Betty Ford 1918–2011
Born Chicago, Illinois First Lady 1974–1977
Elizabeth “Betty” Anne Bloomer performed with Martha Graham’s modern dance company in New York City before marrying Gerald Ford in 1948. As first lady, Betty Ford earned both scorn and praise for her pro-choice beliefs and her strong support of the Equal Rights Amendment. She was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy just weeks after becoming the first lady. Her open encouragement of women to perform self-exams and to seek early medical care is credited with saving millions of lives. After leaving the White House, Ford spoke openly about her drug and alcohol dependency, which she developed after suffering from a pinched nerve and chronic arthritis.
Artist Everett Kinstler completed this vibrant portrait of Ford in 1996, two years before she and her husband won the Congressional Gold Medal. Kinstler also painted Gerald Ford’s White House portrait (1977) and the portrait of him that is in the National Portrait Gallery’s exhibition America’s Presidents (1987).
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Everett Raymond Kinstler