a solution for my problems. [3], Ford had an extremely busy schedule by July 1974. [87] She served as chair of the board of directors. 9 min read. This is my problem". After this, Betty Ford was transparent with the news media that she had received psychiatric care. "[67], Adding to heightened public awareness of breast cancer were reports that several weeks after Ford's cancer surgery, Happy Rockefeller, the wife of Vice President Nelson Rockefeller, also had a mastectomy. ", This page was last edited on 14 January 2023, at 22:04. Ford had weekly meetings with a psychiatrist approximately between August 1965 and April 1967. Ford was the most prominent national supporter of the project. The series lovers highly anticipate the show and are peculiar to know about Betty Ford's first husband. [61] Her active political role prompted Time to call her the country's "Fighting First Lady" and was the reason they profiled her, among several others, to represent the "American Women" as the magazine's 1975 Person of the Year. The march was led by prominent feminist leaders, including Ford, Bella Abzug, Elizabeth Chittick, Betty Friedan and Gloria Steinem. Ford made the decision that year to erect a tent in the White House Rose Garden to host dinners outside. [3][14][17] Gerald Ford had ambitions to rise to the rank of speaker of the house, and therefore maintained a busy travel schedule, regularly crisscrossing the United States to fundraise and campaign on behalf of other Republicans in hopes that they would, in turn, provide him with the support he'd eventually need to become speaker. By her second birthday, however, she was living in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the city she always considered her home. Betty's two older brothers were Robert (d. 1971) and William Jr. After the family lived briefly in Denver, Colorado, she grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where she graduated from Central High School. Elizabeth "Betty" Bloomer was born on April 8, 1918, in Chicago, Illinois, and spent most of her childhood in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Ford with other U.S. First Ladies at the November 1991 opening of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. Thats the way I feel. 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. Since she passed, fans have wondered what Betty White's cause of death was and how she died three weeks before her 100th birthday. [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. From a young age, she had a passion for dancing. Her candor in talking about and dealing with substance abuse and treatment helped led to an improvement in how Americans talk about such matters. Mrs. She further taught ballroom dancing lessons for children with visual impairment and hearing loss and gave weekly dance lessons to African American children. [18], Ford served as a parent-teacher association member, Sunday school teacher at Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill, and a Cub Scout "den mother". In 1978, the Ford family staged an intervention, and forced Betty to confront her addition to alcohol and pain pills. Bush called her, "a wonderful wife and mother; a great friend; and a courageous first lady. [68], As First Lady, Ford was an advocate of the arts. "[29] She was regarded to be the most politically outspoken first lady since Eleanor Roosevelt. . This prospect elated Ford. Former first lady Betty Ford has died at the age of 93. They took away my tension and my pain". Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation History. But the main point was, it was best for the country.". In this statement, she also praised the reputation of the hospital's addiction treatment program, and declared her pleasure to have the opportunity to attend the treatment. 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). As Betty Ford recounted at the time, the wedding was delayed until shortly before the election because, "Jerry was running for Congress and wasn't sure how voters might feel about his marrying a divorced ex-dancer.". She decided to establish the Betty Ford Center with gender specific treatment for men and women (Northouse, 2013) Northouse, P. G. (2013). [3][24] Ford was the only individual in attendance at the funeral not directly ingrained in the civil rights movement, with the exception of Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter. [65] Ford decided to be open about her illness because "There had been so much cover-up during Watergate that we wanted to be sure there would be no cover-up in the Ford administration. White House photographer David Hume Kennerly took a photo of her on the table. Ford, who during her husband's 1974-77 administration had set a new standard for White House candor by speaking openly about her breast cancer and mastectomy, brought addiction out of the closet. During the general election, her busy campaign activity saw the reigniting of her pinched nerve. "Jerry did not want this," she wrote. It made a lot of women realize that it could happen to them. [25][26] The dinner was held in the John Quincy Adam's Drawing Room, one of the Diplomatic Reception Rooms at the United States Department of State headquarters at the Harry S Truman Building. [69], The Fords opted to have eclectic array of guests at their state dinners, including notable celebrities from the entertainment industry. After leaving. White whose full . 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. [33], Ford was also unapologetically pro-abortion rights. Rancho Mirage, California, USA; Recently Passed Away Celebrities and Famous People. Tennessee Ernie Ford, as he came to be known, was an ordinary man but his overwhelming success later led to his downfall. "And if they'd asked me that I would have told them," she said, adding that her response would be, "As often as possible. [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. 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. Betty Ford, whose husband, Gerald, died in December 2006, had undergone surgery for an undisclosed ailment in April 2007. The must-watch series is accompanied by the likes of Jessica Biel and Melanie Lynskey. [79] In September of that year, Ford traveled to Moscow for a television program taping and to serve as hostess for The Nutcracker. At one point, they lived in Toledo, Ohio, where Elizabeth was employed at the department store Lasalle & Koch as a demonstrator, a job that entailed being a model and saleswoman. [69] At the state dinners of the Ford presidency, the president and first lady always led off the dancing, and dancing often lasted beyond midnight. [95], Ford tackled the stigmatized issue of HIV/AIDS during the HIV/AIDS crisis. [109], In 2021, Zogby Analytics conducted a poll in which a sample of the American public was asked to assess the greatness of twelve First Ladies from Jacqueline Kennedy onwards. In 1985, Ford received the Los Angeles AIDS Projects "Commitment to Life Award". 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. After being accepted by Graham as a student in 1940, Bloomer moved to New York to live in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood; she worked as a fashion model for the John Robert Powers firm in order to finance her dance studies. The Washington Post reported that Ford's disclosure of alcoholism came as a surprise to a number of Ford's close friends, who had regarded her as merely a social drinker and were oblivious to her drinking problem. [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. [37] Ford ultimately played an important role in the 1976 election campaign. Ford also publicly expressed admiration and friendship toward First Lady Pat Nixon. In the 1950s Bette Ford turned heads and raised eyebrows when she became a model-actress-bullfighter. Betty Ford, the former First Lady of the United States who died on July 8 aged 93, exemplified the American virtue of positive thinking to overcome illness and addiction, and used her . [3], Ford filmed an interview with the television news program 60 Minutes which was broadcast on August 10, 1975. Murray Close/SHOWTIME. However, Ford simply responded by giving the explanation that it was not something she had tried to hide, but, rather, something she had only not shared with the news media because none of them had broached the topic in their previous questions to her. However, even after this, Ford continued with her planned campaign schedule. She also was completely unpretentious. [8][70] She found out of this upcoming dinner and her responsibility for planning it through a phone call she received within 24-hours after her husband's swearing-in as president. Bloomer disliked the surname. She died in her sleep, in her. [40] In 1977, the World Almanac included Ford in its ranking of the 25 most-influential American women. [61][33] Ford utilized phone calls, letter-writing, and telegrams as means of lobbying in support of the ERA. 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. [3][97] In 1999, she and President Ford were jointly awarded Congressional Gold Medals. . [3][19] Ford registered herself at the hospital on April 11, 1978. Gerald and Betty Ford with Richard and Pat Nixon as the latter depart the White House in disgrace on August 9, 1974. [3][5], In 1942, Elizabeth Bloomer married William G. Warren,[5][4] whom she had known since she was 12. The Betty Ford Center, which already has helped change the lives of thousands of people, will be her lasting legacy of care and concern. She was working in a fashion job in Grand Rapids where Gerald lived. [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. Betty Ford. She was the wife of President Gerald R. Ford, the 38th President of the United States. [7][30] Ford regarded Roosevelt a role model. [103], Only a part of Betty Ford's legacy will be that of her role as first lady. "[7], Betty and Gerald Ford had four children together: Michael Gerald Ford (born 1950), John Gardner Ford (nicknamed Jack; born 1952), Steven Meigs Ford (born 1956), and Susan Elizabeth Ford (born 1957). [47] Kennerly has touted the image as both capturing Ford's personality and being a symbolic image showing the feminist first lady posing in what had conventionally been a room occupied predominantly by white men. She involved herself in the Los Angeles AIDS Project. [107][108] In the 2014 Siena Research Institute survey, historians ranked Ford 3rd-highest among 20th and 21st century First Ladies in the greatness of post-White House service, 3rd-highest in advancement of women's issues, and 4th-highest in creating a lasting legacy. On Aug. 9, 1974, Nixon stepped down following the Watergate scandal. [19] In her 1987 memoir she reflected on these addictions, writing, "I liked alcohol, it made me feel warm. [3][19] Ford took doses of this medication in excess of her prescription. She studied dance under Martha Graham in New York, working as a fashion model to finance her studies. [36] As first lady, remarking on her honest candor and the sometimes-controversial remarks it resulted in, Ford declared, "I am not very good at making up stories." [3][21] Her candor on this trip received a positive reception by the news media..[21] Among those she met on the two-day trip was Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn Carter. Betty Ford was known as a vivacious activist for women's rights. In 2003, Ford produced another book, Healing and Hope: Six Women from the Betty Ford Center Share Their Powerful Journeys of Addiction and Recovery. Betty's two older brothers were Robert (d. 1971) and . In 2005, Ford relinquished her chair of the center's board of directors to her daughter Susan. "Early on, she went to the head usher and asked why the staff didn't return her good morning greetings," Smith told ABC News. [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. White's death was confirmed Friday by Jeff Witjas, her longtime agent and friend. What many don't know is that she was also a talented modern dancer. [35] The New York News Service wrote that Ford was, "constitutionally incapable of uttering 'no comment' or otherwise fudging an answer.". She also co-authored with Chris Chase a book about her treatment, Betty: A Glad Awakening (1987). Thereafter, Mrs. Ford's daily greetings were verbally reciprocated.". Ford also became involved in causes related to HIV/AIDS. [3], The Fords meet with President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan in the White House Oval Office in March 1981. Ford, a Rancho Mirage resident who died in July 2011, had told The Desert Sun that she opposed the idea of national expansion. [99] On May 8, 2003, Ford received the Woodrow Wilson Award in Los Angeles for her public service, awarded by the Woodrow Wilson Center of the Smithsonian Institution. Despite her advanced age and own frail physical condition, Ford traveled across the country and took part in the funeral events in California, Washington, D.C., and Michigan. You may not think that creating a humane, healing environment for people with addiction is a remarkable concept. Betty Ford was a former First Lady of the United States (August 9th, 1974 - January 20th, 1977). "[66] Her openness about her cancer and treatment raised the visibility of a disease that Americans had previously been reluctant to talk about. "We were honored to host President and Mrs. Ford at the White House in 1998 when they received the Congressional Gold Medal for their dedication and service to our nation," the Clintons wrote. "She has been an inspiration to so many through her efforts to educate women about breast cancer and her wonderful work at the Betty Ford Center," Reagan said. Through the work she did at the Betty Ford Center, Ford recognized the link between drug abuse and AIDS. Betty Ford was born on April 8, 1918 and died on July 8, 2011. [3], As she had previously been with her breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, Ford was transparent with the public about her addictions and admittance to rehab. After her initial anger over the intrusion in her life, Betty remained. [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. [3] Following her husband's death, Ford continued to live in Rancho Mirage. Ford also became famous as a pioneer in the battle against substance abuse. Following her White House years, she continued to lobby for the ERA and remained active in the feminist movement. [98] That same year, a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars was dedicated to her and her husband. [76] Many of Ford's most significant contributions as an activist came following the Fords' departure from the White House. July 8, 2011 Mrs. Betty Ford passes away at 93 years of age. She received an award from Parsons The New School for Design in recognition of her style. Throughout her husband's term in office, she maintained high approval ratings and was considered to be an influential first lady. Asked about her illness, she said, "I'm very glad that I brought cancer to the forefront.". 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. [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. This is the only time that a major United States presidential candidate's spouse has delivered their concession on their behalf. Ford, a Republican who served in the White House from 1974 to 1977, was 93 when he passed away at . During her stay at the White House, her dependency on these drugs seemingly dissipated. [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. This response proved effective in killing the speculation that she was covering-up her past, and earned her some admiration in the media. [31] Active in social policy, Ford broke new ground as a politically active presidential spouse. Betty and Gerald Ford embrace in the White House in 1974. "[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. [9][10] He died the day before his 60th birthday. A month after moving into the White House, Betty Ford was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a mastectomy. Her mother's actions in the wake of her father's passing are said to have been formative for her views in support of equal pay and gender equality. [5] At the time they married, Warren worked for his own father in insurance sales. Her mother remarried, to family friend and neighbor Arthur Meigs Godwin, and Bloomer lived with them. She had held the top post at the center since its founding. [5] With her father's passing, her family lost its primary breadwinner, and her mother began working as a real estate agent to support the family. They married in 1948, two weeks before he was elected to his first term in Congress. This meant that Gerald Ford was away from home for roughly half the year, placing a great burden on Ford to raise their children. [85], In 1982, after recovering from her own addictions, Ford established the Betty Ford Center (initially called the Betty Ford Clinic) in Rancho Mirage, California, for the treatment of chemical dependency,[86] including treating the children of alcoholics. The 10-episode biographical drama, which . [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. [19] Ford lobbied state legislatures to ratify the amendment, and took on opponents of the amendment. She was 93 years old when she died. The first lady helped the nation restore its faith in the presidency following the Watergate scandal, once saying she wanted the White House to sing again. Shortly after becoming president in 1974, Ford said, "I am indebted to no man and to only one woman, my dear wife.". 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. [5], Growing up, she was subject to teasing about her surname, with other kids in school calling her "Betty Pants" (a play on "bloomers" being a name for a type of lower-body garment). LR: Nancy Reagan, Ladybird Johnson , Hillary Clinton, Rosalyn Carter, Ford, Barbara Bush, The Fords post for a photograph with three other U.S. first couples (George H. W. and Barbara Bush, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter) during at the 2000 White House Historical Association Dinner, Ford attends a National Press Club event in 2001, The Fords with President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush at the White House in 2003 at a celebration President Ford's 90th birthday, Ford and her husband at a June 2005 Gerald R. Ford Foundation dinner, Betty Ford with her husband and President George W. Bush on April 23, 2006, Ford leans over President Ford's coffin during memorial services for him held December 30, 2006 in the United States Capitol rotunda as part of the his state funeral, Ford being escorted by Army Major General Guy C. Swan III during a portion of the state funeral of her late husband, Betty Ford died of natural causes on July 8, 2011, three months after her 93rd birthday, at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage. No one confronted life's struggles with more fortitude or honesty, and as a result, we all learned from the challenges she faced. [3][75] She is the most recent first lady not to have done so. Ford also served as the second lady of the United States from 1973 to 1974 when her husband was vice president. Ford's transparency was praised by experts in drug abuse treatment, who predicted that it would make a major and positive impact. [5] At the age of 14, she began modeling clothes and teaching children popular dances, such as the foxtrot, waltz, and big apple, to earn money in the wake of the Great Depression. Born in Lake View Hospital, Betty Ford spent the first weeks of her life with her parents and brother in an apartment in the East Rogers Park suburb of Chicago, but the family shortly after relocated to Denver, Colorado. Stay tuned to our website for additional information. She instead attended the Bennington School of Dance in Bennington, Vermont, for two summers, where she studied under director Martha Hill with choreographers Martha Graham and Hanya Holm. Reactions to Ford's death came in quickly from subsequent occupants of the White House. A contrast was publicly drawn between Ford and Nancy Reagan, the wife of Ford's primary election challenger Ronald Reagan. Betty developed a passion for dance at an early age. AP. Gena Rowlands won both an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for her portrayal of Ford. Because the pills were prescribed by a physician, she did not believe that she had a . First Lady Betty Ford held her first official press conference in the State Dining Room on September 4, 1974. "[28] Ford ultimately became a popular and impactful first lady. ", Gregory Knight, Myra. We were proud to know her. [7][38][37], In 1975, when Time named the "American women" as its "Person of the Year",[39] the magazine profiled Ford as one of eleven women selected to represent "American women". [75], During the Fords' 1976 trip to mainland China, when being shown an exhibition by a Chinese arts college dance group, Ford decided to join the dancers. Nor did she address her relationship with alcohol, which she, at the time, believed was typical consumption. I embrace it, not only for me, but all the many others who are here to participate." "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. Betty Ford Birthday and Date of Death. In his remarks at his inauguration, Gerald Ford remarked, "I am indebted to no man and only one woman, my dear wife, Betty, as I begin this very difficult job. The official cause of death was listed as carbon monoxide poisoning despite the garage door being open, but Betty acknowledged later in her life that her father very likely died by suicide. Elizabeth Bloomer, who was known from childhood as Betty, was born in 1918 in Chicago and grew up in Michigan. She also organized her own dance group and taught dance at various sites in Grand Rapids, including the Calla Travis Dance Studio. [3] It was never confirmed whether his death had been accidental or a suicide. [19], In March 1977, Ford signed with NBC News to appear in two news specials within the following two years along with contributing to Today,[77] and jointly signed with her husband to write their memoirs. [3][5], Bloomer's mother was opposed to her pursuing a career in dance and insisted that she return home, and, as a compromise, they agreed that Bloomer would return home for six months and, if she still wanted to return to New York City at the end of that time, her mother would not protest further. 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. She was 93. "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. He was a Bristol, Tennessee, native who had a 40-year career as a music . Ford surprised the media and the public by explicitly supporting a woman's right to an abortion, the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), and grass roots activism. As was the case during Gerald Ford's vice presidential swearing-in, Betty Ford held the bible upon which he placed his hand while taking his oath of office. Betty Ford is awarded the nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, by President George H. W. Bush, 1991. Betty Ford "became known for her openness and candor" (Northouse, 2013) and remained true to herself, she did not change who she was, or her core values because of her new position as First Lady. She was married to Gerald Ford for 58 years. As first lady, Betty Ford was active in social policy and shattered precedents as a politically active presidential wife (Time considered her "the most since Eleanor [Roosevelt . But the approach was almost unheard of decades ago when the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation came to be. Betty Ford Biography Betty Ford, the United States' first lady, was born on April 8, 1918. [40], In 1985, Ford received the Award for Greatest Public Service Benefiting the Disadvantaged, an annual award given by the Jefferson Awards. The state dinners that Ford planned as first lady made a deliberate effort to showcase American ingredients. She briefly continued her studies with Graham in New York City until close family ties took her back to Grand Rapids in 1941. 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. In private, she triumphed over serious personal adversity. [5] Warren was an alcoholic and diabetic, and was in poor health. The organization sought to bring together political spouses and female government federal employees to discuss current party activates and ideas about legislation. [21] Ford became overwhelmed by the media attention she received and became somewhat reclusive for a period early into her time as second lady. "[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.
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