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For years after leaving the White House, Ford continued to enjoy great influence and popularity, continuing to rank in the top-ten of Gallup's annual most admired woman poll every year through 1991.įord was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by George H. Ford also became involved in causes related to HIV/AIDS. After recovering, she founded and served as the first chair of the board of directors of the Betty Ford Center for substance abuse and addiction. Soon after leaving office, she raised awareness of addiction when she sought help for and publicly disclosed her long-running struggle with alcoholism and substance abuse.

Surveys of historians conducted by the Siena College Research Institute have shown that historians regard Ford to be among the best and most courageous American first ladies.įollowing her White House years, she continued to lobby for the ERA and remained active in the feminist movement. As a supporter of abortion rights and a leader in the women's rights movement, she gained fame as one of the most candid first ladies in history, commenting on the hot-button issues of the time, such as feminism, equal pay, the Equal Rights Amendment, sex, drugs, abortion, and gun control.

In addition, she was a passionate supporter of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). Ford was noted for raising breast cancer awareness following her 1974 mastectomy. Throughout her husband's time in the office of the presidency, she maintained high approval ratings and was considered to be an influential first lady. Ford also served as the second lady of the United States from 1973 to 1974 when her husband was vice president. As first lady, she was active in social policy and set a precedent as a politically active presidential spouse. Elizabeth Anne Ford ( née Bloomer formerly Warren Ap– July 8, 2011) was the first lady of the United States from 1974 to 1977, as the wife of President Gerald Ford.