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The Pink Lady: The Many Lives of Helen Gahagan Douglas
A long-overdue political biography of Helen Gahagan Douglas―Broadway star, Congresswoman, Nixon nemesis, and forgotten heroine of A merican liberalism.
If Hillary Clinton struggled to crack the glass ceiling in 2008, imagine the challenges that faced Helen Gahagan Douglas. She was a three-term Congresswoman beginning in 1944, and ran for the U .S. Senate against Richard Nixon just three decades after women gained the right to vote. Douglas was also a Broadway star, opera prima donna, friend of FDR, lover of LBJ, and passionate New Dealer. Acclaimed author Sally Denton brings every dimension of this extraordinary woman to life in The Pink Lady , a compelling account of Douglas's incomparable life as stage star, politician, and public intellectual. A brutal 1950 Senate campaign waged by Republican Congressman Richard Nixon ended Douglas' career as an elected official―Nixon and his henchmen tagged Douglas "The Pink Lady" and, with the help of the FBI's J. Edgar Hoover, made her victim to the same McCarthyist anti-Red hysteria that was sweeping Hollywood. Nixon's savage campaign was the prototype of right-wing smear tactics, a model studied by Lee Atwater and Karl Rove. Over four decades in politics, Douglas was a torchbearer for progressive ideals, supporting legislation for affordable housing, public education, and social security extension; in foreign policy she fought for nuclear disarmament and the creation of Israel. Denton's rich narrative restores Douglas to her rightful place as a pioneer of American politics.
If Hillary Clinton struggled to crack the glass ceiling in 2008, imagine the challenges that faced Helen Gahagan Douglas. She was a three-term Congresswoman beginning in 1944, and ran for the U .S. Senate against Richard Nixon just three decades after women gained the right to vote. Douglas was also a Broadway star, opera prima donna, friend of FDR, lover of LBJ, and passionate New Dealer. Acclaimed author Sally Denton brings every dimension of this extraordinary woman to life in The Pink Lady , a compelling account of Douglas's incomparable life as stage star, politician, and public intellectual. A brutal 1950 Senate campaign waged by Republican Congressman Richard Nixon ended Douglas' career as an elected official―Nixon and his henchmen tagged Douglas "The Pink Lady" and, with the help of the FBI's J. Edgar Hoover, made her victim to the same McCarthyist anti-Red hysteria that was sweeping Hollywood. Nixon's savage campaign was the prototype of right-wing smear tactics, a model studied by Lee Atwater and Karl Rove. Over four decades in politics, Douglas was a torchbearer for progressive ideals, supporting legislation for affordable housing, public education, and social security extension; in foreign policy she fought for nuclear disarmament and the creation of Israel. Denton's rich narrative restores Douglas to her rightful place as a pioneer of American politics.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 18, 2020
You've probably never heard of Helen Gahagan Douglas.
I know I hadn't before buying this book. I like to go to the bookstore and buy biographies of people I've never heard of or know very little about.
So who was Helen Gahagan Douglas?
She was a broadway actress. She was a Hollywood actress and the wife of Oscar winning actor Melvyn Douglas. She was the first woman to gain entree into the male dominated, smoke filled rooms of the Democratic National Committee. She was the first Hollywood to go into politics serving three terms as a California congresswoman. She was the first American woman to be seriously considered as a vice presidential contender.
But the most lasting thing she known for is being branded a communist "The Pink Lady" while run for senate against future disgraced President Richard Nixon. The 1950 senate race between Nixon and Douglas was nasty with Douglas being labeled a "pinko", "commie", "Red", "the anti-Christ" and and "a nigger lover". That Senate race is now believed to have invented modern day negative campaigning. If you hate how politicans campaign today, the 1950 Nixon senate campaign is to blame.
Helen Douglas was smeared not only by Nixon but by the press as well. She was brutalized by the media for how she looked, her voice was critized for being to "shrill", and the media questioned if a good mother would run for public office.
Despite the fact this campaign happened 70 years ago, nothing has changed. Just a couple weeks ago a certain orange tented man who lives in D.C. called Senator and vice presidental candidate Kamala Harris a Communist. Women in the public eye continue to be treated in the same shameful manner and I don't think things will ever change. 70 years ago Helen Gahagan Douglas' character was ripped apart, its still happening today and in 70 years from now I think we'll still be seeing the same things.
The Pink Lady was a fascinating look at an incredible woman who more people should know about.
A Must Read!
I know I hadn't before buying this book. I like to go to the bookstore and buy biographies of people I've never heard of or know very little about.
So who was Helen Gahagan Douglas?
She was a broadway actress. She was a Hollywood actress and the wife of Oscar winning actor Melvyn Douglas. She was the first woman to gain entree into the male dominated, smoke filled rooms of the Democratic National Committee. She was the first Hollywood to go into politics serving three terms as a California congresswoman. She was the first American woman to be seriously considered as a vice presidential contender.
But the most lasting thing she known for is being branded a communist "The Pink Lady" while run for senate against future disgraced President Richard Nixon. The 1950 senate race between Nixon and Douglas was nasty with Douglas being labeled a "pinko", "commie", "Red", "the anti-Christ" and and "a nigger lover". That Senate race is now believed to have invented modern day negative campaigning. If you hate how politicans campaign today, the 1950 Nixon senate campaign is to blame.
Helen Douglas was smeared not only by Nixon but by the press as well. She was brutalized by the media for how she looked, her voice was critized for being to "shrill", and the media questioned if a good mother would run for public office.
Despite the fact this campaign happened 70 years ago, nothing has changed. Just a couple weeks ago a certain orange tented man who lives in D.C. called Senator and vice presidental candidate Kamala Harris a Communist. Women in the public eye continue to be treated in the same shameful manner and I don't think things will ever change. 70 years ago Helen Gahagan Douglas' character was ripped apart, its still happening today and in 70 years from now I think we'll still be seeing the same things.
The Pink Lady was a fascinating look at an incredible woman who more people should know about.
A Must Read!
September 7, 2014
Helen Gahagan Douglas is a woman that we should know about, but don't. The first time I remember hearing about her was in 1972 when she appeared on the cover of MS. 22 years earlier Dick Nixon destroyed her political career in what is still considered the dirtiest political campaign in American history.
Gahagan (she only started to use her married name of Douglas when she was got involved in politics) was an actress, singer, humanitarian and politician. Her husband was actor Melvyn Douglas, who introduced her to progressive/New Deal politics and she quickly became Eleanor Roosevelt's protege. From there she went to almost the top--even considered a VP candidate decades before Gerry Ferraro.
History tells us what happened to Gahagan, but like watching Titanic, I kept hoping, no this won't happen. Smeared as a Communist, which she certainly was not, and sabotaged by the Chicago mob (seriously, something she never knew about and us only coming out now--it had to do with her work against the land-grabbing cartel buying up Nisei property during WW2-- and that's another story that needs to be sold.)) she never had a chance once Nixon put her in his cites. Gahagan just refused to see how serious the situation was until it was too late.
Strangely, I didn't find the first chapter of the book very compelling--her early ears of privilege, her stage aspirations, etc. But once the book moved into politics it took off. I wish there had been more information on her personal life. I'm nosing enough to want to know more about he long-term relationships with LBJ. Her story is sad, but triumphant--she never stopped fighting for her beliefs. Sad because her legacy has been picked up by the likes of Nancy Pelosi, Barbara Boxer, Hillary Clinton, and Elizabeth Warren. And that makes me sick.
Gahagan (she only started to use her married name of Douglas when she was got involved in politics) was an actress, singer, humanitarian and politician. Her husband was actor Melvyn Douglas, who introduced her to progressive/New Deal politics and she quickly became Eleanor Roosevelt's protege. From there she went to almost the top--even considered a VP candidate decades before Gerry Ferraro.
History tells us what happened to Gahagan, but like watching Titanic, I kept hoping, no this won't happen. Smeared as a Communist, which she certainly was not, and sabotaged by the Chicago mob (seriously, something she never knew about and us only coming out now--it had to do with her work against the land-grabbing cartel buying up Nisei property during WW2-- and that's another story that needs to be sold.)) she never had a chance once Nixon put her in his cites. Gahagan just refused to see how serious the situation was until it was too late.
Strangely, I didn't find the first chapter of the book very compelling--her early ears of privilege, her stage aspirations, etc. But once the book moved into politics it took off. I wish there had been more information on her personal life. I'm nosing enough to want to know more about he long-term relationships with LBJ. Her story is sad, but triumphant--she never stopped fighting for her beliefs. Sad because her legacy has been picked up by the likes of Nancy Pelosi, Barbara Boxer, Hillary Clinton, and Elizabeth Warren. And that makes me sick.
May 23, 2011
This is a well-researched, concise life of the former actress, activist, singer and congresswoman, known more so today, probably, for the smear campaign waged against her by then congressman Richard Nixon. A victim of the infamous McCarthy witch hunts of the 1940's and '50's, the author does a good job of telling the salient points of Mrs. Douglas's life. It's a good read.
July 8, 2024
What a life!
February 1, 2013
I picked it up due to its interesting subject. I should have known from the title, a reference to the slur placed on this very accomplished woman, that it would be a breezy effort. The level seemed to be appropriate for high school students, but it does not provide enough context for them, or others with no experience of this period or its immediate aftermath, to understand the passion behind the issues.
With a book this size, I did not expect more than a once over lightly, but the research needs to be sharper. For instance on p. 69, where there are some footnotes, there is none for the eye popping statement that California's Japanese owned 1% of the land and produced 40% of the food. Is it an established historical fact that (p. 76) the "US declared war on Mexico in 1846 to control North America with its eye on CA as the real prize"? On p. 166 it says that in the 1950 campaign HGD was spit upon and had raw eggs thrown at her without documentation or reference to place. (Later there is a reference to kids throwing stones with HGD's memoirs cited as a souce.) These are a few of the facts and sweeping statements that provoke a "really?".
There are imprecise sentences too. For instance, on page 67, Churchill and Roosevelt "had their first conversation on the eve of a world war" which implies that they 1) spoke again that night (did they?) or 2) had never spoken before (not the case.)
Did I miss a mention of her mother's death?
Given the outsized life, I expected that this short book would just skim the surface. The problem is its precision. I would only recommend it for those who want an outline of HGD's life.
With a book this size, I did not expect more than a once over lightly, but the research needs to be sharper. For instance on p. 69, where there are some footnotes, there is none for the eye popping statement that California's Japanese owned 1% of the land and produced 40% of the food. Is it an established historical fact that (p. 76) the "US declared war on Mexico in 1846 to control North America with its eye on CA as the real prize"? On p. 166 it says that in the 1950 campaign HGD was spit upon and had raw eggs thrown at her without documentation or reference to place. (Later there is a reference to kids throwing stones with HGD's memoirs cited as a souce.) These are a few of the facts and sweeping statements that provoke a "really?".
There are imprecise sentences too. For instance, on page 67, Churchill and Roosevelt "had their first conversation on the eve of a world war" which implies that they 1) spoke again that night (did they?) or 2) had never spoken before (not the case.)
Did I miss a mention of her mother's death?
Given the outsized life, I expected that this short book would just skim the surface. The problem is its precision. I would only recommend it for those who want an outline of HGD's life.
January 27, 2016
The story of Helen Gahanna Douglas has been lost to women of my generation, which is a shame. She was one of those women I could have used as a role model growing up: smart, pretty, creative, tenacious, and committed to serving others. Her work on atomic energy and disarmament is very important but I had never heard about it - and I STUDY this stuff. The election of 1950 and the machinations of Richard Nixon, the California Democratic Party, the mob, and to a certain extent Douglas's misreading of the mood of her constituents, Denton suggests, is to blame. And, perhaps she is right. The "moral" is clear. Men don't want women in politics. For that matter, I am not so sure other women do either. But, I digress. This is a great overview of her life and an easy read. I wish there had been more historical detail and the odd footnote. But, I am historian. I expect such stuff.
February 9, 2016
Politics, Hollywood gossip and more.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews