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Show A5 The Salt Lake Tribune NATION Monday, June 21, 1999 No Ground Rules Guide First Ladies in Post-D.C.Life she declined. Ickes’ son, HaroldIckes Jr a close adviser to both Clintons, has been instrumental in guiding Clintons explo ration of a Senate bid go-ahead.“I figure they [first ladies] all Betty Ford counsels others have their own personalities, and if I say anything,‘It's do what you are comfort- to follow their inclinations able wit Ford said. Ford said she was never much ofa “political person” but noted that Clinton is NEWSDAY WASHINGTON — Former U.S. first lady Betty Ford suggests that there’s no job description for first ladies — or formerfirst ladies for that matter — and that each should follow her heart. While not giving a direct endorsement of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s apparent de- cision to run for the U.S. Senate from New York, Ford, in a recentinterview in Washington, appearedto give Clinton the “bright, intelligent and an excellent speaker,” all good political attributes. Ford’s nameis still very much in the public eye. She is forever identified with the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, Calif., which assists recovering alcoholics and drug addicts. As a formerfirst lady, she foundedtheclinic after her 1978 revelation that she had successfully battled alcoholand prescription-drug abuse. Ford used her name to elevate her cause as much, if not more, than if she had attained highpoliticaloffice, according to Carl Sferrazza Anthony, author of In the 1975-76 election cycle, when Democratic Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan wasfirst elected from New York, a “mild effort” was made to nominate Jac- several books onfirstladies. “Betty Ford has had incredible influ- queline Kennedy Onassis as the Demo- ence and power and hasreally been such an important figure in the addiction re- Onassis was not interested. She also covery movementin this country,” An- thonysaid. ‘Throughout U.S. history, first ladies have served without definition or ground rules. They have promotedspecial causes such as highway beautification andliteracy; some have even fought off political entreaties. eratic Senate candidate, Anthony said turned down offers from President Lyndon Johnsonto be ambassador to Mexico or Francein the wake of President John F. Kennedy's death. Eleanor Roosevelt was approached a couple of times to run for public office, includingan overture from Harold Ickes Sr., a close adviser to her husband, to run for the U.S. Senate from New York, but Former first lady Rosalynn Carter is less well-known than Ford but has been involved with former President Carter in Habitat for Humanity, an organization that builds homes for the needy. “There has never been a senator who wasfirst lady before.” Carter told 7he Washington Post. “But, of course, more attentionis paid to a first lady than tu a senator.” Otherformerfirst ladies chooseto stay out of the limelight Pet Lovers’ Dangerous Obsession Come to Sears to Researchers shedding light on these ‘hoarders’ If ASSUCIATED PRESS BOSTON — They re dismissed as wacky animal-loving eecentrics, those people discovered with dozens, even hundreds, of pets living under one roof. Animal experts have a namefor them — hoarders. But their be- havior may not always be simply eccentric, researchers say. It could signal mental illness. Pick Your ‘The cases crop up with alarm- ing frequency, and splashy headlines. make for Newfork MADISON SQUARE GARDEN-JuLy 14, 1999 There's the woman in Sugar Land, Texas, with 74 cats and dogs, twelve of which died in a Marchfire; the couple in Methuen with almost 150 cats discovered after a July blaze; the Northampton woman found last fall with 100 felines. Ateam of Massachusetts veteri- narians and psychologists is trying to figureout whylove for pets sometimes turns into animal ob- session, Historically, their behavior was excused, People would say, ‘They just love animals, why not leave them alone?’ id Gary Patronek, director of the Center for Animals and Public Policy at ‘Tufts Universily School of Veteri- nary Medicine in Grafton. Recently, that attitude has been shifting as closer attention is be- ing paid {o the deplorablestate in Which such animals often live. Hvarded pets are typically worm tidden, under-fed, mangy andstressed out. Theylive — and ficquently die —in squalor. Many of the worst cases are dis- coveredafter neighbors complain of a foul stench. That is when animal control officers or health in- specturs find dead cats piled under couches and foot-deep excrement on thefloor. Moai ders can beprosecuted un- der animal cruelty laws. But con- victions are moze likely to lead to small fines thanprisontime. Manyhoarders start over again afler (hey are caught ‘here is no wayto track exactly how many occur, although Patronek estimates at least 2,000are discovered annually This year he set up a national surveillanceeffort to try to pin- point the problemandhehopesto interview the huarders to deterimine their motives In research published in Janu- ary, Palronek studied 54 such cases fiom aroundthecountry he median number of animals kept was 89, but some hoardedas manyas 100 The keepers often viewed themselves as saviors on a rescue mission Of the cases studied, 76 percent involved women, and 46 percent were over age In 80percent of the cases, ani mats were found dead, malnour: ishedor injured Cats tend often, since small, quict Even farm to be hoarded most they are relatively and easy to hide. animals have been kept With the high recidivismrate, Patronck said, prosecution will do little to curb the behavior. With help from behavioral psycholo gists and sociologists at Smith College, Boston University and Northeastern University, Pa trenck is examining whether ani mal hoarders would be better helped by mental health experts. “People are forced to. prose cute these folks because there aren t alternatives,” hesaid. | the FIRST EVER WNBA ALL*STAR GAME! MADISON SQUARE GARDEN*JdJULY 14, 1999 ig End June 30, 1999 SEARS / Re-Glaze Your Old Tub & SAVE THOUSANDS! | pe ©1999 Sears, Roebuck and Co. For more info visit www. sears.comvwnba 801-955-8027 r 4 os June 30, 1999 Rosia. lynn Carter says she s not surethat get ting a political job would be a promotion fora first lady / { ehichal |
