Betty for '76
Betty Ford's contributions to the 1976 US Presidential election have long since been forgotten. Her work to get her husband re-elected saw her visit more than 25 states on the campaign. Her husband's campaign advisors saw a highly popular, liberal activist in Betty could bring in demographics of voters that Ford lacked. Her pioneering work made her the first First Lady to take such an involved role on an election campaign.
Betty's Misssion
Betty's major role in the period from January to November 1976 was to drive voters to the polls in favour of her husband. Polling numbers gave her national approval ratings over 70% and her public lobbying for the Equal Rights Amendment and her September 1975 60 Minutes interview had made her a very public facing First Lady. Check out Betty's 1976 Wrapped below!
As First Lady, Betty Ford was the hostess of America. State dinners, bicentennial events and charity balls made sure the First Lady's schedule was always booked with events that could have defined her role. Betty disagreed. She combined these public duties with a motivation to advocate for her husband and for the policies she believed in.
