Remembering our First Ladies: As Seen Through the Eyes of Their Descendants (April 26, 2012)

The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation hosted First Family Representatives at yet another exclusive event to an overflow audience at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum on April 26, 2012 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Descendants of former First Ladies spoke on the enduring legacies, family stories and fondness that each carries for these unique icons of history. First Family Representatives included Margaret Hoover (great-granddaughter of Lou Hoover), Clifton Daniel (grandson of Bess Truman) and Betty Ford (daughter of Betty Ford).
Rick Albin, Political Report for WOOD-TV, moderated the panel as they touched on the First Ladies more so than just their public positions, but as "mother, grandmother and great-grandmother". Each of these women represented vastly different times and enormously important parts of our American history and the Foundation was honored to host this special event.
Margaret Claire Hoover is the great-granddaughter of Lou Hoover, wife of Herbert Hoover, the 31st President of the United States. Lou Hoover was the First Lady during Great Depression, which at the time was our nation's worst economic depression since the Civil War. Margaret touched on how Lou was a pioneer who broke the model of First Lades that had come before. Lou was the 1st First Lady to catalog the inventory of The White House furniture, paintings and household items. Lou was the 1st woman in the U.S. to graduate with a degree in geology, having graduated from the 3rd class from Stanford. She was the 1st First Lady to invite an African American women to tea, which caused such a scandal that it was called the De Priest Incident. Jessie De Priest was the wife of Oscar De Priest show as recently elected to U.S. Congress from Chicago and it was tradition to invite the wife of the Congressmen for tea. They knew it would be scandal but they moved to have her for tea and would invite her husband the next day for tea as well.
Clifton Truman Daniel is the grandson of Bess Truman, wife of Harry Truman, the 33rd President of the Untied States. Bess Truman was the FIrst Lady during and just following World War II. Clifton touched on how Bess was vastly different other First Ladies, especially Eleanor Roosevelt who had preceded her. The 1st act as First lady, was to cancel Eleanor's weekly press conference, she rarely spoke with the press and believed that her role was to be behind the scenes to support her husband. Bess is the longest lived First Lady, having died at 97 years old. Her father's suicide when she was 18 shaped how she would interact with people and later on the press for the rest of her life. While The White House was under construction, the Family lived in the Blair House.
Suzanne Ford Bales is the daughter of Betty Ford, wife of Gerald R. Ford, the 38th President of the United States. Betty Ford was the First Lady just after Richard Nixon's resignation due to the Watergate Scandal, end of the Vietnam War, American cultural changes and economic crisis. Suzanne touched on how Betty Grand Rapids molded her character, and how Betty was a cross between both Lou and Bess. She could be an activists when she wanted to be and she would want her private time away from the public image. Betty had accepted her breast cancer and was determined to work to change women's health care, as she rose awareness for the condition and rose to the occasion to help women everywhere

[@PresidentJamesDChaos]

It’s so great to hear from the descendants of 3 of my favorite presidents, each with a unique perspective

[@oomahuntressprotectress848]

these Pride Parade events may or may not have merit, yet it just seems bound to fail until the LGBTQ+ lobby creates a unique logo! and perhaps or perhaps not wording,..