Posted by William Neikirk at 5:40 p.m. CST
The six-day mourning period for Gerald R. Ford came to an end today with his burial in Grand Rapids. Many eulogies and retrospectives have been written and spoken about our former President. But perhaps more should have been said about his 88-year-old wife, Betty Ford.
She is one tough lady. She was not always so. But she is now.
After services in California, she flew with her husband's body to Washington, D.C. and attended a service in the U.S. Capitol on Saturday night. Members of her family greeted visitors who filed by the coffin on Sunday and Monday. On Tuesday, she attended a highly emotional state funeral at the Washington National Cathedral before accompanying his body to his hometown of Grand Rapids, where he was buried today.
All the time, the television cameras were focused on her face to catch the grief and on her difficulty in walking.
We could see the pain in her face during the ceremonies and we watched her laugh on occasion when eulogists, including former President George H.W. Bush, told a funny story or two. Our favorite came when Bush quoted Ford about an improvement in his golf game--he knew he was getting better because he was hitting fewer spectators.
Betty Ford was always more than the wife of a president. She was a role model, too. Born in Chicago, she began her own dance company to benefit handicapped children. She married Ford and followed him to Washington, where their four children were raised. But she reached out to women in many special ways.
When she was diagnosed with breast cancer, she spoke for increased awareness of a malady that affects many women. After her husband left office, she wrote a book and admitted her own addiction to alcohol and drugs. And she put her name on the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, Calif., where those fighting alcohol and drug addiction come for recovery.
My wife remembers Betty Ford from one special occasion--during a White House Christmas Party for the press corps when her husband was in office. On that night, the president walked through the White House, greeting his guests as if he were a visitor himself. Mrs. Ford was nowhere to be seen and indeed had not yet made an appearance. Finally, she walked down the stairs from the living quarters, spotted my wife (who stands out because she is tall, 5-foot-10) and grabbed her arm. As others gathered around to speak to her, she held on tightly to my wife's arm for the longest time, seemingly in need of steadiness.
Now, she has become a rock of steadiness for others.
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Comments
And kudos to Susan (who has apparently inherited her mother's poise and moxie, among other favorable Ford attributes) for intervening to get Betty back on the right track.
Shouldn't there be some sort of support group for Presidential kids?
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport | January 3, 2007 6:27 PM
Good point Kenny Bunkport,I'm sure Chelsea Clinton could of used some support after her father was impeached and was shown to be a sex pervert.
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | January 3, 2007 10:27 PM
Good point Kenny Bunkport,I'm sure Chelsea Clinton could of used some support after her father was impeached and was shown to be a sex pervert.
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | Jan 3, 2007 10:27:19 PM
Another meaningful post by the disingenuous. Maybe you think a BJ is perverted, but others may not agree with your "man on top get it over with quick" routine. How do you keep em down on the farm Paulo?
Posted by: bill r. | January 4, 2007 7:00 AM
Paulo,
Don't worry. After earning a Master's from Oxford and doing a six-figure stint at McKinsey, Chelsea seems to be doing fine. She seemed to be having a lively discussion with Condi Rice at the Ford funeral (Chelsea is an alum and Rice is ex provost of Stanford).
By the way, Monica Lewinsky just earned her Master's from the London School of Economics -- so she's past it. Maybe you should be too.
Chelsea's mom is doing a book tour to celebrate the 10th anniversary of It Takes a Village. She may be advancing her career soon too. Are you advancing Paulo?
I'm sure they appreciate the sincerity of your concern for their welfare.
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport | January 4, 2007 7:55 AM
I remember Rush (The Hush) Limbug going after Chelsea when she was in her most awkward adolescent age.
What a gentleman.
Put him in a pink uniform and you would have Goering.
Posted by: C.Morris | January 4, 2007 9:39 AM
PS:
Bill and Juan would agree with this. (Heh heh...)
Posted by: C.Morris | January 4, 2007 10:06 AM
Bill and Juan would agree with this. (Heh heh...)
Posted by: C.Morris | Jan 4, 2007 10:06:50 AM
I too know they would agree with this.
Posted by: bill r. | January 4, 2007 10:22 AM
Oh...I see Kenny B...you were just refering to the Bush twins...right?God forbid someone would want Chelsea to get help,like I did.
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | January 4, 2007 6:53 PM
BANG!!!!
Paulo has crashed and burned again.
Where's Bill when you need him most,huh Paulo???
Posted by: John E. | January 4, 2007 9:19 PM
I think Chelsea's Master's Degree from Oxford trumps the Bush twin's naked romps in Rio deJaniero, and Austin, and Houston, and, and
Posted by: Karen Up North | January 5, 2007 12:28 AM
Karen up North,
I don't know about that. Oxford is a dangerous pit of 'ideas'. Something called 'learning' happens there.
And, it's in a place called England; Technically speaking, Un-American.
Chelsea in '20, anywone?
Posted by: C.Morris | January 5, 2007 11:37 AM
"Another meaningful post by the disingenuous. Maybe you think a BJ is perverted, but others may not agree with your "man on top get it over with quick" routine. How do you keep em down on the farm Paulo?"
Perhaps it's easier when they're penned in and can't get away. Or maybe Paulo prefers 'em "cooped" up. Just a thought.
Posted by: John | January 5, 2007 12:49 PM