“This is the First Mama from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.”
A9694-08 / NAID: 45644255
Courtesy Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
On October 4, 1978, President Jimmy Carter issued a statement celebrating “10-4 Day” or National Citizens Band Radio Day. In his statement, Carter reiterated the importance of CB radio usage for road safety and communication. However, Carter wasn’t the first resident of the White House to advocate for or use CB radio.
During a 1976 campaign stop in Madison, WI, Betty Ford took to the CB airwaves to talk with a convoy of friends in Grand Rapids, MI, and address local CB enthusiasts. This kicked off a flood of correspondence and controversy.
Courtesy Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
On April 2, 1976, prior to her broadcast, the FCC granted Betty a 90-day temporary CB radio license. She received a permanent license on May 25, 1976. The quick turn-around time for Betty’s permanent license caused an uproar in the CB community, where it could take up to four months to receive a permanent license. This led the FCC to announce future steps toward getting CBers on the air quicker.
Despite the controversy, public response to Betty’s interest in CB radio was overwhelmingly positive.
Courtesy Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
Courtesy Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
Courtesy Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
The largest amount of public correspondence arrived after Betty chose “First Mama” as her CB handle. Hundreds of CB enthusiasts sent the East Wing their personalized QSL cards, requesting Betty reciprocate with her own. A written way of confirming two-way communication between CB stations, QSL cards became collector’s items due to their colorful and creative designs.
Betty’s enthusiasm for CB radio usage helped bring more attention to this form of communication and sparked a change in the FCC’s procedures for granting temporary licenses to new users.
In the spirit of Betty Ford, we will sign off with: It was nice modulating with you!
Author: Kari Theisen
- Sparkplug and Kingfisher
White House Social Files Bulk Mail Files, Box 23, “CB Correspondence (Box 272 – 80 items -1) (1)”
Sherman Tank
White House Social Files Bulk Mail Files, Box 23, “CB Correspondence (Box 273, 50 items -1) (5)”
Top Cat/Dusty
White House Social Files Bulk Mail Files, Box 23, “CB Correspondence (Box 273 – 50 items – 2) (6)”
Scarecrow
White House Social Files Bulk Mail Files, Box 24, “CB Correspondence (Box 274 – 30 items – 2) (8)”
Green Lightning and Buzz Bomb/Lady Bomb
White House Social Files Bulk Mail Files, Box 24, “CB Correspondence (Box 275, 80 items – 1) (9)” ↩︎