Betty Bloomer, approximately

Betty Bloomer, also known as Anne Elizabeth, was born on April 8, 1918, in Chicago. She was raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her father, William Stephenson Bloomer, worked as a salesman in a factory that manufactured parts. Her mother, Hortense Neahr Bloomer, was their only daughter and their third child. Betty was sixteen years old when her mother passed away in 1934.

At an early age, Betty Bloomer developed a passion for dance. Upon graduating from Central High School in 1936, she continued her studies with Martha Graham, becoming a member of the Troupe Performance Auxiliary at Carnegie Hall in New York City. She attended the Bennington School of Dance in Vermont for two summers while studying with Graham, establishing a long association with her.

Later, after several years of amicable divorce, they did not reunite. Warren William, a salesman, married her in 1942. She also worked with handicapped children, helping them experience the joy of dance and rhythm in movement. She formed her own performance group, working with handicapped children to help them experience the joy of dance and rhythm in movement. She became a prominent fashion coordinator at Herpolsheimer’s, a local department store. Betty Bloomer took close family ties back to Grand Rapids.

Gerald and Betty Ford on their marriage day, October 15, 1948.

They relocated to Washington, D.C., Where he held the position of a House of Representatives member for 25 years. Their marriage ceremony occurred on October 15, 1948, a fortnight prior to Mr. Ford’s election to his inaugural term in Congress. By February 1948, the pair had agreed to marry. In 1947, an acquaintance introduced her to Gerald R. Ford, Jr., A youthful attorney who had previously served as a Navy lieutenant during World War II.

Mrs. Ford quickly assumed the tasks of a congressional spouse during the era, spending much of her time volunteering with the Congressional Wives Club, the 81st Club of Congress, and the National Federation of Republican Women. She also provided tours of the Capitol to constituents visiting from Michigan.

Clara Powell, who was employed in 1949 to help with household chores, gradually became an integral part of the extended family over the course of the next two decades. Their four children, namely Susan Elizabeth (born on July 6, 1957), Steven Meigs (born on May 19, 1956), John Gardner (born on March 16, 1952), and Michael Gerald (born on March 14, 1950), added to the Ford family.

Mrs. Ford lived in Alexandria, Virginia, while her spouse served in Congress. She was an active member of the Episcopal Church Emmanual-on-the-Hill, teaching Sunday school and volunteering at various events. In addition to supporting her children’s pursuits in football, baseball, and scouting, she devoted a significant amount of time to the PTA. At home, Mrs. Ford supervised cooking and undertook various activities.

The Ford Family in the Oval Office before Gerald Ford was sworn in as President in 1974.

Instead of retiring, the Fords relocated to the White House. After President Nixon himself resigned on August 9, 1974, Gerald Ford took the oath of office as the 38th President of the United States. President Nixon selected Congressman Ford to replace Agnew when Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned amidst a scandal of his own. Following the break-in of Democratic Headquarters in the Watergate Hotel in 1972, the Nixon administration gradually became embroiled in an unfolding scandal and overwhelmed by legal investigations. The Fords had originally intended to retire from Congress by 1973, but their plans were drastically altered by a series of political events that shook the nation and reshaped their future.

She resumed her duties as the Executive at the Mansion as soon as possible. In doing so, she reassured many women who had already suffered from similar ordeals and purposefully raised public awareness about treatment options and screening. When she was diagnosed with breast cancer later that month, she broke social conventions by openly discussing her treatment and diagnosis, fostering public discussion. She also answered questions about women in politics and proposed an Amendment to the Constitution for Equal Rights. With forthrightness and humor, she expressed herself on controversial issues of the day. On September 4, 1974, she held her first press conference, immediately revealing her trademark of good-natured candor and openness as the new First Lady, Betty Ford.

Within months, 75% of the public had approved her rating, but initially, her remarks drew criticism in one to two opinion polls. At the White House, during her husband Ronald Reagan’s time as the former governor of California, she was already challenging his nomination for the Republican Party’s presidential candidacy in 1976, which angered many conservatives. She shared provocative opinions on issues such as marijuana use, pre-marital sex, and abortion rights. On the CBS show “60 Minutes,” she supported the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment and in 1975, she supported the Year of the International Women’s Rights. She encouraged the appointment of more women to senior government positions, which sparked a significant debate during an era when women’s aspirations and rights were important matters. As the first lady, Betty Ford was an outspoken advocate for women’s rights and addressed these public issues during her tenure.

Mrs. Martha Graham, a respected dancer, was honored by President Ford with the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her significant role as a mentor and for encouraging her husband’s decision to present the medal to her. During her time at the White House, she also raised awareness about the importance of performing arts and dedicated herself to promoting programs for children with disabilities.

Mrs. Ford did not shirk her extensive social duties as the first lady, as she accompanied the president on journeys to fourteen countries, including China and the Vatican, in 1975. She brought warmth and informality to the events, welcoming the guests from the nation and hosting numerous state dinners along with her husband.

Betty Ford was a dedicated supporter of her husband during the 1976 presidential campaign. She traveled to the Midwest and East, giving several speeches. Her popularity was evident on the lapel buttons that read “President! For Betty’s Husband.” After Gerald Ford was defeated by former Georgia governor Jimmy Carter, the couple moved from Washington to Rancho Mirage, California.

Her self-admittance to Long Beach Naval Hospital and a family intervention in 1978 resulted in her prescription drug and alcohol abuse being addressed.

She became a vocal advocate and actively championed improved awareness, treatment, and education for drug and alcohol dependencies. In her published book, “Awakening Glad: My Second Betty,” she recounted her experience of recovering from chemical dependency in 1987. She candidly concluded a chapter on her unplanned admission to Long Beach and chronicled her life through the White House years in her autobiography, “My Life and Times.” Betty Ford once again dealt with her personal problems honestly and openly, facing them in the public eye.

Betty Ford Center, located in Rancho Mirage, California, is widely recognized as one of the top treatment facilities in the world. Mrs. Ford, along with her good friend Leonard Firestone, tirelessly worked to design and research treatments to assist families and men in recovering from drug and alcohol addiction. In 1982, she joined the non-profit organization as a co-founder and ambassador at the Eisenhower Medical Center.

Mrs. Ford and President Ford were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 1999 for their exceptional contributions to humanitarianism and dedicated public service. In 1991, President George H. W. Bush presented her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, recognizing her remarkable leadership, selflessness, and unwavering commitment to addressing various issues. Mrs. Ford has received numerous awards and honors throughout her life.

After the death of her husband on December 26, 2006, Mrs. Ford led the nation and her family with strength and grace through several national memorial observances. She was interred on the grounds of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, alongside her husband, and ceremonies were held in Grand Rapids, California. She passed away on July 8, 2011 at the Eisenhower Medical Center.

Additional Resources

Latest Update: October 28,