About this item
An intimate and insightful biography of Betty Ford, the groundbreaking, candid, and resilient First Lady and wife of President Gerald Ford, from the #1 New York Times bestselling coauthor of Five Presidents and Mrs. Kennedy and Me.Betty Ford: First Lady, Women's Advocate, Survivor, Trailblazer is the inspiring story of an ordinary Midwestern girl thrust onto the world stage and into the White House under extraordinary circumstances. Setting a precedent as First Lady, Betty Ford refused to be silenced by her critics as she publicly championed equal rights for women, and spoke out about issues that had previously been taboo - breast cancer, depression, abortion, and sexuality. Privately, there were signs something was wrong. After a painful intervention by her family, she admitted to an addiction to alcohol and prescription drugs. Her courageous decision to speak out publicly sparked a national dialogue, and in 1982, she co-founded the Betty Ford Center, which revolutionized treatment for alcoholism and inspired the modern concept of recovery. Lisa McCubbin also brings to light Gerald and Betty Ford's sweeping love story: from Michigan to the White House, until their dying days, their relationship was that of a man and woman utterly devoted to one another other - a relationship built on trust, respect, and an unquantifiable chemistry. Based on intimate in-depth interviews with all four of her children, Susan Ford Bales, Michael Ford, Jack Ford, and Steven Ford, as well as family friends, and colleagues, Betty Ford: First Lady, Women's Advocate, Survivor, Trailblazer is a deeply personal, empathic portrait of an outspoken First Lady, who was first and foremost a devoted wife and mother. With poignant details and rare insight, McCubbin reveals a fiercely independent woman who had a lively sense of humor, unwavering faith, and an indomitable spirit - the true story behind one of the most admired and influential women of our time.
About the Author
Lisa McCubbin is the author of BETTY FORD: First Lady, Women's Advocate, Survivor, Trailblazer (Gallery Books, Sept. 2018) and the coauthor of four New York Times bestsellers, including MRS. KENNEDY AND ME and FIVE PRESIDENTS with Clint Hill. Prior to becoming a full-time writer, Lisa was a television news anchor and reporter in Bakersfield, California. Later, she spent six years in the Middle East (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Doha, Qatar) as a freelance writer and foreign correspondent. In 2009 Lisa collaborated with longtime friend Gerald Blaine to write a memoir about his years in the Secret Service during the Kennedy administration. "The Kennedy Detail" was published in 2010 and became an instant bestseller. While writing "The Kennedy Detail" Lisa met Clint Hill, retired Assistant Director of the U.S. Secret Service, and who is best known as the courageous agent who jumped onto the presidential limousine when shots were fired at President John F. Kennedy in Dallas on 11/22/63. Hill had rarely spoken about "that dreadful day in Dallas" and had vowed never to write a book. Lisa convinced Mr. Hill that he had a rare and unique story to tell, and that it was valuable to history. He finally agreed, and together they wrote "Mrs. Kennedy and Me" which became a #1 NY Times bestseller.Lisa and Clint Hill collaborated on two more bestselling books: Five Days in November (2013) and FIVE PRESIDENTS: My Extraordinary Journey with Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Ford (2016) .Lisa has had the privilege and opportunity to visit and speak at U.S. Secret Service offices all over the country, and to meet hundreds of former and current agents. She has a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for the men and women who sacrifice their own lives to protect our country at the highest level, while always being "Worthy of Trust and Confidence." Lisa McCubbin is the proud mother of two sons and a wonderful daughter-in-law. She resides in the San Francisco Bay area.
