(light music) - [Narrator] Betty Ford has more than earned the status of one of the most influential first ladies in history.

(bright music) Gerald Ford proudly claimed, "When the final tally is taken, her contributions to our country will be bigger than mine."

The way Betty Ford embraced her role as a mother and wife championed women's rights and remained open about her experiences with breast cancer and chemical dependency, allowed her to strike a deeply humanizing chord with many vastly different people.

This positioned society to feel a closeness and bipartisan respect for her that was unlike anything before.

In addition to the outpouring of love Betty received when people wrote to her and proudly wore pins that said, "Betty's husband for President" Betty's indelible impact was also recognized by being invited to formal speaking engagements and receiving various prestigious awards.

The American Cancer Society and the National Association of Practical Nurse Education and Service, both formally awarded Betty for her courage and public advocacy for breast cancer.

The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars awarded Betty for her public services as well.

And in 1991, George HW Bush bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Betty Ford.

In doing so, he thanked her for providing selfless, strong, and refreshing leadership on a number of issues.

Betty and Gerald Ford also received the Congressional Gold Medal for dedicated public service and outstanding humanitarian contributions during a tumultuous time in history.

Finally, Gerald Ford himself awarded Betty with a 2005 Gerald R. Ford Medal for Distinguished Public Service, stating, "Her total dedication to openness, frankness, her real strong belief in equal rights for women, her handling of her breast cancer, her forthrightness of dealing with her chemical dependency are the strong character evidences of a lady I tremendously admire."

Betty returned her admiration and respect for her husband when receiving the award by stating, "If I have achieved anything to merit such recognition, it is in no small measure because of his unwavering support and encouragement."

While her spirit was all her own, Betty reflected on how being married to Gerald Ford is what allowed her voice to be heard and said marrying him was the biggest and best decision of her life.

- As a daughter, and having her as a mother was very special.

She made my life very special.

She made my children's life very special.

- [Narrator] When her daughter, Susan Ford Bales, was asked about the advice she has to offer others as they navigate the complications and controversies of the world today, her parents' commitment to integrity and compromise was shown through her, as she said.

- While there's certainly no disadvantages with working across the aisle, absolutely none.

I am very saddened by the state of our country today that people cannot reach across the aisle and work together.

I have friends on both sides of the aisle.

We don't talk politics.

It's just not necessary.

But I think the biggest difference that I see today is the politicians aren't necessarily working for the best of the country because I really feel that if you can reach across the aisle, you are working for the best of our country.

And they're putting their own personal opinions first.

But we all need to learn to listen.

My dad was an incredible listener.

My mom was an incredible listener.

And even as a kid, when I got in trouble, which was frequent, they always listened to what I had to say and why I did it, or why I didn't do it, or why I made that choice.

And that didn't necessarily change my getting in trouble or getting grounded or whatever it was, but I felt like I was heard.

And I hope that I can continue to have that characteristic in me and be open and willing to listen to all sides of a story.

I think the biggest thing is continuing to talk about my parents, who did have integrity and honesty and openness and that sort of thing.

I will never stop talking about them, and I know my daughters will never stop talking about their grandparents.

- [Narrator] The accessibility of Betty Ford and her humanizing legacy is beautifully embodied in the statue of her placed outside the entrance of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum.

With an outstretched hand visibly weathered by the number of visitors who have felt compelled to grab hold of it, Betty reminds us to be accepting of whatever comes our way in life and to offer the world the most honest and open version of ourselves.

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