gleaves. and good afternoon, everyone. i take a quick moment to thank the foundation as they have the better part of. 30 years, inviting me to be part of these very special events. and this one, i promise you, will be extraordinary. after listening to the conversations that had since i've been here and a special thanks to the ford family, because they too have allowed me to do things that most reporters don't get a chance to do, and particularly susan, who we spent so much time together between the ship, some of these events and it's always great you're back in town. and so it's nice to you all here. and let's get started. i want you to think for a minute about these two remarks. all women, we all know them. we can think of the high points, but think about what they did, how they did it, and when did it. and think about this title. lives of leadership, courage and both of these women had very distinct examples of all three of those wonderful traits. think about being a relatively young mother in the 1950s, when women didn'

gleaves. and good afternoon, everyone. i take a quick moment to thank the foundation as they have the better part of. 30 years, inviting me to be part of these very special events. and this one, i promise you, will be extraordinary. after listening to the conversations that had since i've been here and a special thanks to the ford family, because they too have allowed me to do things that most reporters don't get a chance to do, and particularly susan, who we spent so much time together between the ship, some of these events and it's always great you're back in town. and so it's nice to you all here. and let's get started. i want you to think for a minute about these two remarks. all women, we all know them. we can think of the high points, but think about what they did, how they did it, and when did it. and think about this title. lives of leadership, courage and both of these women had very distinct examples of all three of those wonderful traits. think about being a relatively young mother in the 1950s, when women didn'

we talked to gleaves, we're in, you know. so at the gerald r ford, ford was the first one for our members are the lifeblood of our and we really want more members are a three year old organization is now a leader in examining the role ladies performed while in the white house in american society and globally there could be no more fitting place for us to have this conference and carrying on the inspiration and a first lady betty ford who set her goal for her kickoff 40 years ago was and i'm going to quote today we have started a new and i hope a continuing project we have set out to at what the role of the first lady has been and what direction that role take for the future. so we are carrying on today. your mother's request flair with our steam takes great pleasure in honoring and carrying on ford's vision and request. it is now my pleasure to call up to the stage and our son jack, who is intern dean of the school of public affairs at american university school of public. and the thing is, allison, is someone important becau

gleaves. and good afternoon, everyone. i take a quick moment to thank the foundation as they have the better part of. 30 years, inviting me to be part of these very special events. and this one, i promise you, will be extraordinary. after listening to the conversations that had since i've been here and a special thanks to the ford family, because they too have allowed me to do things that most reporters don't get a chance to do, and particularly susan, who we spent so much time together between the ship, some of these events and it's always great you're back in town. and so it's nice to you all here. and let's get started. i want you to think for a minute about these two remarks. all women, we all know them. we can think of the high points, but think about what they did, how they did it, and when did it. and think about this title. lives of leadership, courage and both of these women had very distinct examples of all three of those wonderful traits. think about being a relatively young mother in the 1950s, when women didn'

gleaves. the white house belongs to the american people. and don't ever that. but the history of the white house is a national treasure. and the white house historical is essential in being the keeper of that house history. with us today, gleaves had mentioned we have several guests from the association on behalf of the president and my mother i would like you all to please accept stand and accept boundless gratitude for all that you do every day. the keepers of the white house history. 40 years ago, the white house historical association began a tradition. each year they produce an ornament that pays tribute to a selected president and his family. this year's ornament honors dad and our family's christmas celebrations. the ornament is wonderful, and it portrays special parts of our milestone. and one of this year's tributes that meant so much to my dad, the uss gerald r ford, cvn 78. to our friends, the white house historical association. thank you for all that do to preserve history of america's white house. and please accept my gratitude for this very specia

well, i'm going to invite gleaves up to do a conclusion with.but while he does that, i do want to just do a quick housekeeping just to say that nancy and nita. i don't diana had to leave, but and lisa will be outside books once we conclude here. so if you'd like to get some books signed, we we hope you will take advantage of that. so thank you so much. i'm not sure whether this is on or not. can you hear me? yes. okay, great. well, i'm holding the pamphlet that was issued the program in 1984 and i've studied it many times as we've prepared for and i can't help but think as i channel all the interesting who are in this publication that they would be smiling on what has taken place this afternoon. i think there was something for the head the heart, the feet and actions ahead because we just, for example, a historic graphic overview of all the great progress that's going on with the first ladies, the heart was we just heard about what the of what it's like to be a family in the white house really at a tough time in this stage of life and the feet i