Betty Furness
She transformed from a glamorous TV pitchwoman into a fierce, trusted guardian of the American consumer's right to safety and truth.
1916–1994 (age 78)·American actress, consumer advocate, and special assistant to the president·Birthday: January 3·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Betty Furness began as a Hollywood actress, but her destiny was written on the small screen. For over a decade, she was the poised, reassuring face of Westinghouse appliances, demonstrating refrigerators and stoves on live television with a calm authority that made her a household name. In a stunning second act, she pivoted from selling products to scrutinizing them. Appointed by President Lyndon Johnson as his Special Assistant for Consumer Affairs, Furness became a formidable advocate, using her media savvy to champion product safety laws and truth-in-packaging. Later, as a consumer reporter for WNBC in New York, she held corporations and government agencies accountable with sharp, no-nonsense investigations. Her journey from commercial spokesperson to public watchdog redefined the role of the consumer in the American marketplace.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Betty was born in 1916, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Betty Was Born
The biggest hits of 1916
#1 Movie
Intolerance
Betty's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1916Born
The Battle of the Somme claims over a million casualties
President: Woodrow Wilson
1921Started school
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1929Became a teenager
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1932Could drive
Amelia Earhart flies solo across the Atlantic
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Night and Day" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Grand Hotel
1934Could vote
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1937Turned 21
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1946Turned 30
United Nations holds its first General Assembly
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $5,150Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Prisoner of Love" — Perry ComoBest Picture: The Best Years of Our Lives
1956Turned 40
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1966Turned 50
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1976Turned 60
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1986Turned 70
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1994Died at 78
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
Key Achievements
- Served as President Lyndon B. Johnson's Special Assistant for Consumer Affairs from 1967 to 1969.
- Pioneered consumer reporting for local television news as an investigative reporter for WNBC in New York.
- Successfully advocated for the passage of the 1967 Flammable Fabrics Act amendments.
- Was the longtime live television spokesperson for Westinghouse, appearing in their ads for 13 years.
Did You Know?
She was the first woman to moderate a presidential debate, hosting the 1976 Ford-Carter debate.
Her father was a successful Wall Street stockbroker who lost his fortune in the 1929 crash.
She wrote a syndicated newspaper column on consumer issues called 'Betty Furness' Shopping Guide.'
She began her career as a contract actress for RKO Radio Pictures in the 1930s.
“You can't live with them, and you can't live without them. I'm talking about the manufacturers, the retailers, and the advertisers.”
