Betty Ford, who died Friday at 93, will be memorialized today in a public ceremony in California and buried Thursday at a private service in Michigan. The rites for the widow of President Gerald R. Ford will celebrate the life of a first lady whose forthright political observations and willingness to speak publicly about her private life endeared her to many Americans. Her legacy is considerable.
Ford is most closely associated with the California rehabilitation center that bears her name. Though best known for high-profile clients, the Betty Ford Center is more than a celebrity spa. Over the years, it has treated more than 97,000 individuals for alcohol and drug addiction, many of them ordinary people drawn there by its effective programs and the effort to maintain an affordable fee structure.
Ford had a role in the center from its inception. It was not unusual, clients report, to be welcomed by the former first lady. "Hello," she would say, "my name's Betty Ford, and I'm an alcoholic and drug addict." She was, of course, far more than that.
She triumphed over her own addictions, and then played a major role in promoting available and affordable treatment for others with addictions. It was not the only instance in which Ford used her own experience to bring needed national attention to a vital issue.
In 1974, not long after her husband assumed the presidency, Ford's candid discussion of her breast cancer and mastectomy radically altered perception of the disease. Before her revelations, cancer and its treatment rarely were discussed publicly. Afterward, health officials say, women were more likely to acknowledge the disease and to seek exams and treatment. Thousands if not tens of thousands of lives were saved as a result.
Ford was equally forthcoming about other topics. She talked about her kids' possible use of marijuana and their sex lives. She took public stances on issues - equal rights, abortion, gun control, among them - regardless of the political consequences. Her husband and his Republican Party weren't always happy with her comments, but the public embraced her openness. It was a quality her husband, the president, was unable to suppress, even if wanted to do so.
When a reporter asked, "Have you ever said to your wife, 'Why do you have to be so revealing, so honest?'" his answer was instructive. He answered: "I've told her a million times. It has no impact."
Betty Ford's influence and impact on the United States is greater than many people realize. Her altruism and honesty were refreshing and instructive, and she remains a positive role model for first ladies. The nation will remember her with fondness and with respect.