Betty Ford is good former first lady

[AlCzervik]

just saying. I always liked her, maybe it was because she had a cameo on The Mary Tyler Moore show. She always seems like a kind person. Barb "Battle axe" Bush could learn a thing or 2 from her.

[WI_DEM]

1. she was and the right wing hated her because she was so outspoken

in support of the ERA and abortion rights. She also memorably said on 60 Minutes, as first lady, that she wouldn't be surprised if her daughter had premarital sex--that caused a big uproar at the time.

[Cleita]

4. Yes, I remember that and thinking that she is a sensible person.

I think now though that she was sticking it to the religious fundies because she knew the whole abortion issue is really about women's rights and she was for them.

[MrCoffee]

2. she brought breast cancer out of the closet

that and the clinics make me agree with your assessment.

[Cleita]

6. Also substance abuse as a clinical condition not a sin.n/t

[Moochy]

3. Borat subject line :)

Just wondering where the article a went before "good former first lady".

on edit: Yes, I agree she did not have that plastic Joker grin of the current first lady.

[warrens]

5. A decent, nice family altogether

This flamebait about how evil Ford was is kinda amusing, but mean-spirited. I thought resigning in disgrace was plenty of punishment for Nixon, and I was a true Nixon-hater. And Ford held off Reagan, at least temporarily. He wasn't a great president, but we've had a lot worse.

[AlCzervik]

7. seeing Nixon resign on the teevee is my first political memory, sitting with my parents

in the living room and my Dad explaining to me what was going on.

[PlanetBev]

8. I agree with you, chimpsrsmarter

No Stepford Wife was Betty, unlike Pickles. She spoke her mind, was not controlled, and when she said something controversial, Prez. Ford would tell the press how proud he was of her.

She did bring breast cancer out of the closet. I'll never forget the tears standing in Prez. Ford's eyes when he spoke to the press after her mastectomy.

I found myself getting a little weepy myself this morning, remembering that Ford was the was the last of his kind, a sane Republican, one who nominated John Paul Stevens to the Supreme Court.

[Cleita]

9. Not only Barb, but present First Lady, Laura. n/t

[Faygo Kid]

10. Don't forget her support for ERA and abortion rights

If there was a decision to be made by her daughter, Susan, about any pregnancy she might have, she wanted Susan to make it, not the government. Betty Ford, Rosalynn Carter were great back to back first ladies (Pat Nixon was a tragic figure - no animosity here for her, that's for sure).

[pitohui]

11. yes she is a nice, good, even great lady

however she is not her husband and her husband was not her, they were two distinct individuals

betty ford faced her demons, jerry never did to my knowledge

[roamer65]

12. Betty Ford was a great first lady.

I loved her even back then. Very honest and common. What she did for the fight against breast cancer was amazing. Her work since has been stellar.

[JVS]

13. I've always had a soft spot in my heart for women who love booze and pills

;-)

Seriously though, a class act.

[Hoosier Dem]

14. She was a REAL first lady...

Not what we have now. Heck, a mannequin could replace Pickles and who would notice??

Another point about Betty Ford that a lot of people forget was that, prior to her marriage, she was a dancer with Martha Graham.

I also remember that she used to talk on the CB radio as First Lady and her handle was "First Mama". Sorry, but can't picture Hillary talking on a CB radio. In fact, I don't think I can picture ANY First Lady talking on a CB radio.

She was definitely a woman ahead of her time. :)

[LeftishBrit]

15. Yes, I agree; I definitely admire her

[Ilsa]

16. Wasn't she the first First Lady to openly discuss having breast cancer?

I think she wanted to remove the old stigmas about women talking about their breasts and health. It used to be considered impolite or something.