24 Years Of House Work And Still A Mess Paperback Pat Schroder,
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
ISBN: 0836287347
DDC: 328.73092
Edition: Paperback; 1999-03-01
Summary:
Pat Schroeder's memoir of 24 years in politics is so enthusiastic it
is easy to forget how difficult her work must have been. She was
Colorado's first congresswoman and one of only 14 female
representatives to the House when she was elected in 1972. "The women
in Congress had to wage virtually every battle alone," she remembers
of those early years, "whether we were fighting for female pages
(there were none) or a place where we could pee." Schroeder takes on
a lot in this book; sometimes she barely skims the surface as she
tries to fit tales of politics, childhood, family life, and her
opinions on a thousand disparate issues into less than 250 pages.
Nevertheless, as one of our longest serving female politicians, her
story of life in American politics is a welcome change from the usual
political guy-ographies. Who else can write about being a
congresswoman under Nixon, Reagan (whom she famously called the
"Teflon President"), and Clinton? Or tell of working for women's
equal rights back when there was opposition from "Ladies Against
Women," who wore pins that read "I'd rather be ironing"? This is an
optimistic book, a reminder of the possibility of change through
politics. "Cynics claim we get the government we deserve," says
Schroeder. "I say we deserve better, but we will get it only if we
act." It will speak in particular to women, whom Schroeder directly
urges to take the torch she is passing on. "Consider this a postcard
from the front," she writes. "Wish you were here." She almost makes
it sound like fun. -- Maria Dolan
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