Goodbye, Betty Ford - born to be free

President and Mrs. Ford read a petition, signed by all 100 members of the Senate of United States from the President to the hospital Naval of Bethesda, Bethesda, MD, following surgery for cancer of the breast of the first lady. 10-2-1974 White House photograph courtesy Gerald Ford r. Library, David Hume Kennerly

Former First Lady Betty Ford died at the age of 93 years natural causes. Ms. Ford was diagnosed with cancer of the breast in term of President Ford in the White House, and it made the news public. Betty Ford broke the barrier of silence which had invested the breast cancer and opens the door to a debate on the disease and the prevention and treatment. "I think that I was born to be free," she said. "I hope, it was for the benefit of others.

Betty Ford franchise has certainly benefited many of us and will continue to do so for many years to come. ?, it was open on her mastectomy for breast cancer and about a year and a half of the White House, she began treatment for addiction. ? of drugs and alcohol, not dark secrets to the former Betty Anne Bloomer - who has already worked as Professor of dance, and fashion model. ?, she married the former lawyer of Gerald Ford after a brief first mariageet was quickly introduced into the world of national politics. ? the Fords had four children and Betty endorsed a large part of the traditional roles around their House, while keeping the with the politics and society.

Ford served in Congress for 13 terms and finally won the position of House Leader. ? of minority at the end of 1973, Ford became Nixon, second-term Vice President. ? as the Watergate scandal broken and public outcry and distrust of the direction of mounted Nixon, President Richard Nixon made the decision without precedent to resign office ? Gerald Ford, and then became the 38th President of the United States. ? just a few weeks after Ford took his Ford fonctionsBetty was diagnosed with breast cancer during a systematic review, and the role of first lady would be never the same!

Betty Ford used his gift of outspoken to advocate for equal rights (ERA), the abortion amendment and equality in the divorce ?, she took the entrusts topic once breast cancer out of the closet and in the spotlight. public ? his candor about his diagnosis and mastectomy has inspired many other women to start doing self-exams of chest and routine mammograms. ? after leaving the House blancheBetty Ford was doing with its dependence on to pain medications and alcohol. ? once, it was opened on this topic previously taboo ? recovery has paved the way for the establishment of the Betty Ford Center for the rehabilitation and recovery. ?, it has given the Presidential Medal of freedom by George H.W. Bush in 1991 and eight years later, a gold medal of the Congress and the Woodrow Wilson Award for public service.

Ms. Ford had a difficult task as first lady, assistance to the nation to regain confidence in the Government after a historic national ? scandal, she could keep her diagnosis private - it would have all the resources available to help him cope, but she chose otherwise. ? Betty Ford said, "we were in a position where my husband had been sworn in Office for a very"a very difficult period. There had been so camouflage on Watergate that we wanted that certainly there is no camouflage in the Ford Administration. So rather than continue this traditional silence on cancer, we felt that we had to be public. "? I'm so pleased that this choice outspoken!

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