Former First Lady Betty Ford Dies

Former first lady Betty Ford, widow of the late President Gerald R. Ford and the co-founder of one of the nation's most famous addiction-treatment centers, died today in Rancho Mirage at age 93.

Ford, a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal, served as chair of the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage until she was 88.

“As our nation's first lady, she was a powerful advocate for women's health and women's rights,'' President Barack Obama said. “After leaving the White House, Mrs. Ford helped reduce the social stigma surrounding addiction and inspired thousands to seek much-needed treatment. While her death is a cause for sadness, we know that organizations such as the Betty Ford Center will honor her legacy by giving countless Americans a new lease on life.''

Born in Chicago on April 8, 1918, Elizabeth Ann (Betty) Bloomer was raised in Grand Rapids, Mich.

She attended the Bennington School of Dance in Vermont for two summers after graduating from high school in 1936, and eventually became a member of choreographer Martha Graham's Auxiliary Performance Troupe, performing at Carnegie Hall.

After moving back to Michigan, she formed her own dance group and worked with disabled children, helping them experience the rhythm of dance -- beginning a lifetime of philanthropic work.

She married a salesman named William Warren in 1942, but they divorced a few years later.

In 1947 she was introduced by a friend to Gerald R. Ford; they became engaged by February of the next year. The couple married in October 1948, and Ford was elected to Congress two weeks later. He went on to serve in the House of Representatives for 25 years.

The couple had four children -- Michael Gerald, now 61; John Gardner, 59; Steven Meigs, 55; and Susan Elizabeth, 54.

In 1973, the Fords were planning to retire, but Gerald Ford was chosen by President Richard Nixon to replace the resigned Spiro Agnew as vice president. When Nixon resigned in 1974 in the midst of the Watergate scandal, Ford became the nation's 38th president.

Not long after Gerald Ford took office, Betty Ford was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her public battle with the disease and openness in discussing her condition was credited with raising public awareness of treatment options.

She continued during her husband's administration to be outspoken on women's rights, abortion rights and other hot-button topics -- earning her some criticism from conservative Republicans.

After Jimmy Carter ousted Ford from the White House in 1976, the couple moved to Rancho Mirage. But Betty Ford wasn't close to retirement.

She began coping with her prescription drug and alcohol abuse when she was confronted by relatives urging her to seek help. She checked into Long Beach Naval Hospital for treatment -- a process she detailed in her 1978 autobiography.

Betty Ford went on to become one of the most famous spokeswomen for alcohol and drug treatment, co-founding the Betty Ford Center at Eisenhower Medical Center in 1982.

Betty Ford had not granted interviews since the December 2006 death of her husband. Ford, who had a home in Rancho Mirage for many years, devoted much of her life to humanitarian causes -- both in the United States and worldwide.

In 2008, she received the “People's Princess'' humanitarian award, authorized by the Princess Diana Foundation. She was the first person to receive the honor outside the United Kingdom.

Former President George H.W. Bush called Betty Ford “a wonderful wife and mother, a great friend and a courageous first lady.''

“No one confronted life's struggles with more fortitude or honesty, and as a result, we all learned from the challenges we faced,'' he said. “The Betty Ford Center, which already has helped change the lives of thousands of people, will be her lasting legacy of care and concern.''

Former first lady Nancy Reagan said she was “deeply saddened'' by the news.

“She has been an inspiration to so many through her efforts to educate women about breast cancer and her wonderful work at the Betty Ford Center,'' Reagan said. “She was Jerry Ford's strength through some very difficult days in our country's history, and I admired her courage in facing and sharing her personal struggles with all of us.''

Vice President Joe Biden, a senator when Gerald Ford was president, said, “throughout her life, Betty displayed strength, courage and determination that provided hope for millions of Americans seeking a healthier, happier future. Her legacy and work will live on through the millions of lives she has touched and the many more who will continue to look to her for inspiration.'' –City News Service