Free Essay

Betty Ford

In:

Submitted By amber1979
Words 775
Pages 4
Betty Ford was born April 18, 1918 in Chicago and grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan attending Central High School. She was the third child of, and the only daughter of, William Bloomer, Sr. and Hortense Neahr. Her father worked for the Royal Rubber Company in Grand Rapids, Michigan. When Betty was 16, her father died from carbon monoxide poisoning while working on a family car in a closed garage. In 1936, Betty graduated from central High School and went on to Bennington School of Dance. After going to Bennington, she moved to New York with Natalie Harris, (her roommate), to study under the legendary Martha Graham. Later on, she moved back to Grand Rapids to start her own dance group. Betty married William A. Warren in 1942, a furniture salesman, whom she had known since she was 12. The marriage only lasted five years.
In August of 1947, Betty met Gerald Ford. They were married October 15, 1948. He ran for congress and the election was held on November 2, 1948 and he won the seat in the House of Representatives. “ Betty Ford proved to be a typical First Lady. She wore a mood ring and spoke openly about very controversial issues such as premarital sex, experimentation with drugs and alcohol and the Equal Rights Amendment, and feminism, and gun control. She openly supported a woman’s right to choose, and raised awareness about breast cancer when she had a mastectomy in 1974” (famouswomenimho.com). For her hard efforts and all of her results TIME magazine named her woman of the year in 1975. In 1976, Betty Ford showed her political skill when her husband ran for president against Jimmy Carter. “ She not only advocated for her husband, but stood as a symbol of a moderate Republican as the conservative Republican wing of the party began to emerge. She wore buttons saying “Vote for Betty’s Husband.” When Gerald Ford lost to Jimmy Carter in the election, it was Betty Ford who delivered his concession speech, due to her husband’s bout with laryngitis in the last days of the campaign. (Biography.com)
In the 1960’s, the Ford’s staged an intervention and forced Betty to face her addiction to drugs and alcohol. After remaining at home for a week. She went to the Long Beach Naval Hospital’s, Drug AND Alcohol Rehabilitation Program. “in 1982, after a full recovery, Betty helped establish the Betty Ford Center, and dedicated it to helping all people, especially women. Through her work at the center, she soon began to voice her support for gay and lesbian rights in the workplace and she also spoke out in the support of same sex marriage” (Biography.com).
Betty Ford published a book in 1987 called : A Glad Awakening, this was about her treatment. In 2003, she wrote another book, Healing and Hope; Six Women from the Betty Ford Center Share their Journeys of Addiction and Recovery. In 1991, she was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom by George H.W. Bush; the Congressional Gold Medal in 1999, and she was honored with the Woodrow Wilson Award for Service.
Gerald Ford, her husband of 58 years, died December 26, 2006, at the age of 98. They had four children together: Michael, John, Steven, and Susan.
“ On July 8, 2011, Betty died from natural causes at the age of 93 at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage , California.” (Biography.com)
I chose this First Lady because I believe in a lot of the same things that she has accomplished along the way in her life. She helped to push the issue of homosexual rights. In my own opinion, it’s to each their own. I have a grandmother whom has been with the same lady for 27 years and she is happy People have their own opinions, but I say everyone needs somebody to love. She helped many people that had addictions and alcohol problems. Within my own family, I have an uncle whom fights the demon of drug addiction and I have other family members who fight the battle of alcohol addiction. These issues are near and dear to my heart. She also fought for breast cancer and cancer is a killer all the way around no matter what kind. I lost my pawpaw to cancer so that hits home too. So to me Betty Ford was a very influential First Lady and was the best pick for me.

References
“Betty Ford.” 2011. Biography.com 29 September 2011, http://www.biography.com/people/betty-ford-9298615

“Betty Ford” 2011 famouswomenimho.com 29 September 2011,
http://www.famouswwwfamouswomenimho.com/betty-ford.htm

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Betty Ford

...Betty Ford as First Lady: A Woman for Women Author(s): LEESA E. TOBIN Source: Presidential Studies Quarterly, Vol. 20, No. 4, Modern First Ladies White House Organization (FALL 1990), pp. 761-767 Published by: Wiley on behalf of the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/20700159 . Accessed: 05/04/2014 08:14 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org. . Wiley and Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress are collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Presidential Studies Quarterly. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded from 163.238.9.21 on Sat, 5 Apr 2014 08:14:55 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and ConditionsBetty Ford as First Lady: A Woman for Women LEESA E. TOBIN Archivist Gerald R. Ford Library On April 4, 1954, the women's page of The Washington Post carried a fea ture story on Mrs. Gerald R. Ford, a young congressman's wife with a penchant for "quiet" suits and "slightly more talkative" hats...

Words: 4067 - Pages: 17

Free Essay

Case Study of Betty Ford

...Case Study of Betty Ford Substances like alcohol are used for many reasons. Alcohol is frequently used as a means of celebration, and also to assist in diminishing feelings of being anxious or overwhelmed. Some people use alcohol in social settings, whereas other people may drink alone. The use of alcohol to self-medicate when challenges come up in everyday life can cause significant problems. In many instances a person can become totally dependent on alcohol so that he or she can function appropriately. If a person builds a tolerance to alcohol, he or she will most likely need to drink every day as well as consuming larger amounts in order to achieve the same feeling. One of the most prominent and well-known instances of alcoholism and substance abuse is Betty Ford. Betty Ford was married to President Gerald R. Ford and was thought to be one of the most powerful first ladies in our history. Betty Ford’s achievements include her sponsorships of breast cancer awareness and women’s rights (Meyer, Chapman, & Weaver, 2009). Even though Betty Ford was acknowledged and respected for these achievements, she turn out to be an even greater inspiration in society when she admitted to and overcame her lifetime battles with prescription drugs and alcohol. Betty Ford was raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan and was the only daughter and youngest of three children (The National First Ladies’ Library, 2012). Even though Betty had a pleasant and positive childhood, her mother was considered...

Words: 1249 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Betty Ford

...The Case of Betty Ford “Anyone and everyone can escape the hell that addiction has created for them and their families if they dare to take that first big step – reaching out for, and accepting help” (Betty Ford, 1982). Betty Ford is best known for her role as the First Lady to President Gerald Ford from 1974 to 1977. It was not until 1978; however, that Betty Ford’s primary influence was recognized – the creation and development of one of the most celebrated drug and alcohol recovery centers – The Betty Ford Center. Today, the facility is credited with providing top of the line care to those with addiction problems and offers programs for the entire family system affected by addiction. Treatment is gender-specific; with men and women residing in separate facilities and includes a one-of-a-kind treatment center for children whose parents are addicted (The Betty Ford Center, 2010). History Betty Ford was born in 1918 and was raised the youngest of three children. Betty began experimenting with alcohol in her early teens – first as an additive to tea by her mother for different ailments – and later as a response to peer pressure. By the time she became First Lady, Betty was quietly drinking several times per day. It was not until 1965 that Betty became addicted to prescription pain killers after seeking out non-surgical solutions to a severely pinched nerve on the left side of her neck (Myer, Chapman, & Weaver,...

Words: 1362 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Betty Ford Case Study

...will tend to become dependent on alcohol when having increasing issues with their emotional and physical health. Betty Ford is a case of substance abuse and alcoholism that became a famous case. Throughout this essay I will discuss Betty Ford and her issues with substance abuse and alcoholism. I will also analyze the biological, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral components of the disorder from substance abuse. Client Description Current Description Betty Ford grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan as the youngest of three children and the only daughter to father, William Bloomer, and mother, Hortense Neahr (The National First Ladies’ Library, 2012). Although Betty’s experiences growing up were both positive and pleasant, her mother was a perfectionist who had exceptionally high expectations for her children, and her father was a traveling salesman who very rarely spent time at home. When Betty was 16 years of age her father passed away. Because her father rarely spent time at home, it wasn’t until after his passing that she discovered that he was an alcoholic. Betty also discovered that her older brother Robert was also an alcoholic. Betty’s first taste of alcohol was in her youth when her mother would add bourbon to a cup of hot tea as a means to reduce the effects of an illness (Meyer, Chapman, & Weaver, 2009).. Predisposing Factors As a young adult, Betty enjoyed socializing...

Words: 1389 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Application of Clinical Psyhchology: Betty Ford

...Application of Clinical Psychology: Betty Ford Courtney Bowers, Tina Colbert, Janell Thomas, Mervin Waldron PSY/480 March 30, 2015 Tara Thompson Application of Clinical Psychology: Betty Ford Substance abuse can stem from a variety of biological, psychological, and social factors. These factors may vary from addict to addict, and it is the role of clinical psychology to examine the roots of addiction, and what type of treatment, such as interventions, would apply to and possibly work best for each individual. Interventions have to be rational as they apply to a patient, and the clinical psychology professional would have to have a plan as to who is involved, where will it be, what should happen, and what specific areas the intervention will focus on. We will examine the case study of Betty Ford, and uncover the possible reason for addiction as well as what type of interventions may work best and why. The Case of Betty Ford Many have heard of the Betty Ford Clinic, but most think Betty Ford, former first lady opened the clinic up because she wanted to help substance abuse addicts. In fact, that is precisely what she wished to accomplish, but for reasons other than just helping. Betty Ford was an addict herself. In 1978, Ford admitted that she was an addict, and a week later went into a treatment program. Inspired by the ability to overcome drugs and alcohol through treatment, in 1982, the Betty Ford Clinic was opened. Substance abuse doesn't lend itself to...

Words: 1473 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

General Mills

...consumers tend to consume foods they are used to and hence strong brand loyalty. The company’s competitive advantage lies on its broad range of products and high level of innovation. High level of innovation has enabled the company to meet the changing customers’ need effectively while minimizing the operational costs. By providing a wide range of products, General Mills has managed to minimize risks. General Mills basically targets three groups, which include; baby boomers, Hispanics and the Minneapolis population. General Mills, Inc General Mills, Inc is an American company that is headquartered in Minneapolis in Minnesota. The history of the four industry traces back to the 1850’s and General Mills was founded in 1928 by James Ford Bell, who facilitated a merger between several milling companies in the region. The company is principally involved with the production and distribution of consumer foods. The company provides a wide range of products including meals and food services (General Mills). Some of the major brands include Progresso Soup, Fruit Roll-Ups, Cheerios, and Hamburger Helper. Based on the recent statistics, General Mills is the second largest cereal maker in the US having approximately 31 percent of the market share (York). Since its incorporation, General Mills has recorded a significant growth. After the World War II, the...

Words: 625 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Psychology

...“Forgotten Patriots who supported the American Struggle for Independence” Elizabeth Zane, better known as “Betty Zane,” is hailed as a heroine of the Revolutionary War for her defense of Fort Henry in the wilderness of West Virginia. She was born near the Potomac River in Berkeley County, Virginia on July 19, but the year is indefinite, with historians placing it between 1759 and 1766. In any case, Betty moved with her family at an early age to the area that now is Wheeling, West Virginia. The Zane family and a few others established Fort Henry in 1774. Living there was a testament to the family's boldness. Betty's older brother, the famous Ebenezer Zane, pioneered this area in the turbulent Ohio Valley, and the land was hardly “child-friendly.” Surrounded by thick woods, it was the home of Native Americans who became increasingly hostile because of encroachment on their lands. Beyond that, their move was illegal, as the colonists were defying a royal order that reserved land west of the Appalachian Mountains for natives. The treat of attack increased as the American Revolution Began back east. The tribes who lived beyond the Appalachians understandably wanted the British to put down the rebellion, and almost all of them allied themselves with the British.While living with the daily reality of a terrifying attack, the women of Wheeling also were busy with cooking, washing, sewing, weaving, and other household tasks without the supplies that most housewives could take...

Words: 931 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

The Feminine Mystique

...Betty Friedan's Feminine Mystique Angelina C. Cosentino JRNL B1 Media and Society – Professor Garcia April 9th 2014 In 1957, Friedan was asked to conduct a survey of her former Smith College classmates for their 15th anniversary reunion; the results, in which she found that many of them were unhappy with their lives as housewives, prompted her to begin research for The Feminine Mystique, conducting interviews with other suburban housewives, as well as researching psychology, media, and advertising. She originally intended to publish an article on the topic, not a book, but no magazine would publish her article. In Feminine Mystique, Betty Friedan wrote about women's inequality from men to women's equality to men. She also wrote about women accepting the inequality to women fighting for equality. Friedan comes across as a woman with strong beliefs that filled her book with a lot of effort and information. Her writing style proves that she has been in a feminist movement and that she has a passion for every word she put into this book. She also writes in a way that makes a person interested in what her beliefs are. Friedan has a mass amount of information to prove every point she has. She once stated that “Feminine Mystique” was her favorite work to write about. Her writing style proves each point she responds to. In Feminine Mystique, Betty Friedan is attempting to persuade the reader to understand what she is trying to say. She wants people to know exactly what occurred...

Words: 2710 - Pages: 11

Free Essay

History

...Women and America During the 19th century, women in America were considered second class citizens. They were looked down upon by men, both physically and intellectually. Although they lived in a free country, women often were confined within their own homes. Women were stereotyped as being weak, delicate and frail and any type of “unconventional work” was deemed hazardous for them. A woman’s main responsibility in life was to be subordinate to her husband and maintain the duties of the home. Women’s rights, as one could imagine, were almost nonexistent. They could not own property, maintain their wages, sign contracts, hold political offices or vote. However through the turmoil of the Women’s Movement, new leaders began to emerge. After reading Ida B. Wells “The Southern Horrors" one sees the effect that her words had on shaping our country during the critical time of reconstruction. Slavery no longer existed in the south and African Americans were supposed to be equal citizens. However, they faced one of the cruelest practices any race has faced in America. Lynching and mob violence came into practice by white southerners after slavery had ended. Wells picked up her pen and began to show the world the true southern horrors that she and her people faced every day. The main justification for mob violence and lynching was to protect the white women's virtue. If they had any suspicion to believe that an African American man was with a white woman, they would not...

Words: 1877 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

Rosie the Riveter

...From Rosie the Riveter to I Love Lucy 1) Describe the post-WWII frustrations felt by women such as Betty Friedan Betty Friedan and other women were frustrated about their roles as women in society and in the household. Many women weren’t satisfied being the average housewife, they wanted to be someone and have their own personality. When women started working during WWII they found the role they wanted for themselves. After the war, most women stopped working and went back to being housewives. Betty Friedan was frustrated at this and didn’t understand why women stopped working. 2) During the era of “Rosie the Riveter”, what gains did women make in the workforce? How did these women feel about themselves and their contributions? What did society as a whole think? While most of the men were off fighting in the war, women were the only ones left to the work the men had left behind. Propaganda at one time discouraged women from competing with men for jobs, but when all the men went to war, women were then encouraged to join the workforce. These women felt they were greatly contributing to their country and families. While their husbands were earning low military pay, the working women were earning an additional income to help their families. Society believed that women should contribute to the war as much they could to help their men survive overseas. 3) What role did mass media play during the 1950s and 1960s in regard to supporting or undermining the “feminine mystique”...

Words: 378 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Betty Friedan Women's Rights Movement

...Abigail Slekis Mr. Jacobs Research Paper May 24, 2016 Betty Friedan and the Women’s Rights Movement For many years, women in the United States were trapped within a strict set of social norms: they were expected to marry young and have children, not attend college, and quit their jobs in order to care for their children. It was not until the mid-1800s that women began to break away from this norm, but even then they were cautious not to disrupt society’s rules. Betty Friedan, a graduate of the University of California Berkeley and Smith College, was a key revolutionary whose involvement became a turning point in the women’s rights movement. Born Elizabeth Naomi Goldstein, Friedan was the daughter of former journalist Miriam Goldstein and...

Words: 1572 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

Equality

...have dictated that women should focus on domestic work. However, these women have deviated outside the norms of society. Through their dedication and determination, they have changed the way women are perceived – making them all incredible and extraordinary women who shaped America. Over the years women have been pushing for the same equality as men. Women are typically looked down upon and are ignored when it comes to standing up for their rights. In the 1960s an organization called the National Organization for Women was established. This main focus of the organization is to eliminate discrimination in the workplace, secure abortion, birth control and reproductive rights for all women, and end all forms of violence towards women. Betty Friedan wrote NOWs official mission statement which says, “…to take action to bring women into full participation in the mainstream of American society now, exercising all the privileges and...

Words: 709 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Essay War

...World War II was an epic time for everyone and women were no exception. Men felt in control and believed they could do everything. Women were believed to stay at home, do the house work and take care of the children. But they had a different perspective toward things, they wanted to have rights and be able to work the same way men would to have more to look forward to in life while there husbands were away. In the Feminine Mystique Betty Friedan felt unhappy just like the women. She felt that women were only encouraged to be housewives and they wanted more than that. Physically and mentally the women were a wreck because they had to support there family psychically and mentally as well as dealing with their own depression and situations at home. During the Rosie the Riverter era women worked in factories which was viewed as a more masculine job. The women gained income from working in the factories and were able to support their family while their husband was away. The women felt good about their contributions because they felt equal now to men because they can work and do the same job any men would do. They were not depressed any more and when their husband would return from the war they were doing financially alright rather than struggling and feeling saddened until their arrival. Society's opinion towards women working masculine jobs viewed by some as something temporarily and when the husband's returned from the war it would be over and the women can just go back to being...

Words: 377 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

His 135 Week 5

...passed the Equal Pay Act. This made it illegal to pay men more than women for equal work. This was a great achievement in the Women’s Rights Movement and gave women the pay they deserved. See in those days, people viewed women as home makers and stay at home moms, when in reality most had already entered the work force to help provide for their families. One year later, Congress amended the Civil Rights Act and extended equal rights to women. This gave women the same rights that had been extended to black men. This was also a great achievement. Later in 1966, the National Organization for Women or NOW was created. This organization has been influential in the feminize movement and is still around today. This organization was created by Betty Friedan and other feminists. Friedan was journalists who traveled to interview women that graduated from her college. Her findings were that these women were playing the role they were given as house wives and mothers, despite the fact that they were miserable and unhappy. With these findings she wrote The Feminine Mystique. I feel that the changes that have been made for the rights of women have made life better. I cannot imagine being treated poorly because of my gender. In today’s society most of the population is on board with equal...

Words: 362 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

History of Ads

...Miss representation” Carol Pardun writes, “Is advertising a mirror of society? Or an agent of change? The basic premise is something like this: if advertising is a mirror of society, then the advertising industry is not really to blame for all the problems associated with bad advertising. We’re to blame.” Introduction Advertising is the process of communication whereby a person or group of people are persuaded to take some form of action, usually to make a purchase or participate in a particular behaviour. Studies undertaken by the Media Awareness Network estimate that on average, the typical North American will see 3000 ads per day (2010). With such a high level of advertising around consumers every day, is it likely that advertising shapes society, or that it merely mirrors pre-existing social trends? This is important because should advertising shape society, the high numbers of advertisements in existence could have a substantial impact to society’s wellbeing, as well as the ethical issues surrounding the messages and behaviours advertisers are trying to achieve. The question of advertising as a mirror vs. creator of culture is one of the most debated issues of the relationship between advertising and society. Does the image of woman represented in advertising shapes society or mirrors already prevailing social trends? Hypothesis The advertising media produces messages,images and ideas of woman, which therefore affect the process of social change. Conclusion ...

Words: 1258 - Pages: 6