JOAN BAEZ

Submitted by Rita Salner

Joan Baez is the daughter of Albert Baez and Joan Bridge Baez. Her father, who died in 2007, was a physicist who co-invented the x-ray microscope and is the author of one of the most widely used physics textbooks in the U.S. His refusal to work on the “Manhattan Project”, as well as to work on defense industry jobs had a profound effect on Joan.

Albert Baez’s work took him and his family to many parts of the world, including Baghdad, Iraq. The poverty and the abuse of humans and animals moved ten year old Joan, and the memories stayed with her. Later, the family lived in Palo Alto, Ca. where her father was a professor at Stanford, University. With her Mexican last name, and her dark coloring, Joan was subjected to racial slurs and discrimination. One of her teachers, pacifist Ira Sandperl, became a friend and long-time mentor.

In 1956 Joan heard young Martin Luther King, Jr. speak about non-violence, civil right and social change. She later linked arms with him to protect African American schoolchildren in Grenada, Mississippi, joined him on his march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama and at his March on Washington, where she sang, “We Shall Overcome”. She was also active in the Free Speech Movement, and in California’s migrant farm workers fight for fair wages and safe working conditions.

Joan Baez became highly vocal about her disagreement with the Vietnam War. She and Ira Sandperl founded the Institute for the Study of Nonviolence in 1965 and she encouraged draft resistance at her concerts. In Dec. of 1972, she joined a peace delegation in a trip to North Vietnam to address human rights and to deliver mail
to American POW’s. While she was there she experienced the ‘Christmas bombing’ of Hanoi, which lasted for eleven days. Her album, “Where Are You Now, My Son” included recordings she made from an underground bomb shelter. She was extremely disturbed by the human rights violations that she observed and later paid for a full page advertisement, published in four major U.S. newspapers, criticizing the communist regime.

Baez has also been prominent in the struggle for gay and lesbian rights. She has performed in benefit concerts since 1978 to help defeat discriminatory laws and to support gay, lesbian and transgender causes.

A strong supporter of President Obama, Baez continues to oppose the war in Iraq, the death penalty, and to support community farms and other methods of overcoming poverty.

VICTORIA WOODHULL

Submitted by: Roxann Ploss

When you think of women in the political arena, many names might come immediately to mind. Susan B. Anthony, Jeannette Rankin, Eleanor Roosevelt, Shirley Chisolm, Margaret Chase Smith, Barbara Jordan, Bella Abzug, Gloria Allred, Hillary Clinton, maybe even Frances Perkins. Others, too…..but probably NOT Victoria Woodhull. That has been truly unfortunate because an important precedent-setter (and much time) has been lost.

Victoria and her younger sister, Tennessee Celeste Claflin, broke through the glass ceiling long before women like Gloria Steinhem and Germaine Greer made headlines of their own by protesting the suppression of women’s rights. Born in 1838, she married her (older) doctor at fifteen only to find early on that he was an alcoholic and a cheat. But as was common then, she found she had very few rights as a married woman. In truth, many contemporaries didn’t even feel that women were citizens. Trying to raise two children, one with a severe mental disability during an impossible marriage, she quickly developed her philosophy of “free love”…..not in the sense of the Haight-Ashbury for, indeed, she was a serial monogamist. However, she was adamant that a woman would never know freedom until she had the equal choice beginning or ending sexual (and marital) partnerships. After divorcing the not-so-good doctor, Victoria became increasingly forceful in public life.

She and her sister were the first women to be seated on the New York Stock Exchange. In 1870, they opened their own brokerage firm, aided by Victoria’s wealthy admirer, Cornelius Vanderbilt. Newspapers of the day either applauded these “Queens of Finance” or condemned them for leading other women down the paths of unrighteousness and prostitution. The profits from the business were used to publish a weekly newspaper which advocated things as varied as women’s suffrage, short skirts, vegetarianism and legalized prostitution. Always controversial, The Woodhull and Claflin Weekly published the first English translation of Karl Marx’s Manifesto in 1871.

Victoria, already labeled a firebrand, was breaking through the all-male wall of American politics. She was the first women to address the House Judiciary Committee. This was so radical in fact that the third annual National Woman Suffrage Association convention (1871) was postponed so the attendees could listen to her speech. In it, she argued that women already had the right to vote…..guaranteed by the 14^th and 15^th Amendments which granted the right “to all citizens”. All women had to do was use it. “Women are the equals of men before the law and are equal in all their rights.” This beautiful woman with the short-cropped hair-do became the overnight sensation of the suffragist movement.

Woodhull was only the second woman (the first was Elizabeth Cady Stanton) to petition Congress in person for these rights. In 1872, the newly formed Equal Rights Party nominated her for President of the United States. The legality of her run for the office has been questioned by some historically but it cannot be disputed that there was a campaign and she received votes on ballots printed and distributed by the party. Although Belva Lockwood would be nominated in the same fashion in 1884 and 1888, it would still take almost a century before a woman’s name (Charlene Mitchell, 1968) would appear on an official, government-printed ballot.

Woodhull’s residency was in New York, a state which had actually disenfranchised propertied women in 1777. Victoria registered to vote in local elections in 1871 but was summarily turned away from the polls on Election Day. A year later, she again could not vote (this time for herself) because she was in jail. Months earlier in her newspaper, she had reported the alleged affair between Elizabeth Tilton and prominent spiritual leader, Reverend Henry Ward Beecher. Highlighting what she saw as the sexual double standard angered “moralists” in New York. After weeks of outraged hoopla, Woodhull, her sister and her second husband were arrested for misuse of the mails (by circulating such scandalous material). They spent the next month in a jail set aside for hardened criminals. Acquitted on a technicality six months later, Victoria was vindicated three YEARS later when Tilton’s husband sued the Reverend for “alienation of affections”.

Whatever her reasons, possibly frustration with bad relationships or despair for the American system of government, in 1877, she left her second ex-husband and her country behind to start a new life in England. She made her first appearance there in December of that year, giving a lecture entitled “The Human Body, the Temple of God”. After marrying her third and last husband, she published a magazine called The Humanitarian from 1892 to 1901 using her new name, Victoria Woodhull Martin. Following her husband’s death, she retired to the Midlands where she died in 1927.

An emphatic life. A remarkable life. A remarkable woman.

Reference: Wikipedia

Barbara Jordan

Submitted by Barbara Chandler

Barbara Jordan was born in Houston, Texas in 1936. In high school, she was much influenced by guest speaker Edith S. Sampson who, at that time, was one of the nation’s few African-American female attorneys. Inspired to become an attorney herself, she graduated magna cum laude from Texas Southern University in 1956 and Boston University Law School in 1959. After passing the bar exams in both Massachusetts and Texas, she opened a law practice in Houston and was only the third African-American woman to be licensed in Texas.

She ran unsuccessfully for the Texas House of Representatives in 1962 and 1964. Because she was a lesbian, her advisors warned her to become more discreet and not bring her female companions on the campaign trail. Her third campaign for the state Senate was successful, making her the first African-American state senator since 1883 and the very first black woman to serve. She remained in that office until 1972 during which time she was the first black woman to serve as president pro-tem and even served as governor for one day.

After her tenure in the state Senate, she ran for, and won, a seat in the House of Representatives becoming the first black woman from a southern state to serve. President Lyndon Johnson helped her gain a seat on the House Judiciary Committee, a role which led to her delivering an influential, televised speech in support of the impeachment of President Richard Nixon in 1974. In 1976, she was considered a possible running mate to Jimmy Carter.

Two Democratic National Convention keynote speeches were delivered by her in 1976 and 1992. Her 1976 speech (the first delivered by an African-American woman) was ranked 5^th in the “Top American Speeches of the 20^th Century” and was considered by many historians to be the best convention keynote speech until the 2004 keynote by Barack Obama.

While in national politics, she focused on the underserved poor and minority communities supporting the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977 which required banks to lend and make services available to these communities. Additionally, she supported renewal of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and expansion of that act to cover language minorities. She retired from politics in1979 becoming an adjunct professor at the University of Texas at Austin.

Two years before her death, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Bill Clinton, just one of many awards she earned during her lifetime. Her death was in 1996 from multiple sclerosis which had begun in 1973. Her health issues were so kept out of the public eye that President Clinton wanted to appoint her to the Supreme Court and had no idea that she would not be physically fit to serve.

Article sourced by Wikipedia

Elizabeth Snyder: Breaking the glass ceiling in California politics

By Julie Bornstein

As a feminist soon to become a grandmother, I am living at an interesting time for women. The transition in society’s thinking about and treatment of women from when I was a child growing up in Southern California in the post-World War II era to the world now is monumental. I have enjoyed opportunities to expand my interests and fulfill my potential as a result of the work done by many other women and several have served as mentors over the course of my life.

I have always had an interest in government and politics: I have a clear memory of wearing an “I like Ike” button to elementary school during the 1956 Presidential campaign. My mother was a precinct volunteer for the County and often worked as an Election Day official. Never did I think, however, that one day I might run for office. At one point I thought I might want to be the wife of a Senator or the wife of an Ambassador but it was never within the realm of possibility to think that I could aspire to office and hope for a supportive spouse.

This changed when I met Elizabeth Snyder. When I was in my late 20s and a young lawyer seeking to build a practice in Los Angeles, I was invited to join a women’s networking organization called Women in Business. (As a sign of the times, Women in Business voluntarily closed down a couple of years ago as it felt that women today no longer needed this type of networking group). Elizabeth (Liz) Snyder was already a member and the mother of a lawyer daughter just a few years older than I. (Christine Snyder is a Federal Judge in LA).

Liz was diminutive in stature, quiet but authoritative of voice and quite willing to share her life experiences with younger women. I was lucky to be one of them. Let me tell you about her and then share some of the lessons I learned from her.

Liz did not have an unchallenged life. She was very bright and had planned to attend law school---not an easy feat for women in the 30s and early 40s. Unfortunately, she became an alcoholic and like many substance abusers, her addiction derailed her life until she became sober. She married a lawyer in Los Angeles and his successes allowed her to pursue her interests in a just society through political involvement. She saw that there was a place for someone, even a woman, willing to work hard, show-up and volunteer and that she did.

The first time I was in her home, I was blown away by the photos on the wall in her den. There she was in conversation with most of the Democratic Party political leaders of mid-to-late 20^th century. I started to ask questions and she was extraordinarily generous with her time and advice.

My favorite story was the time she offered to drive Eleanor Roosevelt from the airport to a speaking engagement in Los Angeles. At some point en route, Liz’ car got a flat tire. This is not good now but in a time before cell phones and freeway call boxes, the logistics of calling for help and to get the tire changed was quite time-consuming. Liz offered to call a cab for Mrs. Roosevelt so that she could arrive at her engagement close to the appointed time and Liz would wait for the tire service to come and fix her flat. She could then drive Mrs. Roosevelt to her hotel after the speaking gig. The former first lady flatly refused--she would not leave a young woman alone by the side of the road at night---and the two of them ended up having a wonderful conversation while they waited, ultimately getting on their way.

Liz was a supporter of Helen Gahagen Douglas, the first female Democratic member of Congress from California. Douglas was best known in national politics as Richard Nixon’s opponent when he won California’s Senate seat in 1950. She was the person who coined the nickname “Tricky Dick” in her response to his smear campaign that consistently claimed she was a Communist. Through these activities, Liz became active in the Democratic Party’s Women’s Forum and ultimately broke an important glass ceiling. Elizabeth Snyder was the first woman to chair one of the two major political parties at the state level anywhere in the United States, becoming the Chair of the California Democratic Party in 1952.

The fact that Liz was a woman Party Chair made a difference almost immediately. Liz encouraged Roz Weiner (now Roz Wyman) to run for the Los Angeles City Council in 1953, at the ripe age of 22 and immediately after she graduated from USC! Roz won that election and during her Council service was the member credited with bringing the Dodgers to Los Angeles. Roz is still very active in politics and served as the Chair of the Democratic Presidential Nominating Convention in San Francisco in 1984.

Another female Chair of the California Democratic Party who went on to break an even bigger glass ceiling was Nancy Pelosi, now serving as the first female Speaker of the House of Representatives.

I learned a number of important political lessons from Liz Snyder that I have put to use in my political career. The first is to take a chance. Roz Wyman said that Liz encouraged her to run in 1953 by saying, “what have you got to lose?” When Roz won, Liz promised to help “make her good.” While it doesn’t usually make sense to be reckless, we have to being willing to take a chance to break through those glass ceilings.

The second was to volunteer—especially to be the driver. Most politicians depend on local volunteers to help out when they travel---including the President of the United States. I’ve developed another important mentor relationship with Senator Barbara Boxer which began by my volunteering to drive her around the Coachella Valley when she was first campaigning for the US Senate in 1991. When President Clinton participated in the Bob Hope Classic here in the mid-90s, many members of my 1994 campaign staff joined me in providing the local volunteer staff who drove, typed, moved luggage and answered phones---and we all have our Presidential moments to treasure from that experience.

The third lesson was the importance of being willing to share. I learned from Liz Snyder that I could help make my community a better place by supporting good candidates, becoming active in Party politics and ultimately by serving in government myself. I’ve learned a lot about how our political system works. Just as Liz shared her experiences with me, I try to share with others as well. I currently teach American Government at College of the Desert and have participated in numerous women’s and political groups to encourage others, especially women, to become involved in government. That doesn’t mean that everyone must consider the challenges of running for office---there are many ways to serve. Liz Snyder taught me the responsibility to bring change belongs to each of us and we can each find a way to improve our communities.

Many of our leaders were touched by Liz Snyder. When Women in Business wanted to honor her in the early 80s, she insisted that the event support one of her interests—the Big Sister Program in Los Angeles. As most of you know, Big Brothers had a very successful fundraising program but 25 years ago a group that catered only to women and girls faced more challenges in developing support. Liz wanted the women she interacted with to take on Big Sisters as a group to support. I was lucky enough to serve on the dinner committee (I volunteered) and learned how to be an effective fundraiser from Roz Wyman, a real pro! And, at the dinner, we had a surprise visitor. When then-Governor Jerry Brown learned that Liz Snyder was being honored in the same hotel where he was speaking, he crashed the party with his date Linda Ronstadt and his full entourage. Liz Snyder broke the glass ceiling in politics in California and, as often happens when a woman opens the door; many, many of us have the chance to walk through.