13181_4158_womens_political_history1
1970s
Newsreel depicting the women's suffrage movement. Clip opens with Senator Paula Hawkins, Republican of Florida sitting at a desk reading papers. She recalls how she first became involved in politics. Discusses how she lived in Maitland, Florida and how the community wanted to put sewers in the city rather than wait until the streets were paved. Mayor and city council didn't agree. When the mayor and two of the council members were up for re-election she and a group of concerned citizens put up their own candidates and they all won. She said if you can't get government to change, then change the face of the government. Shot of a luncheon she is attending with President and Mrs. Reagan and Nancy Kassebaum. Hawkins states women in politics must do a very good job or people won't vote for women. She discusses the double standard between men and women in politics. Shot of senators in a committee meeting including Senator Hawkins and Senator Kennedy.