“Betty Ford Oh Won’t You Be My Valentine?”
[Guest post by Aaron Worthing; if you have tips, please send them here. Or by Twitter @AaronWorthing.]
That’s a lyric from a song about alcoholism by David Gray, called “We’re Not Right” from his classic album “White Ladder.” You can listen to a pretty good recording of it, here. And oddly I felt it was a nice tribute to the First Lady who passed on earlier this day, whose name has become synonymous with struggling to overcome addiction.
Equally fitting is this picture of her and her husband Gerald, taken in the White House.
Gosh, that is a really likable image, right there.
So this is a thread to remember the first lady.
[Posted and authored by Aaron Worthing.]
And just so you know it is here, I am posting on this thread.
Aaron Worthing (73a7ea) — 7/8/2011 @ 8:26 pmLadybird Johnson was the one what deserved a drink god bless her
happyfeet (3c92a1) — 7/8/2011 @ 8:33 pmBetty Ford will always be to me a reminder of a faithful wife and woman who knew and spoke her mind.
While I found her pro-abortion stand regrettable, she was an individual willing to work hard, very hard to overcome her demons. To see her victory in this so eloquently played out in the development of the Betty Ford Center and the hope it has given so many is nothing but inspiring. That she lived the rest of her days with a passionate commitment to helping others overcome speaks volumes about her character.
Another thing I want to mention is that the Fords were married for 58 years until President Ford passed away. This was a couple who took their commitments very seriously, and truly pushed through “in sickness and in health”. They did the hard work required. May they have joy in being together again.
Dana (4eca6e) — 7/8/2011 @ 9:04 pmRepublican First Ladies have class. With a few exceptions, Dems, not so much.
Bill M (25d866) — 7/8/2011 @ 9:04 pmLooks like a couple bound for, and blessed with a long marriage.
bains (59f792) — 7/8/2011 @ 9:16 pmI actually thought she had preceded President Ford in death — I had no idea she was still alive. What I like about her is she did a lot of great work for addiction recovery, but after lending her name to the clinic she was content to step out of the limelight and let others run with it. That shows a refreshing modesty. Rest in peace, Mrs. Ford.
JVW (39c649) — 7/8/2011 @ 9:22 pmJVW
i will confess i was surprised she was alive, too.
Aaron Worthing (73a7ea) — 7/8/2011 @ 11:10 pmWiki:
‘In 1975, in an interview with McCall’s magazine, Ford said that she was asked just about everything, except for how often she and the president had sex. “And if they’d asked me that I would have told them,” she said, adding that her response would be, “As often as possible.”‘
Hard drinking, pill-popping, sex maniac.
Pretty much my kind of gal.
Dave Surls (fa7200) — 7/9/2011 @ 2:13 amJeez those 70’s ties were ugly…
And even if Ronaldus Maximus hadn’t resurected the economy, beat the Russians, and abolished the 55mph speed limit, he still would have been the greatest President of the 20th century for wearing a Tux at his Innaugural…
And IIRC didn’t Betty Ford have a Cameo in the Rocky Horror Picture Show???
Well not exactly a Cameo, it was an actress who looked like her…
and Kudos(Whats a “Kudo” anyway?) if anyone remembers the Snappy Retort…
Audience Member “Hey thats Betty Ford!”
Snappy Retort: “No, Betty Ford(complete the rest)
Frank
Frank Drackman (da969f) — 7/9/2011 @ 4:54 am__________________________________________
This was a couple who took their commitments very seriously
I believe they were very accommodating of, or super accepting of, Bill and Hillary Clinton, right up until the end. Perhaps they admired that couple’s loyalty (although some would apply the phrase “peculiar relationship” or “arrangement of convenience”) to one another?
Not sure how much of the Ford’s outlook was due to the way that schmoozing affects people’s reactions towards one another, or the Ford’s socio-political background in general. I recall Gerald Ford saying something not too many years before his death (don’t recall the specific topic) that struck me as very morally relativistic.
They certainly must have been aware of the phrase “people who live in glass houses…,” but possibly went overboard in applying that to themselves. Moreover, their living in California (America’s answer to Greece/Mexico/France/Venezuela/Spain) isn’t the best thing for maintaining a person’s equilibrium.
Mark (411533) — 7/9/2011 @ 8:39 amMark, to some extent, I think the Fords were defined by a mission of respect for the office of President. That would explain their public acceptance for the Clintons.
And I have always appreciated that Hillary did not put the nation through a divorce in 1998. Sure, she may have partly done this out of a selfish motivation (which frankly, is her business), but the office was tarnished enough.
Really, George W Bush was very much like Ford in his mission of restoring the office. Their wives aren’t/weren’t totally dissimilar. Just good patriotic people who know the importance of putting the country ahead of themselves.
Dustin (b7410e) — 7/9/2011 @ 8:54 amI had a chance to meet her during the sad occasion of President Ford’s funeral, when I was one of her family’s military escorts. She possessed exceptional grace and dignity as displayed by her concern for our well being and comfort even though she was grieving and at the center of attention. RIP.
Hootie (c86520) — 7/9/2011 @ 9:20 amIt always helps when the FLOTUS is a nice lady
Betty was. Michelle… went to Princeton.
Jones (727e71) — 7/9/2011 @ 9:32 amYeah we have gone from a woman who talked about her weaknesses and turned them into a strength as wellas an enduring a symbol of hope for people fighting addictions – to a first lady who is embarassed by her country and dances with rappers who hate society
EricPWJohnson (2921b6) — 7/9/2011 @ 10:03 amShe set the bar very very high — and not by design. If you read her whole story you’ll discover a woman who never set out to make history but simply did the right thing at the right time. I’m old enough to remember when Cancer was considered so shameful no one talked about. Ever. Sometimes not even withinn one’s immediate family. When Betty Ford discovered she had breast cnacer and went public with it her honesty and courage saved countless lives. Likewise her honesty and courage about substance abuse. She never showboated about anything either.
David Ehrenstein (2550d9) — 7/9/2011 @ 11:04 amShe took only her small share of credit — and no more.
A life well-lived, with too little praise (which she probably would have declined.) Thank you for what you’ve done; now rest in honored peace, Ma’am.
htom (412a17) — 7/9/2011 @ 12:23 pmAs a mental health and addictions professional, I KNOW that Mrs. Ford saved many, many lives. I know of many patients that came in for treatment BECAUSE of her honesty about her drinking and pill addictions (as well as many women alive today because she was open about breast cancer.)
This First Lady defines CLASS. R.I.P. Betty Ford.
GM Roper (d58b94) — 7/9/2011 @ 3:30 pmIt’s a radio station in Anchorage Alaska.
The Friendly Grizzly (0647d7) — 7/10/2011 @ 11:42 amGreat photo. I do admire Betty Ford for what she did for people with addiction(s). And nice shout out to David Gray — I always loved “Babylon.”
Mrs. Patterico (f724ca) — 7/10/2011 @ 6:56 pmmrs. patterico
the whole album is a classic.
Aaron Worthing (73a7ea) — 7/10/2011 @ 7:19 pm