Betty Bloomer Ford

Betty and Double Chocolate Cookies

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First Ladies - 1900 to 2000

First Lady Betty and President Gerald R. Ford

Betty Bloomer Ford*

President Gerald R. Ford*

Susan, Betty, Liberty, and Gerald Ford*

First Lady - August 9, 1974 - January 20, 1977
Quotes from Betty -

• "I believe the Equal Rights Amendment is a necessity of life for all citizens. The cabinet sometimes felt that I shouldn't be so outspoken."
• "You never know what you can do until you have to do it."
• "Why should my husband's job or yours prevent us from being ourselves? Being ladylike does not not require silence."

Factoid -

After leaving the White House, Betty received treatment for alcohol and pain pill addiction, leading her to founding the Betty Ford Center for drug and alcohol rehabilitation.  The Center has helped many to recover with their addictions over the years.
Bio -  

• Elizabeth (Betty) Bloomer was born Chicago, Illinois, but grew up mainly in Michigan.  Betty's young passion was dancing; after graduation she attended a dance school and joined famous dancer, Martha Graham's dance company in New York.  Betty married and divorced William Warren, and eventually met and married Gerald Ford, a rising Congressional member.  The Fords had four children, in addition to a political career for Gerald. 
• Gerald had a long career in Congress, when Vice President Agnew resigned and President Richard Nixon appointed Gerald Ford to the job.  Then Nixon resigned, and Gerald and Betty entered the White House as President and First Lady!
• Betty took on the role of First Lady with a zest - supporting the Equal Rights Amendment and encouraging more women in senior government roles.   She was outspoken about her support of pro-choice, gun control, feminism, and equal pay.
• A month after becoming First Lady, Betty was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy.  She was candid about her condition and was an advocate for women's health and the inspiration for American women to receive breast exams, as well as perform self-exams.  Her focus on the matter no doubt saved millions of lives.
• As First Lady, Betty was a welcoming hostess for events such as the 1976 American Bicentennial celebration.  She also renovated the President's Dining Room. 

About Gerald  - Gerald Ford became the 38th President after Nixon's resignation.  He tried to heal the nation, but his pardon of Nixon was so controversial, it  may have cost him re-election. Gerald also faced economic troubles and rising Cold War tensions during his short term.

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Double Chocolate Cookies

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Betty loved cookies, and these Double Chocolate Chip ones were usually at her Thanksgiving feast.  The recipe is inspired by the recipe from The Gerald Ford Foundation via The Takeout.

Ingredients - Makes about 2 dozen.
1 cup of butter, softened at room temp
1 & 3/4 cups sugar
2 eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 ounce unsweetened baking chocolate, melted
1/4 cup sour cream
2 cups flour
3/4 cup cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt (omit if using salted nuts)
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups white chocolate chips
1 cup chopped nuts

Steps

1. Preheat oven to 350° F. Prepare cookie sheets by lining with parchment paper or leaving plain.  Do not grease.
2. In a mixing bowl, beat together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add eggs one at a time, beat well.  Add the vanilla.
3. Melt baking chocolate over a double boiler or in the microwave in 30 second increments, stirring between each.  Do not scorch or let seize.
4. Stir the melted chocolate and sour cream into the dough.
5. In a separate bowl, whisk together dry ingredients or mix together with a fork.
6. With mixer on low speed, gradually add flour mix to the dough.  Mix well.
7. Stir in the chocolate chips and chopped nuts by hand.  Drop dough by tablespoonfuls onto the cookie sheets, leaving space between.
8. Bake 12 minutes for a soft cookie or 15 minutes for a firmer one.  Let cookies rest about 5 minutes on the cookie sheet, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.

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Recipe Card

Portrait Credits*
Betty Ford - with flowers - David Hume Kennerly, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; with puppies - National Archives and Records Administration, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Gerald Ford - David Hume Kennerly, Department of Defense, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons