The story goes that my dad was taking me to school in 1978, the day after Nancy Kassebaum was elected to the United States Senate. There were two women who had just served out their late husbands’ unexpired terms, which brought the number of recent female senators to three. The commentator on the news was reporting on the historic nature of this high number of women.
Apparently I was incensed. “There are a hundred senators! And so few women?!? That’s not great, that’s terrible!”
It seems rather precocious of me to put two and two together (or to put three into one hundred) at the age of six. My guess is that Dad stoked that fire, since that’s what he always did.
It was my father who helped me put together my second-grade history fair project. It was a newspaper patterned after Susan B. Anthony’s newspaper, The Revolution, which advocated for women’s suffrage and an eight-hour workday. Its motto: “Men their rights and nothing more, women their rights and nothing less.” (Couldn’t we say that Susan B. was one of the first bloggers?)
Then as a high school senior, I was faced with deciding between the Ivy on the Gulf Coast University and the less rigorous nearby college (that would be Presbyterian School Named after Hip and Hilly But Nowhere Near It). Although I was less excited about the latter, I was ready to enroll because it was my boyfriend’s choice of school. I remember as the decision loomed, my mom called the school during fifth period, while I was working as an aide in the guidance counselor’s office. She said, “I’ve talked to your dad and he’ll be calling you soon.” OK, my parents were divorced, so this was a little unusual.
So he called the school, they put it through to the office, and he laid it all out. “You know where you really want to go,” he said. “You know where you will be excited and challenged.” I started in with the list of virtues of the other school, including proximity to High School Guy. “Listen to me,” he said. “No man would ever sell himself short to be near a woman. Don’t you do it either.”
I’m not sure he’s right about that, but the hyperbolic kick in the pants was what I needed. I went to Ivy-Gulf Coast University and it was the right decision. (And I met R there—sprinkles on the sundae?)
Say what you will about Hillary Rodham Clinton, and I’m not her #1 fan these days, but for the first time, a woman has a real shot at being President of the United States. Whatever happens next, I wish Dad had lived to see this.
15 Responses to “a reflection, not an endorsement”
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Loved this post. And LOVE your dad’s reasoning about “no man…”
I often think about how much Dad would have loved this Democratic field. I think he would have loved it.
I’d feel so much more excited about “this” woman being elected as president if she wasn’t in the running because of the man she married. I’m sorry, but I can’t overlook that.
God bless your father. We need more fathers who will look at their daughters and see limitless possibilities in their future.
And, while I share the excitement over having a woman as a viable candidate (why is the US always the last to do such things?), I am also hesitant to get TOO excited. Nancy Pelosi had us all excited about the possibilities of a woman being Speaker of the House. At this point, very few are excited about anything except seeing who Democrats can replace her with. The only thing worse than having a woman fail to be President is to have one be President and then to fall so short of expectations that it means no other woman can compete for that position for a generation or longer.
I keep telling everyone that I like Hillary. But it isn’t just about who you like. Susan B. Anthony wasn’t an awesome woman because she wanted women to be able to vote - lots of women wanted that. She was an awesome woman because of how well she fought.
Oh, what I would give for Canadian Governor General Michaelle Jean to be American!
I’m with Mamala.
If only . . .
she wasn’t married to a former president - not loving the B,C,B,C pattern
she wasn’t so divisive - whether it’s fair or not
she didn’t make me think that the “sure thing” Dem White House win would not be so sure should she headline the ticket.
Mine’s not an endorsement either, I guess.
Oh, I definitely agree with all of you. And X Texan is right that a misstep could set things back for women even further. I was just listening to the NPR commentary on last night’s debate and I thought, “Wow, who’da thought.”
You cannot deny that she is very sharp. She has earned the respect of senators with whom she disagrees. We’ve had women run before, but hers is a very credible campaign.
Whereas I look at the Current Occupant and think “There is no way this guy would have been president had he not been a Bush,” I look at HRC and can easily believe that she would have gone far with or without the Clinton name.
I’m honestly torn…I can’t stand the way HC is being treated by the media, but I’m not sure she’s the best choice. But I’m not sure BO is the best choice either.
Of course, either one of them is a damn sight better than what we’ve got now…
You go, 6 year old Reverendmother!
Obama makes me puke least, But Snyder’s Law suggests we’re in for a Romney administration.
(”The stupidest thing will happen.”)
I love your Dad’s wisdom. Love it! And he (and your mom) have done so well with you.
I ache, literally ache for a woman president. I pray that I will live to see it.
Hillary is intelligent, poised and genuine. I too think she could have gotten as far even without the Clinton name.
But either way…Obama or Clinton…it is a beautiful day to be choosing between the two.
Your dad was really, really cool.
And you certainly did make the right choice.
(Kangaroos? I think not.)
RM, I totally agree with your comment above. I wish I could get behind her candidacy, but I just can’t…
And if it’s a Romney administration…..well, Canada anyone?
I’m with RM, jedmiston and mamala.
The “Billary” campaign reminds me too much of the Ma and Pa Ferguson era in Texas in the 1920’s. (For you non-Texans, Pa Ferguson was impeached as governor and then Ma ran and was elected on a “two-fer one” ticket where she served two terms and was widely acknowledged to be Pa’s surrogate.)
We can’t test the alternatives with Hillary (i.e. how far she would have gone if she never married Bill Clinton), so everyone is entitled to their own opinion about that speculation. P
Personally, I doubt she would ever have been a credible presidential candidate without him though she might have been a solid congresswoman or senator or governor.
If Hillary had divorced Bill and were running as Hillary Rodham, I’d be more excited about her candidacy. I really do not want the Clintons restored to the White House. (And this is from a woman who voted for Bill–twice. But that was before Monicagate.) It’s time for an end to the dynasties.
I can’t vote for a candidate I don’t believe in just because I want a woman president.
Barack, my senator, gets my vote in the primary.
I think Hillary would have actually made it farther without Bill. I spoke with someone who had been in her law class, and they all predicted her to be the first woman president. (Oh, and in case you’re counting, Hillary=#2 in class. Bill=#17)
I think Bill slowed her down.
But that’s just me.