Betty Ford: A Life from Beginning to End

Betty Ford was the First Lady of President Gerald Ford. Many biographies seem to focus on just that one aspect of her life, but as consequential as her time in the White House was, she was more than that. Since her earliest days as a little girl in Michigan, Betty Ford lived a life that was full of learning, full of adventure, and full of service. She was a dancer who graced stages in New York City. She was a woman who rebuilt her life after a difficult first marriage. She was a political wife who learned to navigate Washington's treacherous social waters while raising four children largely on her own. And she was a recovering addict who transformed her darkest struggles into a beacon of hope for countless others.

The Betty Ford Center, which bears her name, bears testament to that. Betty struggled with alcohol and prescription drugs, and when she learned to overcome her addiction, she used her own personal experience to lend a hand to others. This, of course, was yet another aspect of her tremendous impact on American life, but that's certainly not all. This book explores the life and legacy of Betty Ford in full.