Betty Ford

Betty Ford (born April 8, 1918), a First Lady of the United States, was born Elizabeth Ann Bloomer in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of William Stephenson Bloomer, an industrial supply salesman, and his wife Hortense Neahr.

First Lady

Gerald Ford became President in 1974 on the resignation of President Richard Nixon, who had named Gerald Ford to the Vice Presidency in 1973.

Related Topics:
1974 - Richard Nixon - Vice Presidency - 1973

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Shortly after Betty Ford became First Lady she underwent a mastectomy for breast cancer: she became a spokeswoman about the importance of early detection. In 1978 her family forced her to confront her own alcoholism and addiction to analgesic drugs and seek treatment. After her recovery, she established the Betty Ford Center for the treatment of chemical dependency.

Related Topics:
Mastectomy - Breast cancer - 1978 - Alcoholism - Addiction - Analgesic - Drug - Betty Ford Center

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Betty Ford was also an outspoken advocate of women's rights. She supported the Equal Rights Amendment and legalized abortion. For a time, it was unclear whether Gerald Ford shared his wife's pro-choice viewpoint. However, he told interviewer Larry King that he, too, was pro-choice, and had been criticized by conservative forces within the Republican Party.

Related Topics:
Women's rights - Equal Rights Amendment - Abortion - Pro-choice - Larry King - Republican Party

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In 1987, Betty Ford was inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame.

Related Topics:
1987 - Michigan Women's Hall of Fame

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