Betty Ford may not have been a trendsetting First Lady the way Michelle Obama is, but she had style. The former First Lady (her tenure as FLOTUS was from 1974-77) wore her hair in a signature '70s-style bob and had a penchant for silk scarves and tailored jackets.
A former dancer, Mrs. Gerald Ford once worked under Martha Graham. She actually performed with Graham's troupe in New York City's Carnegie Hall. Ford also worked as a fashion model at the time to finance her career as a dancer, perhaps explaining her affection for fitted suits and flowing gowns later in life.
Betty married Gerald Ford in 1948 and the couple was married for 58 years until his death in 2006. Probably best known for founding the substance abuse center that bears her name, Elizabeth Ford also raised awareness around breast cancer after her 1974 mastectomy.
In celebration of what would have been her 95th birthday on April 8th, we are taking a look back at half of one of the most affectionate first couples in America's history.
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