Taymor, Betty
Description
For over four decades, Betty Taymor has been a prominent activist in the Democratic party and an outspoken advocate of women's candidacy for elective
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office. In this lively memoir, she weaves together the fascinating story of her own experiences in politics with hard-hitting narrative on women's deplorable lack of success in breaking through the political glass ceiling in Massachusetts.
Taymor reflects on a remarkable career that was set against the backdrop of both turbulent and promising times-McCarthyism, the civil rights movement, the Kennedy presidency, the Vietnam war, and the crusade for women's rights. She first describes her formative years and then her pathbreaking involvement with the Americans for Democratic Action and the Democratic State and National Committees. She recalls her terms as an eight-time delegate to the Democratic National Convention, her two unsuccessful runs for state representative, and her work on the campaign trail for candidates at the local, state, and national levels. Taymor delves into the reasons why women have struggled to attain elective office and power in the Commonwealth, and considers how they can overcome the persistent and overwhelming domination of the male leadership.
During her many years in the political arena and as an educator of women for government service, Taymor came into contact with many public leaders, and her memoir is populated with such figures as John F. Kennedy, Edward M. Kennedy, Eleanor Roosevelt, Adlai Stevenson, Eugene McCarthy, Robert Drinan, Tip O'Neill, Michael Dukakis, Louise Day Hicks, and Evelyn Murphy.
Rich with colorful anecdotes, Running Against the Wind provides an insider's view of the political culture in Massachusetts and offers a provocative look at the special problems and challenges facing women candidates.
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