Includes bibliographical references (pages 357-392) and index.
Contents:
Prologue: "We're doing this because we love you" -- Part one: Betty Ford, dancer. The bloomer girl ; The Martha Graham of Grand Rapids ; The five-year misunderstanding ; A courtship and a campaign -- Part two: Betty Ford, Washington woman. A congressman's wife ; Wife and mother ; A second mother ; "Mom's really upset; you need to go fix it" ; The Nixon White House ; A five-dollar bet ; Betty Ford, Second Lady ; The unthinkable happens -- Part three: Betty Ford, First Lady. The Ford White House ; Going public with breast cancer ; A reluctant role model ; The First Lady speaks out ; Two assassination attempts ; "Betty's husband for President!" ; Last days in the White House -- Part four: Betty Ford, after the White House. "Kiss today goodbye" ; A downward spiral ; The turning point ; The intervention and treatment ; Recovery ; The Betty Ford Center ; Betty Ford, the legacy.
Summary:
"An intimate and insightful biography of Betty Ford, the groundbreaking, candid, and resilient First Lady and wife of President Gerald Ford, from the #1 New York Times bestselling coauthor of Five Presidents and Mrs. Kennedy and Me. Betty Ford: First Lady, Women's Advocate, Survivor, Trailblazer is the inspiring story of an ordinary Midwestern girl thrust onto the world stage and into the White House under extraordinary circumstances. Setting a precedent as First Lady, Betty Ford refused to be silenced by her critics as she publicly championed equal rights for women, and spoke out about issues that had previously been taboo--breast cancer, depression, abortion, and sexuality. Privately, there were signs something was wrong. After a painful intervention by her family, she admitted to an addiction to alcohol and prescription drugs. Her courageous decision to speak out publicly sparked a national dialogue, and in 1982, she co-founded the Betty Ford Center, which revolutionized treatment for alcoholism and inspired the modern concept of recovery. Lisa McCubbin also brings to light Gerald and Betty Ford's sweeping love story: from Michigan to the White House, until their dying days, their relationship was that of a man and woman utterly devoted to one another other--a relationship built on trust, respect, and an unquantifiable chemistry. Based on intimate in-depth interviews with all four of her children, Susan Ford Bales, Michael Ford, Jack Ford, and Steven Ford, as well as family friends, and colleagues, Betty Ford: First Lady, Women's Advocate, Survivor, Trailblazer is a deeply personal, empathic portrait of an outspoken First Lady, who was first and foremost a devoted wife and mother. With poignant details and rare insight, McCubbin reveals a fiercely independent woman who had a lively sense of humor, unwavering faith, and an indomitable spirit--the true story behind one of the most admired and influential women of our time"-- Provided by publisher. "An intimate and insightful biography of Betty Ford, the groundbreaking, candid, and resilient First Lady and wife of President Gerald Ford, from the #1 New York Times bestselling coauthor of Five Presidents and Mrs. Kennedy and Me"-- Provided by publisher. Thrust onto the world stage under extraordinary circumstances, Betty Ford refused to be silenced by her critics as a First Lady. She publicly championed equal rights for women, and spoke out about issues that had previously been taboo: breast cancer, depression, abortion, and sexuality. After a painful intervention by her family, she admitted her own addiction to alcohol and prescription drugs and made a courageous decision to speak out publicly. In 1982 she co-founded the Betty Ford Center, which revolutionized treatment for alcoholism and inspired the modern concept of recovery. McCubbin follows Gerald and Betty Ford from Michigan to the White House, and shows how their relationship was built on trust, respect, and an unquantifiable chemistry. -- adapted from publisher info.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.