In the annals of trailblazing Republican women, few have more claims to fame than Margaret Heckler.
The only woman in her law school class, Heckler became the first woman from Massachusetts to get elected to Congress without succeeding her husband. She also convinced Ronald Reagan to promise that he would name the first woman to the U.S. Supreme Court—a promise he kept with his first Supreme Court nomination.
What follows is a selection of readings from the book “A Woman of Firsts: Margaret Heckler, Political Trailblazer,” written by Kimberly Heckler, Margaret’s daughter-in-law.
Running for Congress
Heckler entered Congress after running against Rep. Joseph W. Martin, R-Mass., in the 1966 primary. Martin, then 82, has twice served as speaker of the House. Here are three selections from Chapter 7: Giant Killer and Chapter 8: A Woman’s Place Is In the…
