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First Ladies of the US Betty Ford Full Image

Elizabeth Ford

Elizabeth “Betty” Anne Bloomer Ford
Years of service: 1974-1977
Born: 1918

First Ladies of the US Betty Ford Full Image

Betty Ford found herself as a First Lady under the unprecedented circumstances of President Nixon’s resignation. One month later, she publicly announced she was undergoing a mastectomy. The enormous outpouring of support across the country brought national awareness to breast cancer and saved millions of lives. Betty voiced her opinions on controversial topics and produced both public scorn and praise for her views on abortion, open marriage, and support of the Equal Rights Amendment. She left the White House still in denial of her addiction problems. The Betty Ford Center is the result of her commitment to helping others overcome drug and alcohol abuse.

 

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Leaders in Literacy

4/30/2024 through 4/30/2025

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First Ladies as Teachers, Educators, and Librarians.

The right to an education is a foundational principle of America’s history, and many First Ladies have taken up this cause. We celebrate National First Ladies Day by kicking off this featured exhibit, presented by Huntington Bank.