Betty ford spoke her mind. Prochoice and a supporter of the equal rights amendment, she and president gerald ford openly discussed her experience with Breast Cancer. For much of her familys public life, she struggled with drug and alcohol dependency, and confronting it defined her postwhite house years. Good evening and welcome to cspans series first ladies influence and image. Tonight well tell you the story of elizabeth ford, the wife of gerald ford. Here for the next 90 minutes to tell her story is Richard Norton smith, president ial historian. If youve been watching our series, you know him. Hes one of the academic advisers for the project. Hes launched a number of president ial libraries, among them the gerald r. Ford library in michigan. You developed a relationship with the fords. So, you bring that to the table as well. Sure, in interest of full disclosure, i try to be as objective as possible. But i was very fortunate to become friends with both of the fords. But we want to st
Silence. Why should my husbands job or yours prevent us from doing this and being first lady should prevent us from expecting our ideas. She and president gerald ford it discussed her experience with Breast Cancer, and so much of a public life struggled with jargon alcohol dependency and confronting it defined her First White House years. Good evening and working to cspan series, first ladies, influence an image. Well tell you about elizabeth of our president gerald floored, and here is Richard Norton smith. President ial historian and we have one of the academic advisers. We have talked about a number of president ial libraries. Among them the Gerald Ford Library in michigan. You developed a relationship with the fourth, so you bring that to the table. In folders closure, i try to be objective as possible, but i was very fortunate to become friends with the ford. I want to start the story where we left off, which is that night in august where they learned we will be in the white house
Being ladylike does not require silence. Yoursould my husband or prevent us from being ourselves. I do not believe that being first lady should prevent me from expressing my ideas. [applause] betty ford spoke her mind. Prochoice and a supporter of the equal rights amendment, she herpresident ford expressed experience with breast cancer. Through much of her familys public life, she struggled with drug and alcohol dependency. Confronting it defined her post white house years. We will tell you the story of elizabeth ford, the wife of our 38 president , gerald ford. For the next 90 minutes to tell her story is Richard Norton smith. He is one of our academic advisors for this whole project and he has helped launch a number of president ial libraries, among them the library for the forts. You bring that to the table. In the interest of full disclosure, i try to be as objective as possible but i was very fortunate to become good friends with both of the fort. We want to start tonight story wi
Caller hi. My question has to do when ford lost to carter and once he established the buddy ford center. Host okay, gus, you sound like a younger viewer. How old are you . Caller im eight. Host eight years old. Why are you watching the program tonight . Caller because my family is really into president s and first ladies. Host and are you interested too . Caller yes. Host do you have a favorite president or favorite first lady . Caller favorite president is lincoln and first lady is mrs. Obama. Guest where do you live . Caller georgia. Host have you been to warm springs, georgia. Host yes. Guest im impressed. Host thank you so much for the call. It was about the campaign. Guest she felt badly. People remember it. You know, he lost his voice at the very end of the campaign, and it was left to the first lady, another first, i think, to read the concession statement and telegram of congratulations that had been sent to president elect carter. At the same time, you know, she wouldnt miss l
[applause] betty ford spoke her mind profment choice and a supporter of the equal rights aamendment. She and gerald ford openly discussed her experience with Breast Cancer. For much of her familys public life she struggled with alcohol and drug dependency and confronting it defined her post white house years. Welcome to first ladies influence and image. Tonight well tell you the story of elizabeth ford, the wife of president gerald ford. Here to tell her story is richard nort on the smith. You know him, hes one of our academic advisors for the whole project. Hes helped launch a number of president ial libraries among them the jarled r. Ford library in michigan. You developed a relationship with the fords so you bring that to the table. Sure. I try to be as objective as possible. But i was very fournt to become a good friends of both of the fords. We want to start tonight where we left off which is in august of 1974 when the fords learned they were going to be in the white house. How mu