Betty Ford quotes

Betty Ford was an American First Lady most known for her candor and advocacy on social issues. As the wife of President Gerald Ford, she brought national attention to topics such as addiction, women's rights, and breast cancer awareness. She became widely respected for her openness and for founding the Betty Ford Center for substance abuse treatment. Here are 21 of her quotes:

I have an independent streak. You know, it's kind of hard to tell a independent woman what to do.

Betty Ford

I think once I made up my mind that I was allergic to alcohol, and that's what I learned, it made sense to me. And I think it was kind of pointed out that you know if you were allergic to strawberries, you wouldn't eat strawberries. And that made sense to me.

Betty Ford

My makeup wasn't smeared, I wasn't disheveled, I behaved politely, and I never finished off a bottle, so how could I be alcoholic?

Betty Ford

It's always been my feeling that God lends you your children until they're about eighteen years old. If you haven't made your points with them by then, it's too late.

Betty Ford

You never know what you can do until you have to do it.

Betty Ford

I know I was an alcoholic because I was preoccupied whether alcohol was going to be served or not.

Betty Ford

I'll never forget the day that I was told I would have to have a mastectomy. My reaction to the words was total denial.

Betty Ford

We're full all the time. And people do have good success and I think one of the programs at the center, the Continuing Care, helps them with their success. Because it's difficult the first year.

Betty Ford

But my activities have been pretty much focused in the last almost 30 years on the recovery, of my own recovery, the understanding for my family of my recovery.

Betty Ford

And I have always told the patients when I talk to them. When they come around and say, 'What will you have to drink? Oh that's right you don't drink.' Just speak up and say, 'Of course I drink. But I just don't drink alcohol.'

Betty Ford

Isn't that wonderful? When we drove through several of the places we lived - Grand Rapids, Washington - they all had those placards. That they stood by the street and had in their hands placards that said 'Gerald Our Ford'. That meant so much to us as we were driving into Washington.

Betty Ford

I really didn't want to have my name on the center, because it just seemed like it was too much of a personal thing.

Betty Ford

I told my husband if we have to go to the White House, "Okay, I will go. But I'm going as myself. And it's too late to change my pattern. And if they don't like it, then they'll just have to throw me out."

Betty Ford

I have perfect: faith in my husband. But I'm always glad to see him enjoy a pretty girl. And when he stops looking, then I'm going to begin to worry. But right now, he still enjoys a pretty girl. And he really doesn't have time for outside entertainment. Because I keep him busy.

Betty Ford

I do not believe that being First Lady should prevent me from expressing my ideas. I spoke out on this important issue because of my deep personal convictions. Why should my husband's job, or yours, prevent us from being ourselves. Being ladylike does not require silence.

Betty Ford

We have to take that "just" out of "just a housewife." We have to show our pride in having the home and family our life's work. Downgrading this work has been part of the pattern in our society that has undervalued women's talents in all areas.

Betty Ford

Freedom for women to be what they want to be will help complete the circle of freedom America has been striving for 200 years.

Betty Ford

The most difficult moments were trying to pull my family through my cancer operation. I really had to pull them through, and to try to make them happy because they were so sad and upset.

Betty Ford