A fact of life

“Another five minutes and I’ll be on overtime, sir!”
 

FRONT LINES, 1984: American politics - Do American women want Gerry?

Main: How Walter Mondale and Geraldine Ferraro are firmly fixed on the future of Presidential politics.
 

In 1984 - and we’re at it again! Whether a woman, like Kamala Harris, Vice-President, can become the dinky-di leader of the United States of America - the President? Tough-fighting Geraldine Ferraro, was the first woman to stand for Vice-President who could go on and become President.

Is the world’s most powerful nation ready to be led by a woman?

It remains to be seen whether the women of America are prepared to back Walter Mondale’s confidence in Geraldine Ferraro to fill the post of Vice-President when they go to the US Presidential elections in November 1984.

But, as the old adage goes, only time will tell.

According to a recent report in TIME magazine, some experts think the psychological barriers for a woman in the White House “are still very strong.”

Although 54 per cent of the US electorate is made up of women, it doesn’t mean the choice of Ferraro is the right ploy to capture a majority of the voting power.
 

Today’s contestant: Vice-President,  Kamala Harris, is expected to shine at the Democratic Convention ’24. (A Time magazine photo.)
 

Overall, surveys show women in America  vote somewhat differently from men. Ever since American women gained the right to vote in 1920, they have proved to be an unknown quantity.

Margaret Thatcher was able to capture a sizeable majority of the women’s vote in the 1975 British election, which ultimately led her to the Prime Ministership.

So, as far as the US woman voter is concerned: how do Ferraro’s chances stack up?

A survey in the mass-circulation US magazine Woman’s Day shows that Ferraro has a fighting chance of becoming America’s woman first Vice-President. Of the 115,000 women interviewed in the survey, 89 per cent claimed the country is “not ready” for a women president.

But, on the other hand, an alarming  72 per cent said they “would vote” for a woman candidate.

Again: Is the world’s most powerful nation ready to be to lead by a woman?

<< Frank Morris. Front Lines, l984. Syndicated.
 

Geraldine Ferraro: A legacy

----------- Bit & Pieces -----------

Vale Keith Weber

After I finished watching a screening of Keith Weber’s funeral last week, the many “if / buts” were answered on the spot. The speaker who Keith knew for three-quarters of his life, let some facts out of the bag. As a marketing ideas person, he was one of the best. Thank you Keith for acknowledging me in your recent book of memoirs, What a Life! And thanks for the saying you often made: “Tough times never last, tough people do!” It was a beautiful going away gift - FM.
 

GRAND YEARS is now a monthly feature. The next issue will be published on September 18. Stories of human interest - Can Vice-President Kamala Harris become the first President?