Leonor Sullivan
This article needs additional citations for verification. (September 2013) |
Leonor Sullivan | |
---|---|
Secretary of the House Democratic Caucus | |
In office January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1975 | |
Leader | John McCormack Carl Albert |
Preceded by | Edna Kelly |
Succeeded by | Patsy Mink |
In office January 3, 1959 – January 7, 1964 | |
Leader | Sam Rayburn John McCormack |
Preceded by | Edna Kelly |
Succeeded by | Edna Kelly |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri's 3rd district | |
In office January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1977 | |
Preceded by | Phil Welch |
Succeeded by | Dick Gephardt |
Personal details | |
Born | Leonor Kretzer August 21, 1902 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
Died | September 1, 1988 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. | (aged 86)
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | John Sullivan (1941–1951) Russell Archibald (1980–1988) |
Education | Washington University |
Leonor Kretzer Sullivan (August 21, 1902 – September 1, 1988) was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Missouri. She was a Democrat and the first woman in Congress from Missouri.
Biography
Born Leonor Kretzer in St. Louis, Missouri, three of her grandparents were German immigrants.[1] Sullivan attended Washington University in St. Louis and was a teacher and director at St. Louis Comptometer school. She was married to John B. Sullivan, who served four terms in Congress, and she served as his administrative aide. Following her husband's death in 1951, she served as an aide to Congressman Leonard Irving until she left to run for Congress herself in 1952. She was re-elected eleven times. In Congress, she served for many years as Secretary of the House Democratic Caucus.
Sullivan helped create the food stamp program,[2] which was opposed by Agriculture Secretary Ezra Taft Benson and became law in the 1960s during the Kennedy and Johnson administrations.
Sullivan was one of very few members of Congress, and the only woman member of Congress, to vote against the Equal Rights Amendment for women in the early 1970s.
She did not seek re-election in 1976, and was succeeded by Dick Gephardt.
In 1979, the Supersisters trading card set was produced and distributed; one of the cards featured Sullivan's name and picture.[3]
The former Wharf Street in front of the Gateway Arch in Downtown St. Louis was renamed Leonor K. Sullivan Boulevard in her honor.
Quotes
"A woman with a woman's viewpoint is of more value when she forgets she's a woman and begins to act like a man."
See also
References
- ^ "United States Census, 1920", FamilySearch, retrieved March 15, 2018
- ^ Taylor, B. Kimberly (2002). "Sullivan, Leonor Kretzer". Women in World History, Vol. 15: Sul-Vica. Waterford, CT: Yorkin Publications. pp. 4–5. ISBN 0-7876-4074-3.
- ^ Wulf, Steve (2015-03-23). "Supersisters: Original Roster". Espn.go.com. Retrieved 2015-06-04.
External links
- United States Congress. "Leonor Sullivan (id: S001057)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
- "Leonor Sullivan". Find a Grave. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
- "Sullivan, Leonor Kretzer". U.S. House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives. Retrieved 29 December 2013.
- 1902 births
- 1988 deaths
- 20th-century American politicians
- 20th-century American women politicians
- American people of German descent
- Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from Missouri
- Missouri Democrats
- Female members of the United States House of Representatives
- Politicians from St. Louis
- Washington University in St. Louis alumni
- Women in Missouri politics