Betty Ford
FIRST LADY TO GERALD FORD // #38
When she was 16 years old, her dad died of asphyxiation working under a car while it was running.
Endured a miserable, lonely marriage to a traveling salesman and decided she wanted out. As she was writing to let him know, she got a call that he was in a diabetic coma. She took care of him for two years. As soon as he could walk and work, she filed for divorce.
Didn’t want to be with someone who was away all the time. Married Ford. He traveled nonstop.
Helped reduce the stigma of both breast cancer and addiction
Chronically tardy, the staff referred to her as “The Late Mrs. Ford”
Her approval rating was higher than his; campaign buttons said “Betty’s husband for president in ‘76”
