Farewell, Betty Ford - Born to be Outspoken

President and Mrs. Ford read a petition, signed by all 100 members of the United States Senate, in the President's Suite at Bethesda Naval Hospital, Bethesda, MD, following the First Lady's breast cancer surgery. 10-2-1974 White House Photograph Courtesy Gerald R. Ford Library, David Hume Kennerly

Former First Lady Betty Ford has died of natural causes at age 93. Mrs. Ford was diagnosed with breast cancer during President Ford's tenure in the White House, and she made that news public. Betty Ford broke the silence barrier that had cloaked breast cancer, and opened the door to public discussion of the disease and it's prevention and treatment. "I think I was born to be outspoken," she said. "Hopefully, it's been to the benefit of others."

Betty Ford's candor has certainly benefited many of us, and will continue to do so for many years to come.? She was open about her mastectomy for breast cancer, and about a year and a half out of the White House, she started treatment for drug and alcohol addiction.? No dark secrets for the former Betty Anne Bloomer - who once worked as a dance teacher and fashion model.? She married former lawyer Gerald Ford after a brief first marriage, and was swiftly introduced into the world of national politics.? The Fords had four children and Betty shouldered much of the traditional roles around their home, while keeping up with politics and society.

Ford served in Congress for 13 terms and eventually won the position of House Minority Leader.? In late 1973, Ford became Nixon's second-term Vice President.? As the Watergate Scandal broke and public outcry and distrust of the Nixon leadership mounted, President Nixon took the unprecedented step of resigning from office.? Gerald Ford then became the 38th President of the United States.? Just a few weeks after Ford took office, Betty Ford was diagnosed with breast cancer during a routine checkup, and the role of First Lady would never be the same!

Betty Ford used her gift of outspokenness to lobby for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), abortion, and equality in divorce.? She took the once hush-hush topic of breast cancer out of the closet and into the public spotlight.? Her candor about her mastectomy and diagnosis inspired many other women to start doing routine breast self-exams and mammograms.? After leaving the White House, Betty Ford was forced to face her addiction to pain medications and alcohol.? Again she was open about this previously taboo topic.? Her recovery paved the way for the establishment of the Betty Ford Center for rehabilitation and recovery.? She was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom by George H.W. Bush in 1991, and eight years later a Congressional Gold Medal as well as the Woodrow Wilson Award for public service.

Mrs. Ford had a difficult task as First Lady, helping the nation to regain trust in the government after a historic national scandal.? She could have kept her diagnosis private - she would have had every resource available to help her cope, but she chose otherwise.? Betty Ford said, "We were in a position where my husband had been sworn into office during a very, very difficult time. 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. So rather than continue this traditional silence about breast cancer, we felt we had to be public."? I'm so glad she made that outspoken choice!

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