Betty Ford

First Lady, Women's Advocate, Survivor, Trailblazer

By: Lisa McCubbin Hill

Narrated by: Amanda Carlin

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Five Presidents and The Kennedy Detail comes the definitive biography of Betty Ford, tracing the extraordinary journey of a First Lady who transformed personal struggle into national change and reshaped how America talks about women’s health, addiction, and equality.

Raised as a Midwestern girl far from the spotlight, Betty Ford was thrust onto the world stage when her husband, Gerald Ford, unexpectedly assumed the presidency. As First Lady, Betty defied convention, speaking openly about issues that had long been considered taboo—breast cancer, depression, abortion, and sexuality—while championing the Equal Rights Amendment and women’s rights at a time when few public figures dared to do so.

Behind the scenes, Betty faced her own private crisis. After a family intervention, she confronted her addiction to alcohol and prescription drugs and made the unprecedented decision to speak publicly about recovery. Her honesty sparked a national conversation and led to the founding of the Betty Ford Center in 1982, forever changing the treatment of addiction and the cultural understanding of recovery.

Drawing on intimate interviews with her children, Susan Ford Bales and Steven Ford, as well as friends, colleagues, and family members, this deeply researched biography also illuminates Betty’s enduring love story with Gerald Ford—a partnership built on mutual respect, loyalty, and devotion that lasted a lifetime. Vivid, compassionate, and deeply human, this book captures the life of a First Lady whose courage left an indelible mark on American history.

Wonderful

Absolutely wonderful story and a wonderful woman! The narration was terrific and flowed smoothly.Definitely a Favorite!A+++

fantastic biography

From start to finish. Definitely in the top 3 of best biographies, and I read nothing but biographies, autobiographies and memoirs. The author really nailed it in tone and content. i highly recommend this wonderful book.

Great book!!

This was a very good read covered everything about Betty Ford that I remembered and her life with Gerald Ford. Alot I had forgotten thanks for bringing it back to me. There was no one like her.

First Lady in So Many Ways!

Betty Ford lived an unexpected public life with the skills of a modern dancer and very gracious supportive wife to her husband. He had strong admirable character from childhood through Eagle Scout in wartime an Congress and into the Presidency. Together they made it through a tough transition into the White House and helped thousands of people power through tough circumstances to lead new lives.
This was a well-written and masterfully narrated history book about our country's journey through complicated times.

Felt like I was there!

I absolutely loved this audiobook. It is so well written, and with all the stories, I honestly felt I was there in history right alongside Betty Ford.  I knew very little about the former first lady and her contribution to society is immeasurable.