Betty Ford - As First Lady, Betty Ford directed her
efforts toward the arts, handicapped children and women's issues. She was also
very involved in working toward the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment.
When diagnosed with breast cancer, First Lady Betty Ford
became an honest and vocal advocate for increased awareness about this and other
women's health issues. Mrs. Ford helped millions to understand their illness and
take personal responsibility for their bodies.
In 1978, an autobiography, The Times of My Life,
chronicled Mrs. Ford's life through the White House years. Mrs. Ford's second
book, Betty: A Glad Awakening was published in 1987. In this book she
recounts her own recovery from chemical dependency in 1978.
Betty Ford has been an active and outspoken advocate for
improved awareness, education and treatment for alcohol and other drug
dependency. Mrs. Ford and Leonard Firestone were co-chairmen and founders of the
Betty Ford Center at Eisenhower, located in Rancho Mirage, California, opening
in October 1982. The Center's treatment program assists women, men and their
families in starting the process of recovery from alcoholism and other drug
dependency. Today it is regarded as the outstanding treatment facility in the
Nation.
In October 1999, President and Mrs. Betty Ford were awarded
the Congressional Gold Medal for "dedicated public service and outstanding
humanitarian contributions." The medal represents Congress's highest expression
of appreciation and is inscribed "Lives of service, Examples of Integrity."
Today, Mrs. Betty Ford serves as an active, hands-on Chairman
of the Board of Directors of the Betty Ford Center . She also continues to be
very involved with handicapped children, the arts, the importance of early
detection of breast cancer, arthritis, AIDS and other women's issues.
