First published 2016
Historian Ellen Fitzpatrick examines three pioneering women who sought the American presidency across different eras. Victoria Woodhull made her audacious bid in 1872 during Reconstruction, becoming the first woman to pursue the office despite women lacking voting rights. She viewed her campaign as a vehicle for advancing female equality. Margaret Chase Smith, a Republican Senator, launched her 1964 campaign as one of America's most respected public figures. She faced critics who deemed her both too old at 66 and too female for credible candidacy, yet achieved the historic distinction of having her name placed in nomination by a major party. Shirley Chisholm, a Democratic Congresswoman, confronted what opponents called the double burden of race and gender in her spirited 1972 run. She persisted through the Democratic convention, attracting devoted supporters while drawing hostility from various quarters, including Nixon administration officials who worked to undermine her efforts. Fitzpatrick reveals how women's presidential ambitions have consistently encountered complex webs of influence, resistance, and political maneuvering, establishing the historical context for contemporary campaigns.
Genres: biography, 20th-century, gender-studies, american, feminism, 21st-century, 19th-century, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-figures, pioneering-women, underdog
Setting: America, United States
Period: 1872, 1964, 1972
336 pages · Hardcover · Harvard University Press