Confronting Betty Ford’s addiction

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Jan 14, 2025

Susan Ford Bales, daughter of former U.S. President Gerald Ford and Betty Ford, shares her poignant story of confronting her mother’s addiction to alcohol and prescription medication. She recalls the emotional family intervention that ultimately led Betty to seek help, underscoring the unprecedented openness of a First Lady about such struggles. The discussion highlights Betty's advocacy for addiction recovery, the impact of her struggles on public perception, and her enduring legacy, including the establishment of the Betty Ford Center.

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ANECDOTE

Betty Ford's Intervention and Public Acknowledgment

Susan Ford organized an intervention for her mother, Betty Ford, confronting her addiction.
Betty Ford, despite the stigma, publicly acknowledged her alcoholism.

ANECDOTE

Betty Ford's Life Before and After Presidency

Betty Ford was a typical mother, involved in her children's activities and community.
Her life drastically changed after Gerald Ford became president.

ANECDOTE

Betty Ford's Outspokenness as First Lady

As First Lady, Betty Ford was outspoken on controversial topics like abortion and premarital sex.
This caused initial backlash but later garnered public support.

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In 1978, former first lady of the United States, Betty Ford, announced that she had an addiction to alcohol and prescription medication, and would be seeking treatment.

Wife of the 38th US president Gerald Ford, her openness and honesty about her addictions was remarkable for its time and was headline news.

But it was her daughter, Susan Ford, who had organised the family intervention to confront her mother about her addiction, prompting her to seek help.

Susan Ford Bales remembers the moment she knocked on her mother's door early in the morning with the rest of her family and begged her to get help.

Betty Ford would go on to establish the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, California to help others struggling with addiction.

Susan Ford tells her and her mother’s story to Colm Flynn.

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(Photo: Betty Ford. Credit: Getty Images)