Betty: A Glad Awakening
During her time as First Lady, Betty Ford was renowned for her honesty and openness. Mrs. Ford's candor didn't stop once she left the White House. In 1978, she revealed to the world her courageous struggle to recover from an addiction to alcohol and prescription pills. Resolving to help others deal with the disease of addiction, Mrs. Ford, along with Ambassador Leonard Firestone, co-founded the nonprofit Betty Ford Center in 1982, in Rancho Mirage, California. She serves as Chairwoman of the Center's Board of Directors.