Young Women Misbehavin'

Over the weekend an American trail blazer and political media powerhouse who fought tirelessly for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) passed away.  Liz Carpenter hailed from Texas and was at the forefront of the Women’s Movement when it began and never wavered from her platform for women’s equality. 

In 1942, Ms. Carpenter began covering the White House and Congress for the Austin American-Statesman.  Like many women of her time it was extremely difficult to professionally break into a man’s world.  She credited former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt, another notable feminist, with helping her and other women become political reporters in wartime Washington.  Mrs. Roosevelt would only admit women to her news conferences so editors at newspapers and wire services had to put women on the news for the first time. 

For eighteen years, Ms. Carpenter reported on presidents from Franklin D. Roosevelt to John F. Kennedy as a Washington reporter.  She joined the staff of Lyndon B. Johnson in his campaign for Vice President in 1960 and traveled on his foreign missions as a press spokeswoman. After Kennedy’s election, she became the first woman executive assistant to the vice-president. 

Following Johnson’s succession to the presidency, Ms. Carpenter became the first professional newswoman to be press secretary to a first lady for Lady Bird Johnson.  She also contributed to the speeches of President Johnson, particularly in the field of humor.

In 1971 after her time in the White House, Ms. Carpenter turned her energy to women’s causes.  She was an ardent feminist who co-founded the National Women’s Political Caucus, which grew out of her commitment to seeing more women elected to state and federal posts.

Her role during the fight for passage of the ERA was significant.  She acted as joint chairwoman of ERAmerica, an organization that fought for ratification of the ERA.  In addition for years she hit the national lecture circuit to vocalize her support of ratification for the ERA and to debunk the myths spread by Phyllis Schlafly.

Ms. Carpenter’s other important women’s equality work centered on women’s ability to access the male dominated media and public relations world.  She was a prime mover in the battle to permit women to join the National Press Club, which has always been an important institution in Washington for reporters as well as politicians.  Before being accepted as members in 1971, women with press credentials fought to be admitted at least to the club luncheons at which visiting heads of state customarily appeared. 

She was a fascinating woman whose life had many twists and turns.  In addition, to her accomplished professional life she also had an interesting personal life.  At 71, when her brother died she became the unexpected mother of his three youngest children who ranged in age from 11 to 16.

Liz Carpenter was a restless spirit that blazed trails so that today’s women could have the rights we all enjoy.  She is an inspiration and certainly left a storied legacy.  I hope there will be more Liz Carpenter’s in our future.