Drawing on papers deposited at the Ford library in addition to memoirs by and about his subject, historian Greene (The Presidency of George Bush
) delivers an affirmative account of the life of a popular and controversial First Lady. Despite the reservations of her Michigan mother, Betty Ford (b. 1918) studied with Martha Graham to become a modern dancer, but she gave up this aspiration for family life when in 1948 she married U.S. Rep. Gerald Ford. The Fords had four children whom Betty essentially raised alone; Green believes that her later problem with alcohol (her father was an alcoholic) began to manifest itself during their childhoods. Although her addiction worsened as her husband assumed the vice presidency, she grew emotionally stronger after a bout with breast cancer, breaking the silence about her disease and lobbying for the ERA and a woman's right to choose—and infuriating White House advisers who tried to force her out of the limelight. Green provides a wealth of carefully researched detail about the conflicts between members of her staff that also created tension. Transformed by post-presidential rehab, she founded the Betty Ford Center for rehabilitation and continues to speak out for those who have substance abuse problems. Green hasn't dug up anything earth-shattering, but his account is frank enough and thorough. (Dec.)
