Susan Ford Bales is an American author, former photojournalist, health advocate, and public-service leader. She is the youngest child and only daughter of Gerald R. Ford, the 38th president of the United States, and First Lady Betty Ford.
Bales spent part of her teenage years in the White House after her father became president in August 1974. She later developed a career in photography, co-authored two mystery novels, and assumed leadership responsibilities at the Betty Ford Center.
Her public work has also included breast cancer awareness, addiction recovery advocacy, preservation of the Ford family’s historical legacy, and service as the sponsor of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford.
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Profile Summary
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Susan Elizabeth Ford Bales |
| Birth name | Susan Elizabeth Ford |
| Date of birth | July 6, 1957 |
| Age | 68 years old as of June 21, 2026 |
| Birthplace | Washington, D.C., United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Professions | Author, former photojournalist, advocate |
| Known for | Only daughter of President Gerald Ford and Betty Ford |
| Father | Gerald R. Ford |
| Mother | Betty Ford |
| Siblings | Michael Ford, John “Jack” Ford, and Steven Ford |
| Education | Holton-Arms School, Mount Vernon College, and the University of Kansas |
| Children | Two daughters |
| Books | Double Exposure: A First Daughter Mystery and Sharp Focus |
| Notable leadership | Former chair of the Betty Ford Center board |
| Current affiliation | Trustee of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation |
| Naval role | Sponsor of USS Gerald R. Ford |
| Major distinction | First woman named an Honorary Naval Aviator |
Early Life and Background
Susan Elizabeth Ford was born on July 6, 1957, in Washington, D.C. She was the fourth and youngest child of Gerald and Betty Ford, following her brothers Michael, John—commonly known as Jack—and Steven.
She was raised primarily in Alexandria, Virginia, while her father represented Michigan in the U.S. House of Representatives. Gerald Ford later became vice president in December 1973 following the resignation of Spiro Agnew.
When President Richard Nixon resigned in August 1974, Gerald Ford assumed the presidency. Susan was 17 and still attending Holton-Arms School in Bethesda, Maryland.
Life in the White House
Susan was the only Ford child who lived in the White House on a full-time basis during her father’s presidency. Her brothers were older and had already established lives away from the family home.
Her time there coincided with a significant period for her mother. Betty Ford underwent surgery for breast cancer shortly after the family moved into the White House. During her mother’s recovery, Susan assisted with some official hostess responsibilities.
In 1975, Susan’s Holton-Arms senior prom was held in the White House’s East Room. The event became one of the best-known social occasions associated with the Ford family’s residence in the Executive Mansion.
Education and Photography Training
After completing high school, Bales attended Mount Vernon College in Washington, D.C., where she studied photojournalism. She also attended the University of Kansas.
Public institutional biographies state that she studied with influential landscape photographer Ansel Adams. Her education and training helped establish the technical foundation for her subsequent work as a professional photographer.
Available records confirm her attendance at these institutions but do not consistently document the completion of a university degree.
Career and Professional Journey
Photojournalism Career
Susan Ford Bales pursued photography as a profession rather than relying solely on her public identity as a former president’s daughter. She worked as a photojournalist and contributed to several newspapers, magazines, and news organizations.
Her professional associations included:
- The Associated Press
- Newsweek
- Money
- Ladies’ Home Journal
- The Topeka Capital-Journal
- Omaha Sun
Her photography career reflected the field she had studied at Mount Vernon College. It also provided experience that later influenced the central character and themes of her mystery novels.
Books by Susan Ford Bales
Bales entered fiction writing with Double Exposure: A First Daughter Mystery, written with author Laura Hayden and published in 2002.
The novel follows Eve Cooper, a fictional president’s daughter who is pursuing a career in photography while becoming involved in a White House mystery. Although the setting draws on circumstances familiar to Bales, the book is a work of fiction rather than an autobiography.
Bales and Hayden continued the series with Sharp Focus. The sequel again combines presidential-family life, photography, and a mystery involving the fictional first daughter.
Her published novels are:
- Double Exposure: A First Daughter Mystery
- Sharp Focus: A First Daughter Mystery
The books form a limited mystery series rather than a comprehensive account of Bales’ own White House experiences.
Work with the Betty Ford Center
The Betty Ford Center was founded in Rancho Mirage, California, in 1982. It became closely associated with Betty Ford’s efforts to improve addiction treatment and reduce the stigma surrounding substance use disorders.
Susan Ford Bales worked with her mother on projects connected with the center from its early years. Her areas of interest included the effects of addiction on families, services for children, medical education, and programs designed for women.
She was elected to the Betty Ford Center’s board of directors in 1992. In 2005, she succeeded her mother as chair of the board and held that position until 2010.
The Betty Ford Center later became part of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation. Bales has continued her involvement as a member of the combined organization’s board of trustees, supporting its treatment, education, recovery, and public-awareness work.
Breast Cancer Awareness
Betty Ford’s decision to speak publicly about her breast cancer diagnosis contributed to greater national awareness of screening and early detection. Susan supported her mother’s advocacy and participated in related educational efforts.
In 1984, Susan and Betty Ford helped launch National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Bales subsequently served as a national spokesperson for breast cancer awareness and appeared before medical organizations, women’s groups, and public-health forums.
Her advocacy extended the Ford family’s influence beyond presidential history and into public discussions about health, early detection, and patient education.
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation
Bales served as a trustee of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation for more than four decades, beginning in 1982 and concluding that term in June 2023. She also served several periods as the foundation’s vice chair.
Her responsibilities focused on preserving and interpreting her father’s political legacy. The foundation supports educational programs, historical research, public events, and activities connected with the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum.
Bales has also served with Ford family charitable trusts, including the Elizabeth B. Ford Charitable Trust and the President Gerald R. Ford Historical Legacy Trust.
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Major Achievements and Recognition
Sponsor of USS Gerald R. Ford
One of Bales’ most prominent ceremonial responsibilities has been her service as sponsor of USS Gerald R. Ford, the lead ship in a new class of U.S. Navy aircraft carriers.
A ship sponsor maintains a continuing ceremonial relationship with a naval vessel and its crew. Bales participated in several major stages of the carrier’s development, including its keel-laying, christening, and commissioning.
She christened the ship on November 9, 2013. USS Gerald R. Ford was commissioned on July 22, 2017, when Bales delivered the traditional order for the crew to man the ship and bring it to life.
Her involvement also reflects her father’s military record. Gerald Ford served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and regarded his naval service as one of the most important experiences of his life.
First Female Honorary Naval Aviator
In April 2016, the U.S. Navy named Bales an Honorary Naval Aviator in recognition of her sustained service as the carrier’s sponsor.
She became the 31st person and the first woman to receive the distinction. The honorary designation recognizes individuals who have provided significant support to U.S. naval aviation.
Honorary Doctorates
Bales has received three honorary doctorate degrees acknowledging her public service and civic contributions. Institutional biographies describe the awards as honorary degrees in fields including public service and letters.
Health and Recovery Advocacy
Her leadership at the Betty Ford Center represents one of the most substantial parts of her public career. Rather than serving only in a ceremonial capacity, she held board responsibilities and supported programs addressing addiction’s effects on patients and their families.
Her work in both addiction recovery and breast cancer awareness continued causes closely associated with Betty Ford while establishing Bales’ own record of public engagement.
Literary and Historical Contributions
Bales’ two novels added a fictional perspective to literature about presidential families and life in the White House. Her photography background and direct familiarity with the Executive Mansion informed the setting without turning the stories into memoirs.
Through the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation and related trusts, she also helped preserve records and promote public understanding of her father’s presidency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Susan Ford Bales?
Susan Ford Bales is an American author, former photojournalist, health advocate, and public-service figure. She is the youngest child and only daughter of President Gerald R. Ford and First Lady Betty Ford. She is also known for her leadership at the Betty Ford Center and her association with USS Gerald R. Ford.
How old is Susan Ford Bales?
Susan Ford Bales was born on July 6, 1957. She is 68 years old as of June 21, 2026, and will turn 69 on July 6, 2026.
Who are Susan Ford Bales’ parents?
Her parents were Gerald R. Ford and Elizabeth “Betty” Ford. Gerald Ford served as the 38th president of the United States from 1974 to 1977. Betty Ford was a prominent advocate for breast cancer awareness, addiction treatment, and women’s health.
What books did Susan Ford Bales write?
Susan Ford Bales co-authored two mystery novels with Laura Hayden: Double Exposure: A First Daughter Mystery and its sequel, Sharp Focus. Both books feature a fictional president’s daughter and use the White House as an important setting.
What did Susan Ford Bales do at the Betty Ford Center?
Bales worked on Betty Ford Center projects beginning in its early years and joined its board of directors in 1992. She succeeded Betty Ford as board chair in 2005 and served until 2010. She later continued her work as a trustee of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation.
Did Susan Ford Bales live in the White House?
Yes. Bales lived in the White House while completing high school during Gerald Ford’s presidency. She assisted with hostess duties after her mother underwent breast cancer surgery, and her 1975 senior prom was held in the East Room.
Why is Susan Ford Bales connected to USS Gerald R. Ford?
She is the official sponsor of USS Gerald R. Ford, the aircraft carrier named for her father. She participated in the ship’s major ceremonial milestones and christened it in 2013. The U.S. Navy later recognized her service by naming her its first female Honorary Naval Aviator.
Conclusion
Susan Ford Bales has built a public career encompassing photojournalism, fiction writing, health advocacy, charitable leadership, and historical preservation. Although she first entered public attention as Gerald and Betty Ford’s only daughter, her professional record extends beyond her connection to the presidency.
She worked as a photojournalist, co-authored two White House mystery novels, chaired the Betty Ford Center’s board, and promoted awareness of addiction recovery and breast cancer. She also helped preserve her father’s legacy through the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation.
Her role as sponsor of USS Gerald R. Ford and her recognition as the first female Honorary Naval Aviator are among her most distinctive honors. Together, these activities define a career centered on public service, health education, presidential history, and civic responsibility.
