[3] After the interview aired, a number of Ford's remarks in this interview on hot-button issues generated particularly immense media attention. "Did they dislike her? During and after her years in the White House, 1974 to 1977, Mrs.. Jacqueline Kennedy, Pat Nixon and Betty Ford all smoked cigarettes but were never photographed doing so. [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. [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. Ford was also observed as upgrading her wardrobe, adding designer clothing. Betty Ford is awarded the nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, by President George H. W. Bush, 1991. [3] President Ford died, aged 93, of heart failure on December 26, 2006, at their Rancho Mirage home. Warters, T. Alissa. [89] Ford continued to be an outspoken supporter of equal pay for women, breast cancer awareness, and the ERA throughout her life. [3], Ford had an extremely busy schedule by July 1974. 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. "[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. [81][82], Ford had suffered from a dependency on prescription medication and from alcoholism prior even to her husband's presidency. [3] Ford also held active membership in groups such as the 81st Congress Club and National Federation of Republican Women. She was the wife of President Gerald R. Ford, the 38th President of the United States. The Betty Ford Center, which already has helped change the lives of thousands of people, will be her lasting legacy of care and concern. [19] For a long time, it was unclear whether Gerald Ford shared his wife's pro-abortion rights viewpoint. During her time in the White House, she also admitted to taking Valium. [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. The LA County death . "My understanding is it was natural causes. ", This page was last edited on 14 January 2023, at 22:04. [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. Helping others overcome addiction became her chief cause. [3] It was never confirmed whether his death had been accidental or a suicide. She was raised by her parents William and Hortense Bloomer. Weeks after Ford became first lady, she underwent a mastectomy for breast cancer on September 28, 1974, after having been diagnosed with the disease. [18], Ford served as a parent-teacher association member, Sunday school teacher at Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill, and a Cub Scout "den mother". She knew the name from his . Betty Ford. The Fords' unlikely rise to first family started in 1973, just as they were planning on retiring from Congress. She was 93 years old when she died. [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. [9][10] He died the day before his 60th birthday. Gena Rowlands won both an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award for her portrayal of Ford. Her cause of death was not immediately clear. [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. [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. [21] That same year, her husband brought up the possibility that he might retire from congress in 1977, which would make the 1974 United States House of Representatives election the last he would run in. Her taboo-busting honesty about abortion, sex, gay rights, marijuana and the Equal Rights . "[19], Ford avidly supported the proposed Equal Rights Amendment. Article continues below advertisement. [99] In 2003, Ford was awarded the Woodrow Wilson Award by the Woodrow Wilson Center of the Smithsonian Institution. [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. 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. [32], Repeatedly speaking out on women's issues, Ford was a leader in the changing status of women in American society. [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. Because the pills were prescribed by a physician, she did not believe that she had a . Ford succeeded in getting sober. [93] As the deadline approached, Ford led marches, parades and rallies for the ERA with other feminists, including First Daughter Maureen Reagan and various Hollywood actors. In an interview on CBS' "60 Minutes," she talked about marijuana, equal rights for women, abortion and the possibility of a premarital affair for her daughter, Susan. Through the work she did at the Betty Ford Center, Ford recognized the link between drug abuse and AIDS. ", President George H.W. One day in 1934, when she was 16, Betty came home and her father, a traveling salesman who had recently lost his job, had. When did Betty Ford die? Her philanthropic support additionally placed a specific focus on charities serving children with special needs. Though I told myself I would just use once. It focuses on the middle school teacher Betty Ford's murder. [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. It was something the couple neither expected or wanted, Betty Ford recalled in her memoirs. 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 Anne Ford (ne Bloomer; formerly Warren;[2] April 8, 1918 July 8, 2011) was the first lady of the United States from 1974 to 1977, as the wife of President Gerald Ford. As First Lady of the United States from 1974-1977, Betty Ford was known for her candor. She also was completely unpretentious. Ford was noted for raising breast cancer awareness following her 1974 mastectomy. 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. [63], Ford's involvement in political issues received some conservative criticism. JAKE TAPPER, KATIE HINMAN and MARTHA RADDATZ, founder of the Betty Ford Center for substance abuse and addiction. She worked with children with disabilities at the Mary Free Bed Home for Crippled Children. Ford was credited with rejuvenating the ERA movement and inspiring more women to continue working for the ERA. Where did Betty Ford die? She further taught ballroom dancing lessons for children with visual impairment and hearing loss and gave weekly dance lessons to African American children. ", McClellan, Michelle L. "Fame through Shame: Women Alcoholics, Celebrity, and Disclosure. She was married to Gerald Ford for 58 years. [61][33] Ford utilized phone calls, letter-writing, and telegrams as means of lobbying in support of the ERA. 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. [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. In 1965, Ford suffered a significant nervous breakdown, erupting in severe crying that had appeared inexplicable to others. [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). [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. Betty Ford, whose husband, Gerald, died in December 2006, had undergone surgery for an undisclosed ailment in April 2007. Betty Ford was at his side. Nor did she address her relationship with alcohol, which she, at the time, believed was typical consumption. She died in her sleep, in her. [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. All the way there I was telling myself how it would not change anything. [37] Ford ultimately played an important role in the 1976 election campaign. In 1964, a pinched nerve on the left side of Ford's neck sent her to the hospital for two weeks. From a young age, she had a passion for dancing. [3], Ford filmed an interview with the television news program 60 Minutes which was broadcast on August 10, 1975. 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. "In the end, simply by being herself, she made it easier for millions of American women to be themselves," Smith told ABC News. [3], After her husband's narrow defeat, there was some anecdotal speculation that Ford may have both have helped to alienate conservative Republicans from voting for her husband and at the same time helped attract him support from liberal and moderate Republicans, Democrats, and independents. As we told you back in 2020, Betty rarely left her home once the COVID-19 pandemic began.. "And if they'd asked me that I would have told them," she said, adding that her response would be, "As often as possible. Phyllis Schlafly accused Ford of acting improperly by intervening in state affairs. When they returned to Grand Rapids, she worked again at Herpolsheimer's, this time as the fashion coordinator. Become a member and. [5] At the time they married, Warren worked for his own father in insurance sales. [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. During the general election, her busy campaign activity saw the reigniting of her pinched nerve. Ford also served as the second lady of the United States from 1973 to 1974 when her husband was vice president. [14] The Fords would ultimately be married for the next 58 years, until Gerald Ford's death. She continued to serve as Chairman-Emeritus of the Betty Ford Center and enjoyed her role as grandmother and great-grandmother to her still-growing family. [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. It was just that they were accustomed to the more formal atmosphere prevailing under the Nixons. 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). [3][12] With her husband assuming the office of vice president, Ford became the second lady of the United States. [90] She was an active member of the Junior League. After her pinched nerve, she began suffering several effects, including muscle spasms, periphrasic neuropathy, numbing the left side of her neck, and arthritis on her shoulder and arm. [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. Because she suffered, there will be more healing. [3] Ford also volunteered for local charitable organizations, including serving as the program director of the Alexandria Cancer Fund Drive. He later worked for the Continental Can Company, and after that for the Widdicomb Furniture Company. "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. 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. [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. She also fundraised for No Greater Love, in appreciation of its work benefiting Children of Vietnam War MIA and POWs. In 1982, she co-founded the Betty Ford Center in California. Following her White House years, she continued to lobby for the ERA and remained active in the feminist movement. [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. [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". ", Gould, Lewis L. "Modern first ladies in historical perspective. [111][112][113] Ford is also one of three former first ladies whose lives are the focus of the Emmy-nominated 2022 Showtime television series The First Lady, in which she is portrayed by Michelle Pfeiffer. White House photographer David Hume Kennerly took a photo of her on the table. [19][61] In a 1975 interview with the news program 60 Minutes, Ford called Roe v. Wade a "great, great decision". Betty Bloomer Warren dances in "Fantasy," 1945. [46][47] The photo was subsequently published and is regarded as an "iconic" photograph of Ford's time as First Lady. Ford will be buried alongside her husband, the former president, at his library in Grand Rapids, Mich., she added. 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. [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. The American public ranked Ford as the eighth-greatest among these first ladies. This led her to seek psychiatric assistance. A month after moving into the White House, Betty Ford was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a mastectomy. Los Angeles: Sage Publications. 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 also organized her own dance group and taught dance at various sites in Grand Rapids, including the Calla Travis Dance Studio. They took away my tension and my pain". The official cause of death listed on the Los Angeles County document obtained by CNN . [55] After her tenure as first lady ended, she would top the poll for a second time in 1978, the year she had established herself as an advocate for people with drug and alcohol dependence. [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. "[34] This reflects a common trend of American first ladies often being more popular than the presidents to which they are married. 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 1982 Siena College Research Institute has conducted occasional surveys asking historians to assess American first ladies according to a cumulative score on the independent criteria of their background, value to the country, intelligence, courage, accomplishments, integrity, leadership, being their own women, public image, and value to the president. John Robert Greene. CNN . Among the revelations in the biography: 1. Betty Ford Biography Betty Ford, the United States' first lady, was born on April 8, 1918. [3], Campaign button in support of President Ford's 1976 presidential campaign with the phrase "Keep Betty in the White House", Betty and Gerald Ford onstage at the 1976 Republican National Convention. [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. Thats the way I feel. [35] The New York News Service wrote that Ford was, "constitutionally incapable of uttering 'no comment' or otherwise fudging an answer.". You may not think that creating a humane, healing environment for people with addiction is a remarkable concept. She made countless contributions to our country, and we especially appreciate her courage in calling attention to breast cancer and substance abuse. Ford made campaign appearances and delivered speeches across the United States. She was also outspoken on women's rights issues. Thereafter, Mrs. Ford's daily greetings were verbally reciprocated.". First Lady Barbara Bush holds the medal. 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. [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. Later that day, President Ford was caught momentarily patting Betty's buttocks before the press gathered outside of their Virginia residence. [42][43][44] Gerald Ford did not know about or see the photo until 1994. [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. 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. "This is not a lack of willpower, this is a disease," she said at the time. [54] She placed first in 1975. This video contains excerpts from the second ha. [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. Ford, a Republican who served in the White House from 1974 to 1977, was 93 when he passed away at . Former first lady Betty Ford has died at the age of 93. [34] Ford's popularity often was higher than her husband's. [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 may be the most famous and least known First Lady in history. [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. 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 Ford dies at 93; former first lady. She was also the Second Lady of the United States from 1973 to 1974, when Ford served as the 40th U.S. vice president. They married in 1948, two weeks before he was elected to his first term in Congress. But, before . We were proud to call her a friend.". On August 9, 1974, Betty Bloomer Ford was thrust onto the world stage when her . [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". ", Gregory Knight, Myra. (National Archives Identifier 187012) The week she entered rehab, Ford disclosed her addiction to prescription medication. Ford was observed audibly telling her husband "I love you" following a kiss they shared right after he was sworn in as president. "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. [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. She was working in a fashion job in Grand Rapids where Gerald lived. [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. [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. [7][30] Ford regarded Roosevelt a role model. 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). Ford's transparency was praised by experts in drug abuse treatment, who predicted that it would make a major and positive impact. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? She received an award from Parsons The New School for Design in recognition of her style. [84], In 1987, Ford underwent quadruple coronary bypass surgery and recovered without complications. Reactions to Ford's death came in quickly from subsequent occupants of the White House. Ford had declared that she would be accompanying her husband at campaign functions, "when he wants me to. 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-. [3] Following her husband's death, Ford continued to live in Rancho Mirage. [101], In July 2018, a statue of Ford was unveiled outside of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Since the 1960s, even before she was the first lady, Betty took prescription opioid painkillers for a pinched nerve and severe arthritic pain. She visited states, including Illinois, where ratification was believed to have the most realistic chance of passing. [5] After he recovered, they were divorced on September 22, 1947. 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]. 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. On December 26, 2006, Gerald Ford, the 38th president of the United States, died at home in Rancho Mirage, California at 6:45 p.m. local time (02:45, December 27, UTC). Most of all we wanted the state dinners to express the very best about America, particularly during the bicentennial year. Ford's failure to conduct a solo trip is not all that extraordinary, however. Bloomer disliked the surname. It was not until 2016 that a Michigan wine would again be served at a White House state dinner. During his testimony, Gerald Ford was questioned about attending psychiatric care. 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). Ford also became famous as a pioneer in the battle against substance abuse. Betty Ford was born on April 8, 1918 and died on July 8, 2011. In 1985, Ford received the Los Angeles AIDS Projects "Commitment to Life Award". [95], Ford tackled the stigmatized issue of HIV/AIDS during the HIV/AIDS crisis. She continued to strongly advocate and lobby politicians and state legislatures for passage of the ERA. [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. The Fords' children often also attended the dinners they hosted. In contrast, there was tremendous organic excitement for Betty Ford among supporters of the campaign. Stay tuned to our website for additional information. [25] By late 1974, Ford had shifted to exclusively serving wine that was American-cultivated at state dinners. During her stay at the White House, her dependency on these drugs seemingly dissipated. [15] This open affection was evident from the beginning of Gerald Ford's presidency. 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. [3], Spiro Agnew resigned as vice president on October 10, 1973. 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 Ford was 93 years old when she died; therefore, she can be said to have died from old age. As the First Lady . See full answer below. 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. 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. This is my problem". The series lovers highly anticipate the show and are peculiar to know about Betty Ford's first husband. We were proud to know her. Penn State World Campus (2013). [21] Ford became overwhelmed by the media attention she received and became somewhat reclusive for a period early into her time as second lady. ", Tobin, Leesa E. "Betty Ford as first lady: A woman for women.". 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. After leaving the White House in 1977, Ford continued to lead an active public life. 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. He died of a heart attack just four years after leaving office. [3], Ford accompanied her husband on a trip to mainland China in 1972. Ford made the decision that year to erect a tent in the White House Rose Garden to host dinners outside. Schedule by July 1974 a Michigan wine would again be served at White... A passion for dancing age of 93 benefiting children of Vietnam War MIA POWs! 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September 22, 1947 the hospital for two weeks before he was elected to his term. & # x27 ; s murder conduct a solo trip is not that. Era movement and inspiring more women to continue working for the next 58 years an active of... ; s first husband a remarkable concept during his testimony, Gerald, died in December 2006, 22:04. At state dinners to express the very best about America, particularly the. Ford has died at the time they married in 1948, two weeks his death had been or! Passage of the White House in 1977, Ford tackled the stigmatized issue of HIV/AIDS during the year!

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