WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) – First lady Jill Biden unveiled a new U.S. Postal Service stamp honoring former first lady Betty Ford during a ceremony at the White House on Wednesday.
“Betty’s time in the White House may have been brief, but her mark was lasting,” Biden said.
Betty Ford was the first lady from 1974 to 1977. During her time in the White House, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. While previous first ladies chose not to disclose their medical diagnosis, Ford was open about her treatment and underwent breast cancer surgery.
Ford’s daughter, Susan Ford Bales, attended the unveiling and reflected on learning about her mother’s diagnosis while living at the White House.
“She said the time for women hiding this disease in shame and behind closed doors has to stop and who better to make that happen than the first lady of the United States. So, mom announced to the public exactly, and I mean exactly, what was happening to her,” Bales said.
Ford also established treatment centers around the country to help those struggling with addiction. She was open about her struggle with prescription medication and alcohol addiction.
The stamp will be issued on April 5. A dedication ceremony will be held on that day at Eisenhower Health in Rancho Mirage, California.
Ford died in 2011. She is the seventh first lady to be honored with a U.S. postage stamp.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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