From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Five Presidents and The Kennedy Detail comes an “insightful and beautifully told look into the life of one of the most public and admired first ladies” (Publishers Weekly)—Betty Ford. 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 interviews with her children, Susan Ford Bales and Steven Ford, as well as family, friends, and colleagues, Betty Ford is “a vivid picture of a singularly influential woman” (Bookpage).

Secret Service agent Clint Hill reveals the stories behind the iconic images of the five tragic days surrounding President John F. Kennedy’s assassination in this 60th anniversary edition of the New York Times bestseller. On November 22, 1963, three shots were fired in Dallas, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, and the world stopped for four days. For an entire generation, it was the end of an age of innocence. That evening, a photo ran on the front pages of newspapers across the world, showing a Secret Service agent jumping on the back of the presidential limousine in a desperate attempt to protect the President and Mrs. Kennedy. That agent was Clint Hill. Now Hill commemorates the sixtieth anniversary of the tragedy with this stunning book containing more than 150 photos, each accompanied by his incomparable insider account of those terrible days. A story that has taken Hill half a century to tell, this is a “riveting, stunning narrative” (Herald & Review, Illinois) of personal and historical scope. Besides the unbearable grief of a nation and the monumental consequences of the event, the death of JFK was a personal blow to a man sworn to protect the first family, and who knew, from the moment the shots rang out in Dallas, that nothing would ever be the same.

"For four years, from the election of John Fitzgerald Kennedy in November 1960 until after the election of Lyndon Johnson in 1964, Clint Hill was the Secret Service agent assigned to guard the glamorous and intensely private Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. During those four years, he went from being a reluctant guardian to a fiercely loyal watchdog and, in many ways, her closest friend"--

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 Betty Ford’s story is one of extraordinary circumstances, as she was thrust into the world stage in 1974 as first lady. She was tough, strong, and graceful, and she fell in love with dancing as a child. #2 Betty’s childhood was spent moving around with her family. She had two brothers, Bill and Bob, and a sister, Hortense. They would eventually settle in Grand Rapids, Michigan. #3 The Bloomers moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1920. The city was largely Dutch and Protestant, and they became close with their cousins, the Irwins. The children made friends and spent hours at the lake, swimming, sailing, and fishing. #4 Betty’s father was a traveling salesman, and he was gone for weeks at a time. Hortense, however, kept him apprised of what was going on in the family through daily letters. Betty loved her father, but she was determined to never marry a man who traveled.

"John Robert Greene traces Betty Ford's problems and triumphs from her childhood through her husband's entire political career, including his controversial presidency, which thrust her into an unrelenting media spotlight. He then tells how she confronted her personal demons, and became a symbol of courage for women throughout the nation."--BOOK JACKET.

"Secret Service agent Clint Hill ... reflects on his seventeen years protecting the most powerful office in the nation. Hill walked alongside Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, and Gerald R. Ford, seeing them through a long, tumultuous era-the Cold War; the Cuban Missile Crisis; the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Robert F. Kennedy; the Vietnam War; Watergate; and the resignations of Spiro Agnew and Richard M. Nixon"--Provided by publisher.

In this candid and moving memoir, former First Lady Betty Ford shares her experience, understanding, and hope so that others can discover that alcoholism and drug addiction need not rob them of their lives. Much more than one woman's intimate odyssey through loneliness and despair to happiness and health, this extraordinary volume is one of encouragement, comfort, and support to all families and individuals. It is a living testament to the power of love, the joys of recovery, and the will to survive that can give life a new, and often better, beginning. Like so many millions of Americans, Betty Ford suffered from alcoholism and drug addiction. But, in her case, as in many cases, the disease took years to surface. When it did, it took all of the strength and courage that she and her family possessed to be able to deal with it. Betty: A Glad Awakening is the deeply personal story of one of the most celebrated women of our time. Wonderment, gratitude, serenity, laughter, freedom—these are but a few of the gifts that Mrs. Ford received in her journey through treatment to recovery. And, as she so eloquently describes in her book, they inspired her to help others who feel defeated by the disease of addiction.