Don’t Forget the Ladies! Eliza and Sandy—Political Powers
“All of us driven by a simple belief that the world as it is just won’t do – that we have an obligation to fight for the world as it should be.”
-First Lady Michelle Obama
As a female who grew up during the women’s movement, I have always admired ladies in the political arena. Today, I would like to mention two—one from the past and one current political lady who have been obliged to “fight for the world as it should be.”
Elizabeth Willing Powel was George Washington’s favorite female companion during his presidency (excluding Martha). Mrs. Samuel (Eliza) Powel belonged to Philadelphia’s leading mercantile family. She was a strong, intelligent female who was not intimidated by Washington, but actually argued with him about governmental policy. As the end of his first term approached, Washington desired to retire to Mount Vernon. He told Eliza that a second term was inconceivable (Ellis 220). Mrs. Powel knew that his leadership and wisdom were still needed if our fledgling nation was to survive. She wrote a letter to Washington urging him not to resign but to serve a second term. “She told him his pleasure as well as his duty lay in laboring ‘for prosperity of the people for whose happiness you are responsible, for to you their happiness is entrusted (Flexner 272).’” She continued, “Be assured that a great Deal of the well earned Popularity you are now in Possession of will be torn from you by the Envious and Malignant should you follow the bent of your Inclinations. You know human Nature too well not to believe that you have Enemies. Merit & Virtue, when placed on an Eminence, will as certainly attract Envy as the Magnet does the needle.’ In short, his host of admirers included ambitious men whose admiration barely concealed their latent hatred of his greater greatness. As long as he retained power they would be afraid to show themselves. But they were lurking in the background, poised to ravage his reputation and render his retirement less serene than he envisioned. (Ellis 220-221).” Washington served a second term.
Sandy Garrett is Oklahoma’s State Superintendent of Education. Ms. Garrett is the only woman in our state’s history elected to that office. She is now serving in her FIFTH consecutive elected term (OSDE Website). Fifteen years ago Superintendent Garrett stated, “There are rights and there are wrongs in our society and it is time we got busy teaching our children about them.” (Surely she was envisioning George Washington as a role model when she made this speech!). Ms. Garrett has been busy in the last few decades trying to improve education in our society. “She implemented the mandates of Oklahoma’s landmark Education Reform Act of 1990, the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, and the state Achieving Classroom Excellence Act of 2005. The National Institute for Early Education Research recognized Oklahoma as a national model because of Superintendent Garrett‘s development of Pre-Kindergarten programs throughout the state. Garrett also initiated the nation’s first statewide school safety hot line which has provided to local officials anonymous reports of suspicious or potentially dangerous activity in schools since 1998 (OSDE Website).” Recently, while attending the Oklahoma A+ Schools Celebration at the Capitol in Oklahoma City, Martha Washington (Jan) was photographed with our State Superintendent.
“I stand here today at the crosscurrents of that history – knowing that my piece of the American dream is a blessing hard won by those who came before me (First Lady Michelle Obama).” Although many think that politics is still mainly a man’s domain, both Eliza Powel and Sandy Garrett have proved that women have made a positive impact on the blessings of America.
His Excellency George Washington by Joseph J. Ellis
Washington the Indispensable Man by James Thomas Flexner
http://sde.state.ok.us/Services/SG/default.html
