Lets started does not make covid seem like a very distant memory. This is great to be back again with lets ndget started. Does this not make covid seem like a very distant memory . It is great to be back again with all of you. You know . Just to be able to talk to so many friends. Well, i am just delighted to greet you and the audience in grand rapids, michigan, as well as our cspan audience added four. I am the executive director of the gerald r. Ford foundation. It is my honor to be your host, along with a lot of other good people today and to welcome you to our 2023 addition of americas first ladies luncheon. This years event is centered around. It is first ladies pat nixon and betty ford. Leadership, courage, and grace. Three great words to describe these remarkable women. Our nations longrunning first ladies series is the brainchild of the first daughter, susan ford bales, who is here with us from texas. Susan, thank you for your dedication for all these years. And joining susan a
Books and authors. Funding for cspan 2 comes from these companies and more, including charter communications. Lets started does not make covid seem like a very distant memory. This is great to be back again with all you and you know, just to be able to talk to so many lets get started. Does this not make covid seem like a very distant memory . Its great to be back again with all of you, and, you know, just to be able to talk to so many friends. Well, i am just delighted to greet you, and the audience in grand rapid, michigan, as well as our cspan audience everywhere. Im executive director of the gerald r. Ford president ial foundation, and it is my honor to be your host, along with a lot of other good people today and to welcome you to our 2023 edition of americas first ladies luncheon. This years event is centered around a theme. Its first ladies pat nixon and betty ford, lives of leadership, courage and grace, three great words to describe these remarkable women. Our foundations long
Or 70 years as an activist and her involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. This is just under an hour. Cspan Dorothy Height, who got you to write a memoir . Guest so many people for a long time have been after me to write my story. But really, it was dr. Camille cosby who finally sat me down with some people and said, this is something that you really should do. And then my good friend, maya angelou, who has such a distinguished career, when i talked to her about it, she said to me, well she helped me to get a sense of telling my story, or telling the story that ive been a part of. Cspan what do you thinks the most important part of this story . Guest it may well be the the role that i have and the opportunities that i have had as a woman, as a black person growing up in the United States, and as one who really, from my teenage days, have been a part of organizations and active had an active life. And i have been in touch with so many people, and really have had the opportunity to wo