Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum

Famous Friends: Betty Ford and Martha Graham

Betty Ford and Martha Graham in the West Sitting Hall in the White House, 2/16/1976

Betty Bloomer Ford fell in love with dancing as a young woman, a passion that led her to attend summer sessions at the Bennington School of Dance in 1936 and 1937. There she met modern dance pioneer Martha Graham. “I worshiped her as a goddess,” Betty recalled in her autobiography. “She brought into a room a presence that was riveting. To this day, I feel that shiver of awe and delight when she comes on the scene.”

In 1938 Betty moved to New York City to study dance at Graham’s school. She became a member of the Martha Graham auxiliary performance troupe and performed at concerts in New York.

Excerpts from the program of Martha Graham and Dance Group concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City, 10/9/1938; Betty Bloomer appeared in “American Document” as part of the Assistant Dance Group

Although she was serious about dancing, Betty’s active social life sometimes got in the way of her training. “You can’t carouse and be a dancer too,” Martha, who was known for her strict discipline, told her. Betty knew she would have to make a decision about her future career, and at her mother’s urging she returned to Michigan in 1940.

Betty brought Martha’s modern dance techniques back to the Midwest. For a short time she became “the Martha Graham of Grand Rapids,” starting her own dance group and teaching at the Calla Travis Dance School.

Betty Bloomer (at left) Dancing with Three Other Young Women, 1948

As First Lady Betty Ford maintained her connection with Graham, inviting her former mentor to visit her at the White House. She also stopped by the Martha Graham Center in New York City and attended the Martha Graham 50th Anniversary Gala Celebration in 1975.

Betty Ford and Martha Graham Watching Dancers Rehearsing at the Martha Graham Center in New York City, 6/11/1975

President Ford honored Graham with the Presidential Medal of Freedom on October 14, 1976. Betty made sure it was a special night, including performances of two of Martha’s works after dinner.

President Gerald R. Ford Presents Martha Graham with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, 10/14/1976

Thanks to her former student’s persistent lobbying, Martha Graham was the first dancer to receive the nation’s highest civilian honor. She wrote to her “very dear Betty” to thank her after the ceremony. “You and the President gave me the most incredible gift of the world,” she said. “It was a great effort and so much love and faith went into it to make it lovely.”

Betty Ford and Martha Graham toasting at a Martha Graham Company Performance and Benefit Supper at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 11/16/1976

Cheers to friendship!