Betty Ford Dead at 93

Admirers remember a brave and down-to-earth first lady

(NEWSER) - What more can be said about a first lady who talked on CB radio in the '70s under the handle First Mama? Plenty. Some highlights of the coverage of Betty Ford's death :

• Eleanor Swift, Daily Beast : "She was a regular person who just happened to live in the White House, and she didn’t trim her sails to satisfy any political constituency. ... She was a more open woman than we’d had in the White House before, speaking out about her cancer, her addiction to painkillers, and her support for the Equal Rights Amendment. Her candor broke political rules, endearing her to women everywhere."
• Suzanne Murray, the Stir : "She made it okay for women to talk about breast cancer, breast health, and self-exams openly. ... Despite her own battle with addiction, she accomplished more than most of us do in a lifetime, and she made the lives of many—women especially—so much better. She was an amazing, down-to-earth woman who is still an inspiration to us all." Click to read the Stir's 12 reasons why "she rocked."

Former president's desert home offered for $1.7M

(NEWSER) - A dream come true for wealthy Gerald Ford fans: The California home he lived in for decades after leaving office is up for sale at $1.7 million. The six-bedroom Rancho Mirage desert compound sits on the 13th fairway of the Thunderbird Country Club, and was designed by architect Welton Becket, NBC reports. The compound was home to the Fords from 1978 until his death in 2006 and Betty Ford's death last year . More»

Former first ladies attend funeral

(NEWSER) - Lots of former White House residents, including first ladies, paid homage to Betty Ford today at her funeral in California. Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, Nancy Reagan (escorted by George W. Bush), and Rosalynn Carter were among the attendees, reports the AP . "Millions of women are in her debt today and she was never afraid to speak the truth even about the most sensitive subjects, including her own struggle with alcohol and pain killers," Carter said. "She got some criticism, but I thought she was wonderful and her honesty gave to others every single day." More»

Former first lady fought for civil rights

(NEWSER) - Lady Bird Johnson, wife of former president Lyndon Johnson, is dead today at 94. Johnson was a vociferous—if always graceful—campaigner for the beautification of the country and, during one of the most turbulent presidencies of all time, for civil rights and the betterment of the poor. More»