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Betty Ford Dies at 93

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    A look back at the life of the former first lady

  • Duration 6:00
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This -- -- Fox News alert I'm Marianne Lafferty in New York Fox News confirming former First Lady Betty Ford has died at the age of 93 Ford was the wife of former president Gerald Ford.

Also the co-founder of the Betty Ford Center addiction clinic in California.

Here's more now about her life.

August 1974.

When Richard -- house Nixon resigned the presidency Elizabeth Betty Ford knew she had her work cut out for her.

Just.

I've been fascinating to me very challenging.

It was a demanding Jan.

-- no job description.

From the very beginning Betty Ford was an unconventional.

Energy independent First Lady.

But it's.

To the right now.

OK I won't go but.

I'm going fans.

Myself.

And it's too late to change my pattern.

And if they don't like it then they'll just get the.

Around him yeah he -- and -- was born April 8 1918.

In Chicago Illinois.

Three years later the family moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan daddy's passion for dance brought her to study and many college in Vermont where she met the legendary Martha Graham and joined her dance company mind always treasured my time -- -- American -- -- -- -- -- -- -- To have -- in New York.

After a brief flirtation with -- modeling Betty returned to Michigan in 1941.

It worked at a local department stores.

There after unsuccessful marriage to William -- she -- Yale Law School graduate and war veteran who would change her life you Gerald.

1948.

-- two weeks after walking down the island.

Gerald was elected to his first term in congress negating the -- road to the White House.

As First Lady her outspoken as seen trying circumstances in -- -- -- to the nation just one month after her husband took -- bedie was diagnosed with breast.

Cancer got hundreds and thousands of women.

To their doctors.

And -- clinics for breast exams.

Her candidate is not limited to her personal life.

Actively supporting controversial issues including the passage of the equal rights amendment and freedom of choice.

She was on the -- working.

State legislatures and every one for the year are a she was very unhappy when it to.

-- when the Supreme Court voted.

To legalize abortion.

And in my words bring it out at the back woods and put -- in the hospitals where belonged.

-- that's a great great decision.

Her influence was not lost on the president to respected and valued her opinion.

That is.

Contribution.

History during.

Time in the White House and afterward it was her total dedication.

And openness frankly this -- and I felt that she hitter -- right to her own opinions.

-- even lobbied him to appoint more women into top posts in Washington.

A lot of -- hand to do with the perhaps putting.

A woman.

And they can't match.

-- -- -- Yes so 1 -- and am working on another.

There was also a lighter sides -- this is stores -- have really.

Funny.

Funny sensibility.

A sense of the ridiculous.

Say.

Kind of a -- Quality.

There's a very famous.

Photograph.

Barefoot.

Dancing.

On the -- -- -- Strive for a pinched nerve and arthritis.

On top of that and -- -- been lost in 1976.

Presidential election to Jimmy Carter.

Camera.

An intervention.

Helped me see the light and said they wanted to help.

Betty entered rehab in 1978.

And once again openly discussed -- problem in public.

She received thousands of letters in support and opened the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage California for years later.

-- -- later years Betty cherish the time she spent with her husband Gerald Ford.

Until his death in December 2006.

Mrs.

Ford is survived by her four children Michael -- Steven and Susan as well as numerous grandchildren and great grand children.

In Los Angeles Anita Vogel Fox News.

-- if you're just joining us Fox News confirming former First Lady Betty Ford has died at the age of 93.

Ford was the former air with the wife of former president Gerald Ford and also the co-founder of the Betty Ford Center.

For an addiction clinic in California.

Serious statement now that we just received friend -- former president George HW bush.

He would -- states Barbara and I loved Betty Ford very much she was a wonderful wife and mother a great friend and a courageous First Lady.

Knowing confronted life's struggles -- more fortitude or honesty.

And as results we all learned from the challenges she faced.

The Betty Ford Center which already helped change the lives of thousands of people will be her lasting legacy of caring concerned.

We were proud to know her we were proud to -- -- friends and we will miss her hearing much.

In just more about her life -- in 1973 the ports are actually planning retirement from congress.

Of course there is turn a political events which shook the nation and and basically reshaped their own future and they ended up -- in the White House.

And she did and a lot for women's rights than a lot of other things that in this country we'll have more after this break.

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