“I liked alcohol” . . . “I went through the two weeks”: BAGA, 74–76.
“The wedding, I think, was very hard on her”: Susan Ford Bales, discussion, February 17, 2017.
“That first year of recovery”: BAGA, 88.
25: The Betty Ford Center
“Leonard is in terrible shape”: BAGA, 79.
“I loved that”: ibid., 85.
“He knew the minute we walked in”: ibid., 86.
“No, no, no, Leonard,” Betty said. “You’re going to go to treatment”: ibid.
“You’re my best friend, Leonard”: ibid.
“It was really beautiful”: Morgan, discussion, February 27, 2017.
“It was my second go after nine years of sobriety”: BAGA, 87.
“That’s easy. Either give up your nightly martini”: Ann Cullen, in discussion with author, December 9, 2016.
“What did they give you” . . . “You and Betty should put your heads together”: BAGA, 90.
“You know,” he said, “we’ve got this disease”: Michael Ford, discussion, October 26, 2017.
“Mom was a bit reluctant”: ibid.
One of the things: Morgan, discussion, May 20, 2017.
“With my recovery, and Leonard’s recovery”: BAGA, 90.
“She got fired up!”: Michael Ford, discussion, October 26, 2017.
“That was a huge moment”: Morgan, discussion, May 20, 2017.
“We were having a problem at Eisenhower”: BAGA, 91.
Nationwide, the common practice: Cruse, discussion, July 25, 2017.
“gentlemen” . . . “problem”: “The History of Hazelden,” Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation online, accessed January 16, 2017, www.hazeldenbettyford.org/about-us/mission/history/hazelden.
“provide low-cost, comprehensive alcoholism services”: proposal materials for “A Recovery and Training Facility for Chemical Dependency,” Betty Ford: Post– White House Papers, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, Ann Arbor, MI.
“I don’t think I realized until much later”: Morgan, discussion, May 20, 2017.
“If people could just see in hindsight”: ibid.
“Have you ever been to New York City?” . . . “No, I didn’t. I’m just kidding”: Penny Circle, in discussion with author, January 17, 2018.
“My new life was precious to me”: BAGA, 96.
“Betty’s recovery was never talked about”: ibid.
“There I was. Mrs. Ford wasn’t sure”: Cullen, discussion, December 9, 2016.
“I can’t tell you how many Republicans”: BAGA, 97.
“He didn’t tell me not to”: ibid.
“Wake Up GOP”: Associated Press, “ERA Supporters Rally,” Detroit Free Press, July 15, 1980.
“watched the parade go by”: BAGA, 97.
“I really saw a change in him”: Michael Ford, discussion, October 26, 2017.
“They were a pretty dynamic duo”: Cullen, discussion, December 9, 2016.
One time Betty and Jerry: Cruse, discussion, July 25, 2017.
“It got to the point people didn’t want to sit next to me”: ibid.
She’d also seen how much: Cullen, discussion, December 9, 2016.
“We know we can provide quality care”: BAGA, 94.
“Do you think we could use her name on it?”: ibid., 95.
“Absolutely not, I’m too new in recovery”: John Schwarzlose, president, Betty Ford Center, in A Legacy of Hope, video.
I’ll never be able to drink again: BAGA, 95.
“We’re proud of you, Mom”: Steve Ford, discussion, November 23, 2016.
“It was a hectic sobriety”: BAGA, 95.
“She bossed that construction crew around”: Cullen, discussion, December 9, 2016.
“And then, Betty being Betty, set out to help others”: “Bush Ends Visit to State,” Eureka (CA) Times Standard, October 4, 1982.
“It’s not easy to properly and in good taste express the feelings”: Betty Ford Center footage provided to author by Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, Ann Arbor, MI, 2003-NLF-010-012.
“tough love”: ibid.
“blame the navy”: BAGA, 114.
“Hello. I’m Betty”: Jerry Moe, in discussion with author, March 28, 2017.
26: Betty Ford, the Legacy
“Mrs. Ford had a way of talking”: Moe, discussion, Betty Ford Center, Rancho Mirage, CA, March 28, 2017.
“It’s an experience unlike any other I’ve known”: John Duka, “Elizabeth Taylor: Journal of a Recovery,” New York Times, February 4, 1985, A16, https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1985/02/04/issue.html?action=click&contentCollection=Archives&module=LedeAsset®ion=ArchiveBody&pgtype=article.
“Betty Ford and I discussed what it would be like to go public”: ibid.
“not only helped me, but several other very worthwhile women”: Betty Ford Special Letters, Box B3, Folder J-R, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, Ann Arbor, MI.
“She had her finger on every aspect”: Ali MacGraw, in discussion with author, April 12, 2017.
“You’re nothing unless you’ve been to Betty Ford”: P. J. Corkery, “Addiction à L.A. Mode,” New Republic online, July 7, 1985, https://newrepublic.com/article/91735/betty-ford-center-addiction-elizabeth-taylor.
“a new hold on life”: Johnny Cash to Betty Ford, letter, February 15, 1984, Betty Ford Special Letters, Box B1, Folder A-C, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library, Ann Arbor, MI.
“Talk about being famous” . . . “All the songs, and all the poems, and the shows”: Judy Kurtz, “Stevie Nicks Remembers Betty Ford,” Hill, July 11, 2011, http://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/256247-judy-kurtz.
“Now, here we were in a role reversal”: Moore, Growing Up Again, 4.
“No, no, no”: Moe, discussion, March 28, 2017.
celebrities have always made up less than 1 percent: Mark Mishek, CEO, Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, in discussion with author, March 27, 2017.
“President Ford was so proud of her”: Moe, discussion, March 28, 2017.
“I don’t give one hundred percent”: Beverly Beyette, “Betty Ford, On Reflection,” Los Angeles Times, January 18, 1989.
“She stepped forward”: Pat Roeske, “AIDS Benefit L.A.-Style,” Washington Post, September 21, 1985.
“Mrs. Ford had quite a few gay friends”: Cullen, discussion, December 9, 2016.
“I watched her at the Betty Ford clinic”: Roeske, “AIDS Benefit L.A.-Style.”
“Tonight is about conquering fear”: ibid.
“I was very pleased that I was selected” . . . “I got the message”: Buendorf, discussion, November 11, 2016.
“I would do anything for the Betty Ford Center”: Jamie Shoop Bray, “After 10 Years, Betty Ford Center Is a Star in Rehab,” North Hills (PA) News Record, November 6, 1992.
“Gramma”: Heather Devers, in discussion with author, February 17, 2017.
“Mom, Dad” . . . “I read mine every day”: Steve Ford, discussion, January 16, 2018.
Dear Steve . . . Enjoy your life: Steve Ford, email message to author, January 18, 2018.
“Every time they’d give her a new therapy”: Brinker, discussion, October 16, 2017.
“I’m delighted to help” . . . “she would have given it a try”: ibid.
“She rounded up the Republicans”: Carter, discussion, June 14, 2017.
“Her courage and candor”: President George H. W. Bush, “Remarks on Presenting the Presidential Medal of Freedom Awards,” November 18, 1991, American Presidency Project, University of California, Santa Barbara, www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=20239.
“Perhaps no first lady in our history”: President Bill Clinton, “Remarks on Presenting the Congressional Gold Medal to Former President Gerald R. Ford and Former First Lady Betty Ford,” October 27, 1999, American Presidency Project, University of California, Santa Barbara, www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=56803&st=&st1.
“Show me your breaststroke”: Devers, discussion, February 17, 2017.
“Grandpa used to spell”: ibid.
“It was an open platform” . . . “There wasn’t a stronger voice”: Tyne Vance Berlanga, in discussion with author, October 10, 2017.
“Grandpa always referred to Gramma as his bride”: Devers, discussion, February 17, 2017.
“I’m inclined to proceed” . . . they were headed back to their home in the desert: Susan Ford Bales and Vaden Bales, in discussion with author, February 17, 2017.
“Come on out and look”: Jan Hart, in discussion with author, March 27, 2017.
“He had been kind of in and out”: Susan Ford Bales, discussion, February 17, 2017.
“Well, I think you and I have a little bit of work to do” . . . “If I hadn’t been married”: Willard, discussion and email message to author, February 2–4, 2018.
David Kennerly could hardly contain his emotions: Kennerly, discussion, March 30, 2017.
“There were so many people”: Wilson “Bill” Livingood, in discussion with author, December 8, 2016.
“I had never seen that before”: ibid.
“But that was not in her”: Susan Ford Bales, discussion, February 17, 2017.
“I can do this”: Willard, discussion, February 2, 2018.
“I’ve been in thousands of motorcades”: ibid.
“I just don’t think I can make it any further”: ibid.; also Susan Ford Bales, telephone discussion with author, February 3, 2018.
“It was like watching a flat tire inflate”: Susan Ford Bales, ibid.
“You can do this”: ibid.
“On behalf of the president”: Willard, email message to author, February 4, 2018.
“After we land”: Willard, discussion, February 2, 2018.
How does she do this?: ibid.
“I think I’d like to lay down for a while” . . . “It’s been an honor”: ibid., November 17, 2017.
“So when he looks down”: Hart, discussion, March 27, 2017.
“She was always very interested”: Devers, discussion, February 17, 2017.
“Why am I still here?”: ibid.
“I just want to go see my boyfriend”: ibid.
Afterword
“indescribable pride and humility”: President Gerald R. Ford to Greg Willard, letter, November 6, 2006.
“Mother’s decision about the flag”: Susan Ford Bales and Greg Willard, discussions with author, February 4, 2018.
“On behalf of Mother”: ibid.
“Where women’s health issues are concerned”: Richard Norton Smith, Betty Ford Funeral, Grand Rapids, MI, July 14, 2011 (C-Span online, video, 1:46:30), www.c-span.org/video/?300520-1/betty-ford-funeral.
“at the Betty Ford Center”: Moe, discussion, March 28, 2017.
“We do one thing” . . . “You can’t be all things to all people”: ibid.
According to the US Department of Health and Human Services . . . 5 percent will transition to heroin: HHS.Gov/opioids.
Susan worked alongside her mother: Susan Ford Bales, discussion, January 16, 2018.
Steve Ford has proudly remained sober: Steve Ford, discussion, January 16, 2018.
Mike Ford continued his work: Michael Ford, discussion, October 26, 2017.
INDEX
* * *
A note about the index: The pages referenced in this index refer to the page numbers in the print edition. Clicking on a page number will take you to the ebook location that corresponds to the beginning of that page in the print edition. For a comprehensive list of locations of any word or phrase, use your reading system’s search function.
Abbruzzese, Louise, 154
Abbruzzese, Peter, 154
ABC News, xi
abortion, 123, 162, 204
acupuncture, 101, 268
Adams, Ansel, 213
Adams, Eddie, 239
addiction:
Betty Ford Center and, 310–21, 322–27, 349
Betty as role model for recovery, 293, 297–98, 299, 307, 310–21, 322–27, 333, 349–50
Betty’s substance abuse, xi–xvii, 62, 77, 79–80, 83, 88–89, 92–96, 128, 132–33, 181–82, 225–28, 256–79, 349
codependence roles of family members, 96, 268–69, 273, 275, 277, 282, 292, 294–95, 301
detoxification, 283, 284–86, 294
intervention and treatment, xi–xvii, 277, 280–98
opioid, 349–50
recovery, 299–307
turning point with, 265–79
See also alcoholism; drugs, prescription
Agnew, Spiro T., 97–98, 107, 109, 137
resignation of, 107
AIDS, 313, 326–27
AIDS Project Commitment to Life Award, 327
Air Force One, 85, 148, 158, 183, 213–14, 251
Alabama, 162
Alaska, 100
Alberi, Bob, 159–60, 304
Alcoholics Anonymous, 276, 283, 287, 288, 289, 297, 300, 309, 312, 325, 329, 330
12 steps, 312, 330
alcoholism, 14, 62, 333
of Betty, xii–xvii, 62, 77, 79–80, 83, 88–89, 92–96, 133, 256–79, 349
Betty admits to, 289, 291–93, 301
of Betty’s father, 14, 294
Betty Ford Center and, 310–21, 322–27, 349
Betty as role model for recovery, 293, 297–98, 299, 307, 310–21, 322–27, 333, 349–50
codependence roles of family members, 96, 268–69, 273, 275, 277, 282, 292, 294–95, 301
detoxification, 283, 284–86, 294
genetics and, 291, 294, 329
intervention, xi–xvii, 277, 280–98
prescription drugs mixed with, 88–89, 95, 256–57, 262, 267, 279, 284, 291
alcoholism (cont.)
recovery, 299–307
of Steve, 328–30, 350
Alda, Alan, 330
Alexandria, Virginia, 61
Ford house in, 63–65, 73–84, 106–13, 119–20, 143, 145, 154, 158, 245
Ali, Muhammad, 83
Allen, Ethan, 77
Allen, George, 176
Allen, Woody, 200–201
alligators, 76
American Cancer Crusade, 173
American Cancer Society, 173, 175
American Independent Party, 97
amnesty, 163
amphetamines, 89, 283
Anderson, Bay, 219, 220
Andrews Air Force Base, 158, 159, 251, 339
Angelo, Bonnie, 135, 162
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 12, 19, 40, 48, 49, 342
Annenberg, Walter, 310–11, 317
“Anniversary Waltz” (song), 179
Aqaba, 305
Arizona, 230
Arlington National Cemetery, 85–86
Armbrister, Trevor, 248
arthritis, 181–82, 225–26, 227, 293, 300
Artrain, 128–33
Asner, Ed, 217
Aspen, 184
Associated Press, 163
Aswan, 305
Atkins, Ollie, 148
Atlanta, 22
Austria, 197
B. F. Goodrich Company, 4
“Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” (song), 158
Bailey, Pearl, 233, 303
Baker, James III, 228
Bales, Vaden, 334
Barrett, Bob, xii, xiv, 245, 259, 263, 264, 267, 291, 293
baseball, 67, 74, 79, 92
basketball, 74
Bass, Dick, 182, 202, 259
Beale, Betty, 140, 192
Beaver Creek, Colorado, 333, 334, 336
Bechtle, Jerry, 115, 119–20
Beckwith, Jack, 48
Begin, Menachem, 305
Beijing, 216
Belgium, 197, 213
Benedict, Pat, xv, 281–86, 290, 291, 292, 295, 308–9
Bennett, Michael, 247
Bennington College, 16, 17
Bennington School of the Dance, 16, 17–20
Berlanga, Tyne Vance, 333, 334
Bernstein, Carl, 106
Bethany Beach, Delaware, 87
Bethesda Naval
Hospital, 168–69, 171–72, 176, 178, 286
Betty Bloomer Dance School, 11
Betty Ford Center, 310–21, 322–27, 329, 333, 345, 349, 350–51, 352
alumni chapters, 325–26
bureaucratic process, 317
celebrities at, 322–27
conception of, 310–12
construction, 318
fund raising, 312, 316–17
merger with Hazelden, 350
naming of, 317–18
opening of, 319–20
privacy policy, 323
staff, 318–19
tenth anniversary, 328
“Betty Ford for President” buttons, 229, 231, 239
Bible, 117–18, 141, 145–46
bicentennial celebration, 221–22
bikinis, 220
Bing Crosby Pro-Am golf tournament, 245
Birmingham, Alabama, 162
birth control pill, 313
blacks, 81, 103
segregation, 81
Blair House, 57, 223, 337, 340, 341
Bloomer, Bill, 3, 6, 7, 14, 25, 26, 27, 58
Bloomer, Bob, 3, 6, 7, 14, 27
Bloomer, Bonnie, 25, 58
Bloomer, Elizabeth Ann. See Ford, Betty Bloomer
Bloomer, Steve, 58
Bloomer, William Stephenson, 3–6, 7, 10, 30
alcoholism of, 14
death of, 13–14, 22
Boggs, Hale, 100
Boggs, Lindy, 100
Bolshoi Nutcracker TV special, 263–64, 270–72, 274
Boston, 30, 142
boxing, 83
Boyne Mountain, Michigan, 83, 98
Boy Scouts, 33, 342
breast cancer, 168–78, 283, 310, 330–31, 333, 348, 349, 350
of Betty, 168–78, 196, 255, 310, 330, 348–49
Betty as role model for early screening, 173–76, 180, 186, 205–6, 310, 330–31, 333, 348–49
survival rates, 173, 349
Brenner, David, 180
Brinker, Nancy, 174, 330–31
Brinkley, David, 222
Britt, Gardner, 134, 185, 198
Broadway musicals, 247–51
Brokaw, Tom, 270
Brown, Jerry, 210, 212, 317
Brown, Phyllis, 34–35, 37, 40, 41–42
Buchen, Phil, 35–36, 37, 45, 143
Buendorf, Larry, 182, 184, 186, 211–12, 327–28
Buffalo, New York, 231
Burger, Warren, 118, 145, 146
Bush, Barbara, 319, 341
Bush, George H. W., 316, 319, 332, 341
Bush, George W., 338, 339, 341, 343
Bush, Laura, 341
Butterfield, Keeney, and Amberg, 37
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