By not being the "political wife" of self-sacrificing legend, she both reflected and advanced public views about women in politics. 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. 9 min read. Ford also publicly expressed admiration and friendship toward First Lady Pat Nixon. [3] Following her husband's death, Ford continued to live in Rancho Mirage. [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. 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. She briefly continued her studies with Graham in New York City until close family ties took her back to Grand Rapids in 1941. The week she entered rehab, Ford disclosed her addiction to prescription medication. She studied dance at the Calla Travis Dance Studio, graduating in 1935. After leaving the White House, Mrs. Ford helped reduce the social stigma surrounding addiction and inspired thousands to seek much-needed treatment. [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. [40], In 1985, Ford received the Award for Greatest Public Service Benefiting the Disadvantaged, an annual award given by the Jefferson Awards. In her September 4, 1974 press conference, Ford declared her support for it. [3], During her and President Ford's later years together, they resided in Rancho Mirage and in Beaver Creek, Colorado. She received an award from Parsons The New School for Design in recognition of her style. Asked about her illness, she said, "I'm very glad that I brought cancer to the forefront.". As we told you back in 2020, Betty rarely left her home once the COVID-19 pandemic began.. Betty Ford wanted to be a professional dancer [33] Ford took personal credit for the appointment of Carla Anderson Hills as secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Leadership: Theory and Practice. [40] By late-1975, Harris found Ford to have established herself as one of America's most popular first ladies. White whose full . "Issues of Openness and Privacy: Press and Public Response to Betty Ford's Breast Cancer. Betty Ford, whose husband, Gerald, died in December 2006, had undergone surgery for an undisclosed ailment in April 2007. [24] However, by the spring of 1974, Ford was seen as embracing her position as second lady, becoming less reclusive and more active. At this point in her life, she was married to her first husband, businessman William Warren. 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. Betty had a history of taking opioid painkillers for a pinched nerve since the 1960s (which is also alluded to in episode 1 of 'The First Lady'). [101], On July 14, a second service was held at Grace Episcopal Church in Grand Rapids, with eulogies given by Lynne Cheney, former Ford Museum director Richard Norton Smith, and Ford's son Steven. 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. ", Hummer, Jill Abraham. She was 93. At the time Betty was struggling she needed to report to a rehab facility but at the time they catered to men. [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. 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. Her philanthropic support additionally placed a specific focus on charities serving children with special needs. Ford with other U.S. First Ladies at the November 1991 opening of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. [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. 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. The 10-episode biographical drama, which . [102] After the service, Betty Ford was buried next to her husband on the museum grounds. [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. [18], Ford served as a parent-teacher association member, Sunday school teacher at Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill, and a Cub Scout "den mother". [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. With Betty Ford you had a progressive woman . The organization sought to bring together political spouses and female government federal employees to discuss current party activates and ideas about legislation. 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). Ford reads her husband's 1976 presidential concession speech to the press. What was the location of death? It was just that they were accustomed to the more formal atmosphere prevailing under the Nixons. That same year, People named Ford one of the three most intriguing people in America. "Jerry did not want this," she wrote. Because she suffered, there will be more healing. 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. She joined Graham's auxiliary troupe and eventually performed with the company at Carnegie Hall. She was also awarded the Congressional Gold Medal as a co-recipient with President Ford in 1998. [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. They took away my tension and my pain". Betty Ford. "Ford. Ford made the decision that year to erect a tent in the White House Rose Garden to host dinners outside. She paused her divorce, and supported him, living at Warren's family's home for the next two years as his health recovered. Established in 1949 on lakeside acreage in Center City, Minnesota, the Hazelden Betty Ford . [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. One of the major strengths of authentic leadership is that it fulfills and expressed need for trustworthy leadership in society. First Lady Barbara Bush holds the medal. [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. [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. 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. "Early on, she went to the head usher and asked why the staff didn't return her good morning greetings," Smith told ABC News. "[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. 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. 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 . Hortense and William married on November 9, 1904, in Chicago. Ford's failure to conduct a solo trip is not all that extraordinary, however. "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. [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. [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. July 12, 2011 The Fords' children often also attended the dinners they hosted. Ford, a Republican who served in the White House from 1974 to 1977, was 93 when he passed away at . Her cause of death was not immediately clear. You may not think that creating a humane, healing environment for people with addiction is a remarkable concept. Since the 1960s, even before she was the first lady, Betty took prescription opioid painkillers for a pinched nerve and severe arthritic pain. 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 knew the name from his . She was the wife of President Gerald R. Ford, the 38th President of the United States. Ford would ultimately develop an addiction to prescription medication (and would ultimately confront and recover from this addiction in 1978). [12] Ford felt an obligation to attend her husband's testimony at his confirmation hearings. [76] Many of Ford's most significant contributions as an activist came following the Fords' departure from the White House. [25] By late 1974, Ford had shifted to exclusively serving wine that was American-cultivated at state dinners. Read the rest of "Betty Ford, champion of women's rights . 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. [79] In September of that year, Ford traveled to Moscow for a television program taping and to serve as hostess for The Nutcracker. She also co-authored with Chris Chase a book about her treatment, Betty: A Glad Awakening (1987). "[88], Ford continued to be an active leader and activist of the feminist movement after the Ford administration. Betty White in her kitchen in Carmel, California. President Obama noted how Betty Ford "distinguished herself through her courage and compassion. [3], The heavy campaigning placed a strain on Ford's health. You see, Betty (played on The First Lady by Michelle Pfeiffer and Kristine Froseth) was married to William before she wed former President Gerald Ford (Aaron Eckhart). 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. Phyllis Schlafly accused Ford of acting improperly by intervening in state affairs. ", Gould, Lewis L. "Modern first ladies in historical perspective. [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. Ford also enjoyed the traditional role as hostess of the White House and on a daily basis spent most of her energy on the family, health, and filling in for her husband on the hustings. This led her to seek psychiatric assistance. "[69], Dishes that Ford particularly liked serving at state dinners included wild rice,[25][74] Columbia River salmon, souffl, and flamb. [19] In her 1987 memoir she reflected on these addictions, writing, "I liked alcohol, it made me feel warm. I embrace it, not only for me, but all the many others who are here to participate." [45] A Ford family friend said that he "about fell off his chair" when he saw the photo for the first time. "[34] Ford was open about the benefits of psychiatric treatment, and spoke understandingly about marijuana use and premarital sex. The American public ranked Ford as the eighth-greatest among these first ladies. ", 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. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Afterwards, Ford stated she was impressed with the conduct of the refugees. Watch the video to find out if Betty White died in her sleep.#BettyWhite #RIP #CelebNewsRead Full Article: https://www.nickiswift.com/722297/did-betty-white-. In 1965, Ford suffered a significant nervous breakdown, erupting in severe crying that had appeared inexplicable to others. In 1985, Ford received the Los Angeles AIDS Projects "Commitment to Life Award". "[19], Ford avidly supported the proposed Equal Rights Amendment. [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. During his testimony, Gerald Ford was questioned about attending psychiatric care. But, before . "[23], The media "broke" the story that Ford had a previous marriage and had been divorced, initially reporting it as a secret revelation. She joined Graham's auxiliary troupe and eventually performed with the company at Carnegie Hall in New York City. During her time in the White House, she also admitted to taking Valium. [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. Shortly after becoming president in 1974, Ford said, "I am indebted to no man and to only one woman, my dear wife.". 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 . 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. Betty Ford was 93 years old when she died; therefore, she can be said to have died from old age. [19][61] In a 1975 interview with the news program 60 Minutes, Ford called Roe v. Wade a "great, great decision". [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. Hazelden . See full answer below. [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". As our nation's first lady, she was a powerful advocate for women's health and women's rights. The Golden Girls star, who passed away on Dec. 31 at age 99, died due to a cerebrovascular accident, according to her death certificate obtained by PEOPLE on Monday. [32], Repeatedly speaking out on women's issues, Ford was a leader in the changing status of women in American society. During her brief turn as first lady in the height of the "Swinging . She further taught ballroom dancing lessons for children with visual impairment and hearing loss and gave weekly dance lessons to African American children. [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. Become a member and. Most of all we wanted the state dinners to express the very best about America, particularly during the bicentennial year. 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. [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. Because of her grief, there will be more joy. [3] Ford remarked, "I agree with the Supreme Courts ruling. A mutual friend, Peg Neuman, suggested to Gerald that he should ask her out, so he called her. [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 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. [25][26] At the first state dinner that she arranged as first lady, Ford revived dancing as an activity of White House state dinners. [3] Ford also volunteered for local charitable organizations, including serving as the program director of the Alexandria Cancer Fund Drive. [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. [84], Ford published her first memoir in 1978, The Times of My Life, in which she discussed her battle with addiction. [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. We were proud to know her. [116] She also received that year's "Commitment to Life Award" from the Los Angeles AIDS Project. [14] The Fords would ultimately be married for the next 58 years, until Gerald Ford's death. In attendance were former president Bill Clinton, former vice president Dick Cheney and former first lady Barbara Bush. [3], During the primaries, Ford recorded radio advertisements on behalf of the campaign that were broadcast in New Hampshire. 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. The next 58 years, until Gerald Ford was questioned about attending psychiatric care formal atmosphere prevailing the... Hearing loss and gave weekly dance lessons to African American children an ailment! 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