Rest in Peace, Betty Ford
First Lady of the United States 1974 - 1977

Mrs. Ford demonstrated tremendous grace, courage and independence during the time she served as First Lady to President Gerald Ford.   She demonstrated that a conservative woman could be a feminist, and supported the Equal Rights Amendment and equal pay for women.  She was a supporter of the freedom of choice and the Roe V. Wade Supreme Court decision in 1973, recognizing the dangers to women in back-alley abortions.  She did not reflect the current anti-sex, pro-ignorance attitude that defines the extreme right of 2011.  Mrs. Ford also spoke out in favor of gun control.

Betty Ford was a principled conservative.woman who did not fall into lock step, and who was not dictated to by party purists, just one of the many ways in which she demonstrated her courage.

She began her time in residence at the White House by facing the diagnosis of breast cancer, undergoing a radical mastectomy.  It was unprecedented at the time for a woman to speak as publicly about such a medical problem; Betty Ford used it as an occasion to raise awareness, in an effort to help other women be diagnosed and treated.  Her efforts saved women's lives.

She will perhaps be best remembered for her courage in facing drug addiction to pain medication for a pinched nerve, and a dependency on alcohol, founding the Betty Ford Center to help others who faced the same challenge. 

I admired Betty Ford, who was married to President Ford for 58 years, when he died.  They had four children, three sons and a daughter.

She will be missed, and never more than when women on the right need an example in 2011 like the one she set.

God bless you Betty Ford, and Thank You for your service, for your life.