A Different Point of View

Archived Newsletters: Spring 2005

Panel Discusses the Life of Lou Henry Hoover

On April 13, 2005, members of the National Women’s History Museum were enlightened by a presentation on Lou Henry Hoover, and entertained during the reception that followed. The event was hosted at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

Nancy Beck Young, author of Lou Henry Hoover, Activist First Lady, focused on “the White House years,” which seemingly contrasted with Mrs. Hoover’s public activism. Mrs. Hoover, like her predecessors, was expected to be hostesses and housekeepers for her husband. Mrs. Hoover expanded on this role by using entertainment as a political tool. While publicly circumspect, Mrs. Hoover remained a social activist independent of her husband’s career. During the Depression years, Mrs. Hoover received countless letters from individuals asking for assistance. Using the network that she built through her involvement with the Girl Scouts and other benevolent organizations, she and her staff found solutions to problems that were raised. Often those solutions were Ms. Hoover’s personal checks. After her death her son found a cache of checks that Mrs. Hoover had never cashed. She had wanted those that she helped to help someone else, rather than repaying her.    

Professor Maurine Hoffman Beasley from the College of Journalism at the University of Maryland, added the perspective of Mrs. Hoover’s relationship with the press – specifically the female reporters. Lou Hoover was the first presidential spouse to speak on the radio, and the first to give regular interviews. However, the society reporters, mostly female, were not provided access to information on who was being entertained at the White House, or if that information was made available, it was rarely in time for the press deadlines. The female press did not appreciate this treatment. The Hoovers could have used the press to their advantage by letting the public know of their work to relieve poverty. However, the couple apparently felt that to be true philanthropists, their philanthropy should be private.

Edith P. Mayo, Curator Emeritus in Political History at the National Museum of American History, agreed that Lou Hoover worked diligently to relieve poverty one person at a time and spent a great deal of effort supporting organizations that were led by other people. Although Mrs. Hoover altered the perceived role of First Lady, she did not accomplish anything specifically significant. She had a full and fascinating life, but did not leave a remarkable legacy. Noting that Professor Beck wrote for intelligent readers, not just the history scholars, Ms. Mayo said she welcomes renewed attention to Lou Hoover because she was innovative and independent at a time when women had only recently obtained the right to vote.

The last question asked of the panel was, “What is the appropriate role of First Ladies of the 21st century?” The three panelists agreed that the “appropriate” role of First Lady, or First Spouse, is as varied as the first spouses themselves. Some will have their own careers separate from their presidential mate. Some will redefine the role to address their own times, while others will confine themselves to more focused political or social concerns, just as Lou Henry Hoover did in her tenure.

SENATE ACTS TO PROVIDE NWHM A PERMANENT SITE

This could be the year in which NWHM achieves its most ambitious objective: designation of a federally owned building in the heart of Washington D.C. to serve as permanent home to the museum. Legislation entitled The National Women’s History Museum Act of 2005 was introduced with the support of all the women members of the Senate. Under the leadership of Senator Susan Collins, chair of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, the bill was reported out of the committee on April 13 and is now cleared for consideration by the full Senate.  NWHM is optimistic that S. 501 will be enacted by the Senate, since a prior version of this legislation was adopted by unanimous consent.

Co-Sponsors of S. 501:

Sen Akaka, Daniel K. [HI] - 3/3/2005	Sen Bennett, Robert F. [UT] - 3/3/2005
Sen Boxer, Barbara [CA] - 3/3/2005	Sen Cantwell, Maria [WA] - 3/3/2005
Sen Chafee, Lincoln [RI] - 3/9/2005	Sen Clinton, Hillary Rodham [NY] - 3/3/2005
Sen Dole, Elizabeth [NC] - 3/3/2005	Sen Durbin, Richard [IL] - 3/3/2005
Sen Feinstein, Dianne [CA] - 3/3/2005	Sen Hutchison, Kay Bailey [TX] - 3/3/2005
Sen Landrieu, Mary L. [LA] - 3/3/2005	Sen Lautenberg, Frank R. [NJ] - 3/3/2005
Sen Lincoln, Blanche L. [AR] - 3/3/2005	Sen Mikulski, Barbara A. [MD] - 3/3/2005
Sen Murkowski, Lisa [AK] - 3/3/2005	Sen Murray, Patty [WA] - 3/3/2005
Sen Pryor, Mark L. [AR] - 3/3/2005	Sen Sarbanes, Paul S. [MD] - 3/3/2005
Sen Snowe, Olympia J. [ME] - 3/3/2005	Sen Specter, Arlen [PA] - 4/20/2005
Sen Stabenow, Debbie [MI] - 3/3/2005	Sen Voinovich, George V. [OH] - 3/3/2005

Letter from our President

As a member of the National Women's History Museum you recently received an invitation to enroll the names of women who made a difference in your life in our Special Roll of Honor and Remembrance. The response has been so enthusiastic that we have decided to extend the exhibit on our website until Labor Day. Even though this was a wonderful opportunity to honor your mothers for Mother’s Day I was struck by how many of you honored friends, teachers, sisters, aunts, and daughters. Some even honored women they had not met, but whom they had found to be inspiring.

It made me wonder at how many women throughout history have contributed to history in ways that were noble and courageous but subtle. As more women move to the forefront of politics, business, science, and other fields that were (and still are) predominantly male, many women often work silently behind the scenes of history, or even current events. The efforts of these women are substantial, and often go unrecognized by historians, or even present-day authors and other commentators. As you read in our feature article, even a First Lady can dramatically impact the policy of our government and our societal culture, and yet not leave a remarkable legacy. And yet they are rarely honored.

As we negotiate legislation and bureaucracy to acquire our permanent site, we are working to lay the groundwork of accomplishing our mission. Even now we are designing ways to recognize those who have contributed to our history. Our museum will educate us on not only the famous women who have led documented lives, but the large number of women who have bonded together to bring about change. They are our history.

Celebrate These Women Born in Spring

Inventor and entrepreneur Bette Nesmith Graham (3/23/1922) was divorced after World War II. A single mother, she worked her way up from the typing pool to executive secretary at a large bank in Dallas, Texas. She invented “Mistake Out,” a white paint, to correct typing mistakes. Soon, her co-workers were buying the correction fluid from her faster than she could bottle it in her home. In 1958 Graham changed the name to “Liquid Paper” which was distributed to 31 countries. She applied for a patent and trademark in 1975.  Her company was so successful she set up two foundations to help women in business and art. In 1980 she sold it for $47.5 million. Ms. Graham passed away six months later.

Dr. Dorothy Height (3/24/1912) was born in Virginia, and grew up in Pennsylvania. She attended New York University on scholarship, earning her master’s degree. Height became a caseworker with the New York City Welfare Department, and volunteered for the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), founded by friend and mentor Mary McLeod Bethune. In 1944 she began work for the National Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), active with the organization until 1977. Height served as President of NCNW, a member of the NWHM Coalition, from 1957-1997. Among a multitude of educational programs and policies, Height developed “Wednesdays in Mississippi” building interracial dialogue between women from the North and South. Dr. Height has been awarded many awards and honors including induction into the National Women’s Hall of Fame and the Congressional Medal of Honor. Dr. Height serves as chair and president emeriti of NCNW.

Writer, politician, and diplomat Clare Boothe Luce (4/10/1903) was an editor for Vogue in 1930, and Vanity Fair in 1931. She was first published in 1933; several of her plays opened on Broadway and were popular with the public, but not the critics. She married Henry Robinson Luce, founder of Time and Fortune magazines. As a journalist for Life magazine, she traveled globally during World War II.  Running on her international experience and alleging that the U.S. went into the war unprepared, Luce won a seat in Congress In 1942. Luce was appointed ambassador of Italy in 1953. She continued writing, serving on the President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board in the early 80’s. She died in 1987.

Mary Cassat (5/22/1844) studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, continuing her studies while traveling in Europe. She settled in Paris in 1874, and had a painting accepted by the prestigious Paris Salon. She met Degas who became a friend and mentor and introduced her to impressionism. She participated in major exhibitions of 1879-81, and in 1886. She stopped painting to care for her ill mother and sister in 1877, resuming after her sister died and her mother recovered. Cassat encouraged her friends and family to buy the works of contemporary French artists, causing their collections to become historically important. She developed her own style, painting intimate and domestic scenes, moving away from impressionism toward a simpler approach, becoming mentor and role model for young American artists. Cassat passed away in 1926.

 

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