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Home , Betty Ford, First Lady, Grace Coolidge, Rosalynn Carter

Worksheets Betty Ford Facts

Elizabeth Anne Ford became the of the when her husband was elected as President from 1974 to 1977. She was a politically active First Lady and often spoke out about her advocacies such as women’s rights. As First Lady, she was preceded by and succeeded by .

EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION ★ Elizabeth Ford was born Elizabeth Anne Bloomer on , 1918 in , Illinois ★ Her nickname was Betty as a child. That’s why she is most known as Betty Ford ★ She was born the third child and only daughter of William Stephenson Bloomer, Sr., a salesman, and Hortense Neahr Bloomer ★ Her two older brothers were Robert and William Jr. KIDSKONNECT.COM Betty Ford Facts ★ Betty lived briefly in , Colorado with her family before they relocated to Grand Rapids, Michigan where she spent much of her growing up years. ★ Following the Wall Street crash that happened in 1929, Betty began working as a children’s dance teacher and model to earn money. ★ Her father died when she was 16 years old. ★ She graduated high school from Central High School in Grand Rapids. ★ She pursued further studies in dance at the Calla Travis Dance Studio where she Portrait of young graduated in 1935. Betty Ford

PURSUING DANCE

★ In 1936, even though she wanted to pursue studying dance in New City, she attended the Bennington School of Dance in Vermont instead, where she trained under director and legendary choreographer , who became her mentor. ★ Bloomer moved to City after two summers of studying dance in Vermont. ★ In order to finance her studies, she worked as a fashion model for the John Robert Powers agency. ★ She joined Martha Graham's dance troupe in New York. ★ She ultimately performed with the company at , . ★ Her career was cut short as she decided to move back to Grand Rapids, initially upon her mother’s request. Eventually, she comfortably settled down and worked as a fashion assistant at a local department store and a dance teacher to handicapped children. KIDSKONNECT.COM Betty Ford Facts DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE

★ In 1942 she met and married William Warren, an insurance salesman. ★ They divorced after five years of marriage. ★ It was not long after her divorce when Betty met Gerald R. Ford, who was then a partner in the law firm of Butterfield, Keeney, and Amberg. ★ They got engaged in February 1948. ★ Gerald and Betty became engaged in February 1948. ★ Gerald was then campaigning for a seat in the House of Betty marries politician Representatives. Gerald Ford ★ Right before their wedding ceremony on October 15, 1948, Gerald even greeted voters in the morning. ★ Gerald won a seat, which marked the beginning of the couple’s three-decade life together in Washington, DC. ★ Betty gave birth to three sons and one daughter from 1950 to 1957. ★ Betty mostly took on the responsibilities in their household and parenting as Gerald was busy with his work for the Republican parent. ★ She developed arthritis in the mid-1960s and was prescribed pain medication to manage it. ★ She admitted getting addicted to her pain relievers, which prompted her to seek psychiatric help.

KIDSKONNECT.COM Betty Ford Facts BECOMING FIRST LADY

★ Betty raised her profile when President assigned the vice presidency to Gerald Ford upon the resignation of Vice President in October 1973. ★ The following year, Gerald Ford stepped up to the presidency after President Nixon resigned on August 9, 1974 over his Portrait of the Ford family involvement in the Watergate taken in 1974 scandal. ★ As First Lady, Betty gained a reputation of being honest and open, which was positively received by the public especially in the wake of the Watergate affair. ★ Unlike previous First Ladies, she did not conceal the fact that she developed breast cancer and had to undergo mastectomy to remove her right breast. ★ Her honesty inspired women all across America to consult their own doctors to get examined, which made Betty realize the influence she had as First Lady to make a difference. ★ She continued to show her candor by publicly announcing her support for Roe v. Wade, which surprised the press. ★ She also showed her firm support for the (ERA), to which her involvement was both criticised and praised.

KIDSKONNECT.COM Betty Ford Facts

★ Ford also advocated for women's rights openly and was a prominent figure in the Women's Movement of the . ★ Her and political activism prompted Time to name her Woman of the Year in 1975. She was also called the country's "Fighting First Lady.” ★ After Gerald Ford lost the 1976 presidential election to , Betty’s family moved to Rancho Mirage, . ★ After her battle with drug dependence, she co-founded the in 1982, an addiction treatment center in Rancho Mirage. ★ In 1991 she was awarded a Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George H.W. Bush for her roles in raising awareness and treatment of drug and alcohol addiction. ★ She published two books about her life, “Betty: A Glad Awakening,” which was published in 1987, and “Healing and Hope: Six Women from the Betty Ford Center Share Their Powerful Journeys of Addiction and Recovery,” which was published in 2003. ★ Betty Ford died on July 8, 2011 in Rancho Mirage.

Women showing support for Ford's stance on women's issues

KIDSKONNECT.COM Name: ______Being Betty

Write a brief biography of Elizabeth Anne Bloomer, who became the First Lady of the United States from 1974 to 1977. She became more known as Betty Ford.

BETTY FORD WORKSHEETS KIDSKONNECT.COM Name: ______Truths About Betty Read each statement carefully then determine if it is completely true or not. If it is true, write TRUTH on the blank next to it. If it is not, underline the word that makes it false then write the word that would make the statement correct.

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Betty moved to Los Angeles to Betty went back to her hometown pursue dance. in Missouri to become a fashion assistant.

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Betty’s first husband is William Betty has three sons and two Ford, an insurance salesman. daughters with Gerald Ford.

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Betty became dependent on Betty was a prominent figure in alcohol after she developed the Abolitionist Movement of the arthritis. 1970s.

BETTY FORD WORKSHEETS KIDSKONNECT.COM Name: ______A Full Lifetime

Create a full timeline of the life of Betty Ford. Include the most important events that happened in each period. Be guided by the given dates.

1930-40s 1950-60s

______1970-80s

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1990s-2000s

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BETTY FORD WORKSHEETS KIDSKONNECT.COM Name: ______President Ford Betty Ford’s husband. Gerald Ford, served as the 38th President of the United States from August 9, 1974 to January 20, 1977. Answer the following questions about Gerald Ford.

Who are his parents? Where is the hometown of ______Gerald Ford? ______

Where did he study and What was his job before what degree did he becoming President of receive? the United States? ______

What major contributions did Gerald Ford make as President? ______

BETTY FORD WORKSHEETS KIDSKONNECT.COM Name: ______Fighting First Lady Time Magazine gave Betty Ford the nickname “Fighting First Lady” and named her Woman of the Year in 1975 for her political activism and feminism. Read an excerpt from her speech which she delivered at the International Women's Year Conference on October 25, 1975. Reflect upon her speech then compose an essay about your thoughts on how her speech is applicable in modern times.

While many new opportunities are open to women, too many are available only to the lucky few. Many barriers continue to the paths of most women, even on the most basic issue of equal pay for equal work. And the contributions of women as wives and mothers continue to be underrated…

We have to take that "'just" out of "just a housewife" and show our pride in having made the home and family our life's work. Downgrading this work has been part of the pattern in our society that has undervalued women's talents in all areas. We have come a long way, but we have a long way to go -- part of that distance is within our own mind. ERA will help open some doors. Changing our own attitudes as women will open even more. But legal help and self-help will not be enough. The long road to equality rests on achievements of women and men in altering how women are treated in every area of everyday life…

By the end of this century, I hope this nation will be a place where men and women can freely choose their life's work without restrictions or without ridicule.

BETTY FORD WORKSHEETS KIDSKONNECT.COM Name: ______Fighting First Lady

REFLECTION PAGE

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BETTY FORD WORKSHEETS KIDSKONNECT.COM Name: ______Preceding or Succeeding

Betty Ford was the First Lady of the United States from 1974 to 1977. Based on these dates, determine which of the first ladies preceded and succeeded Betty Ford as First Lady.

PRECEDING SUCCEEDING (1923-1929)

PRECEDING SUCCEEDING Pat Nixon (1969-1974)

PRECEDING SUCCEEDING (1861-1865)

PRECEDING SUCCEEDING (1981-1989)

PRECEDING SUCCEEDING Rosalynn Carter (1977-1981)

PRECEDING SUCCEEDING (1933-1945)

BETTY FORD WORKSHEETS KIDSKONNECT.COM Name: ______Quote Reflection

Betty Ford has been regarded as an honest and inspiring First Lady. Read the following statements said by her then answer the questions that follow.

That's what How do you reach out and help other people? we're here on ______this Earth for, ______to help ______others.

What are things you’ve lost and how I don't look at does it help you appreciate what you what I've lost. I still have? look instead at ______what I have left. ______

You can make it, What are things you would be able to but it's easier if do better with the help of other you don't have people? to do it alone. ______

BETTY FORD WORKSHEETS KIDSKONNECT.COM Name: ______Women’s Rights Slogan Betty Ford was not one to conceal how she felt about important causes that concerned the public, such as women’s rights. Create a slogan suitable for promoting women’s rights. Incorporate that slogan in a poster design and explain your design choices.

SLOGAN AND POSTER DESIGN

EXPLANATION

BETTY FORD WORKSHEETS KIDSKONNECT.COM Name: ______Lessons I Learned What are the lessons that you have learned from the life and work of the “Fighting First Lady” Elizabeth Ford? What values do you seek to emulate and advocacies do you wish to promote? List three and explain how you would apply them in your life.

BETTY FORD WORKSHEETS KIDSKONNECT.COM