1918 – 2011

Betty Ford

First Lady of the United States from 1974 to 1977

autobiographerwomen's rights activistmodeldancerpolitician

Born

1918-04-08, Chicago

Died

2011-07-08

Birthplace state

Illinois

Biography

Betty Ford was born in Chicago in 1918 and worked as a dancer, model, writer, women's rights activist, and politician. She served as Second Lady from 1973 to 1974 when her husband was vice president, then as First Lady from 1974 to 1977. During her time as First Lady, she took an active role in social policy and established herself as a politically engaged presidential spouse. She died in 2011.

Occupation

Betty Ford is recorded as a autobiographer, a women's rights activist, a model, a dancer, a politician and a writer, born in Illinois (1918–2011).

Connections to Illinois

Betty Ford was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1918. Explore other notable figures from Illinois, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Illinois›Illinoishistory ›Historic sites in Illinois›

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Overview

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The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

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More notable figures from Illinois

Other historical figures born in Illinois, ranked by historical prominence.

Ronald Reagan

president of the United States from 1981 to 1989 and actor (1911-2004)

Walt Disney

American animator, producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor and entrepreneur, founder of The Walt Disney Company (1901–1966)

Ernest Hemingway

American author and journalist (1899–1961)

Robin Williams

American actor and comedian (1951–2014)

Ray Bradbury

American author and screenwriter (1920–2012)

Bobby Fischer

American chess player (1943–2008)

James Watson

American molecular biologist, geneticist, zoologist and Nobel Laureate (1928–2025)

Frequently asked about Betty Ford

Who was Betty Ford?

Betty Ford was First Lady of the United States from 1974 to 1977, born in Illinois (1918 – 2011).

When and where was Betty Ford born?

Betty Ford was born on 1918-04-08 in Chicago.

When did Betty Ford die?

Betty died on 2011-07-08.

What was Betty Ford known for?

Betty Ford is recorded as a autobiographer, a women's rights activist, a model, a dancer, a politician and a writer.

Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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