When I learned of First Lady Betty Ford dying, I realized we hadn’t heard anything about her or her children in a long time. Celebrity media likes the “new,” the young, beautiful and rich or the sensational (Casey Anthony).
Mrs. Ford only was First Lady for a short time, two years and five months. Still, she was in the news a lot with her forthright comments in television interviews and out on the street during demonstrations, particularly for the Equal Rights Amendment. She was a few years older than my mother, but my mom never would have come out publicly for a political cause. Mrs. Ford also was forthright about her struggle with breast cancer, her mastectomy and then, dependence on pain killers and alcohol.
I remember thinking how “normal” the Ford family seemed, with children of my age group, but their mom was cool. She was an updated June Cleaver, always looking perfect, classy, calm and a beloved mom. I liked her even though I was enraged that her husband pardoned his predecessor, “I am not a crook” President Richard Nixon.
Anyway, a lot of people are saying the same things as me about Mrs. Ford. That is good because those who weren’t born then or weren’t old enough to pay attention probably otherwise only would know about the famous clinic she founded. It gets media coverage when a celebrity goes there for drug or alcohol dependency rehab, at times referred to jokingly.
She was much more than that. Besides being refreshing and unfettered by her husband’s political stances, I think she and some others in her age group helped tie generations of women together. Generations still were split over the Vietnam War (and the 1960’s!); mothers working in the home vs. outside the home; the ERA; equal pay for equal work; and birth control, among others. It was easy to make assumptions on women’s stances based on their ages, which was not fair, but it happened.
While commentators are lauding Mrs. Ford for her candor decades ago, it still would be a rarity today. Moving forward by more than 30 years, in 21st century’s vicious national media world – particularly via the Internet – it would be hard for any first lady to be blunt and honest over issues of importance.
As example, look at the negativity thrust at First Lady Michelle Obama and her crusade for healthy diets and fitness for children? And her White House garden? Even those are generating hateful comments. Can you imagine her commenting on her children’s dating or trying marijuana as Mrs. Ford did?
I’m sure Betty fed her children well. If someone would have taken her to task for promoting good health for all American youngsters, I’m sure she would have been surprised. But she would have had a response. With the meanness and more means of expressing anonymous hostility out there in today’s world, though, don’t look for any first ladies discussing personal issues or problems anytime soon.
It’s not the ‘70s anymore.
