Former first lady Betty Ford dies at age 93

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Former first lady Betty Ford dies at age 93.

Former President Gerald Ford and former first lady Betty Ford smile in front of their home in Rancho Mirage, Calif. The former first lady died Friday at age 93.

Former first lady Betty Ford's triumph over drug and alcohol addiction became a beacon of hope for addicts and the inspiration for her Betty Ford Center. Founded in 1982, the treatment center has served more than 90,000 patients.

Betty Ford, who was raised in Grand Rapids, Mich., along with future husband Gerald Ford, moved to New York at 20 to learn dance and also worked as a model. She later moved back to Michigan, where she met former college football star, navy vet and lawyer Gerald Ford.

Betty Ford holds a Bible as Chief Justice Warren Burger administers the presidential oath of office to her husband Gerald Ford. Ford, the only unelected president, became president in 1974 following the resignation of Richard Nixon.

As first lady, Betty Ford often spoke her mind on controversial issues including drug use and abortion rights, and she said she thought women should be drafted into the military if men were.

First Lady Betty Ford reads a concession statement for her husband Gerald as he conceded defeat to Jimmy Carter on Nov. 3, 1976. President Ford, who lost his voice campaigning, lost the election by 57 electoral votes although he carried more total states.

President Gerald Ford and first lady Betty Ford pause for a moment as they continue packing at the White House in January 1977 prior to Jimmy Carter taking office. "As a tireless advocate for women's rights and social justice, she helped to improve the lives and opportunities of countless women and children. We extend our deepest sympathy to her family at this difficult time," Carter said in a statement.

Michael Ford, left, helps his mother, former first lady Betty Ford, toward the casket of former President Gerald R. Ford during the State Funeral on Capitol Hill. Former President Ford died in 2006.

President Ford and wife Betty, left, join newly inaugurated President Jimmy Carter and wife Rosalynn. In a statement, former President Carter said: "Rosalynn and I are saddened by the passing of Betty Ford, a close personal friend and our frequent partner in bipartisan efforts to improve mental health and substance abuse care in our nation. She was a remarkable political spouse, whose courageous candor helped forge a new era of openness after the divisiveness of the Vietnam War and Watergate."

As the wife of the then Vice President, Betty Ford made a trip to the Georgia governor's mansion to visit Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter and 5-year-old daughter Amy. Carter later defeated Gerald Ford for the presidency.

Betty Ford was public in her fight against breast cancer in the 1970s, bringing attention to the disease. Thousands of women went to get breast examinations because of Ford's example, according to the AP.

First lady Betty Ford and husband Gerald look at a petition of "support and best wishes" signed by all 100 U.S. Senators while Betty Ford recovered from cancer surgery at the Bethesda Naval Hospital.

Former President Bill Clinton and former first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton hosted past presidents and first ladies at the White House in 2000 as the executive home celebrated its 200th birthday. President Ford and wife Betty are second from the right.

First lady Betty Ford and President Gerald Ford fly aboard Air Force One in 1975. Earlier that evening, shots were fired from a crowd at a hotel watching Ford's departure.

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Former President Gerald Ford and former first lady Betty Ford smile in front of their home in Rancho Mirage, Calif. The former first lady died Friday at age 93.

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