An ordinary Midwestern girl who hoped to become a professional dancer, Betty Ford was thrust into the White House under extraordinary circumstances. Setting a precedent as First Lady, Betty refused to be silenced, and spoke out about issues that had previously been taboo—breast cancer, depression, abortion, and sexuality. After a painful intervention by her family, she admitted to an addiction to alcohol and prescription drugs, and her public struggle and advocacy revolutionized treatment for substance abuse. Crafting a detailed portrait of one of the most admired First Ladies, Lisa McCubbin traces the life of a fiercely independent woman who remained a devoted wife and mother.
"[A] meticulously researched and delightful biography.... McCubbin writes with great tact and sensitivity."—Publishers Weekly