Wow!! Amazing biography of Betty Ford by Lisa McCubbin. Riveting, thoroughly researched, informative and educational. Biographies are hit or miss and I am glad this one turned out to be an interesting and informative read. First ladies don't get much attention or credit and while it may be true because of their assumed passive role back in the days, Betty Ford was not the one to stay quiet and live in her husband's shadow.
This book gives a very intimate view of Betty Ford's upbringing, her passion as a dancer and the setbacks during her first marriage and her eventually ending up with Gerald Ford, Jr and becoming first a congressman's wife then vice president's wife ending up being the First lady understand unusual circumstances. As opinionated as she was regarding sensitive issues of that era such as Equal Rights for women, "women's diseases" such as breast cancer she was just as vulnerable as you and I are. Yes, she was a diagnosed pain pills abuser and an alcoholic, something you would never expect a First Lady to confess to the citizens of the US but Betty was different. Not only she acknowledged her abusing pain pills and being alcoholic but she went on to confront her problem checking herself in a treatment center and eventually became an advocate for people seeking a cure from addictions. She was a leading actor behind opening of Betty Ford Center for treatment of addiction and it flourished with the problem getting wide spread recognition. Lisa McCubbin has done a wonderful job touching upon Betty's every aspect of life in her book. I am sure you are in for a good read with this one.
P.S: This book was given to me by the publisher to review in return for my unbiased opinion.
