Weidenfeld, Sheila Rabb, 1943-

Sheila Rabb Weidenfeld was born in 1943 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She received a B.A. from Brandeis University in 1965. She was a production assistant and associate producer at WNEW-TV, New York City, 1965 to 1968, and from 1968 to 1971 she was a talent coordinator for NBC. She was the producer of the show "Panorama" on WTTG-TV, 1971 to 1973, and "Take It From Here" on NBC/WRC-TV, 1973 to 1974. Weidenfeld served as Press Secretary to the First Lady from November 1974 to January 1977. First Lady Pat Nixon's press secretary, Helen M. Smith, briefly served in that capacity for Mrs. Ford prior to Weidenfeld's appointment. The East Wing Press Office handled all liaison with the press for Betty Ford and the Ford children, and notified the press about all White House social functions. Weidenfeld's specific duties involved acting as spokesperson for the family and advising them on the disposition of and approach to media requests, coordinating duties and responsibilities with the West Wing, and supervising the East Wing Press Office. After leaving the White House in 1977, she served on the President's Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation, and published a book in 1979, entitled First Lady's Lady.