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A Woman of Firsts: Margaret Heckler, Political Trailblazer
Margaret Heckler’s compassionate and bipartisan work is a shining example of a hero who transcended political assumptions and expectations to help America’s women and underserved communities.
The daughter of Irish immigrants, Heckler represented the American dream. She remains the only woman to have earned a “triple crown” in serving in Congress (R-MA), on a presidential Cabinet, and as an Ambassador—all groundbreaking achievements for a woman of her era. Her career spanned five presidencies, from the 1960s through the 1980s (Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, and Reagan). The fiery Irish Republican mastered the seemingly unbeatable game of being a woman in a man’s world and a Republican in a Democratic state, becoming a hero for others against all odds.
In a time when many women entered public office because of their husbands, Heckler made her own name. Over the course of sixteen years in Congress, she successfully advocated for the Equal Rights Amendment and authored the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, which for the first time in American history gave women the right to credit in their own name, setting them financially free. She also singlehandedly urged presidential nominee Ronald Reagan to appoint Sandra Day O’Connor as the first female Supreme Court Justice.
Later, as Reagan’s Secretary of Health and Human Services, Heckler successfully made AIDS the top health priority in America and also commissioned the Heckler Report to address health disparities among minority populations. When her husband’s affairs resulted in her forced resignation as HHS Secretary, she was appointed to serve in one of the most sought-after diplomatic posts as the first female ambassador to Ireland.
This is the first book to tell the story of Heckler’s remarkable life and the behind-the-scenes details of her biggest accomplishments. Featuring interviews with leading figures such as former HHS Secretaries Alex Azar and Dr. Louis Sullivan; former Representatives Elizabeth Holtzman (D-NY) and Connie Morella (R-MD); former Boston Mayor and Ambassador Raymond Flynn; former US Attorney General Edwin Meese; and Senator Ed Markey (D-MA). It isa thoroughly researched tribute to a woman who helped break the glass ceiling and the remarkable battles she fought to provide equality and justice for many.
The daughter of Irish immigrants, Heckler represented the American dream. She remains the only woman to have earned a “triple crown” in serving in Congress (R-MA), on a presidential Cabinet, and as an Ambassador—all groundbreaking achievements for a woman of her era. Her career spanned five presidencies, from the 1960s through the 1980s (Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, and Reagan). The fiery Irish Republican mastered the seemingly unbeatable game of being a woman in a man’s world and a Republican in a Democratic state, becoming a hero for others against all odds.
In a time when many women entered public office because of their husbands, Heckler made her own name. Over the course of sixteen years in Congress, she successfully advocated for the Equal Rights Amendment and authored the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, which for the first time in American history gave women the right to credit in their own name, setting them financially free. She also singlehandedly urged presidential nominee Ronald Reagan to appoint Sandra Day O’Connor as the first female Supreme Court Justice.
Later, as Reagan’s Secretary of Health and Human Services, Heckler successfully made AIDS the top health priority in America and also commissioned the Heckler Report to address health disparities among minority populations. When her husband’s affairs resulted in her forced resignation as HHS Secretary, she was appointed to serve in one of the most sought-after diplomatic posts as the first female ambassador to Ireland.
This is the first book to tell the story of Heckler’s remarkable life and the behind-the-scenes details of her biggest accomplishments. Featuring interviews with leading figures such as former HHS Secretaries Alex Azar and Dr. Louis Sullivan; former Representatives Elizabeth Holtzman (D-NY) and Connie Morella (R-MD); former Boston Mayor and Ambassador Raymond Flynn; former US Attorney General Edwin Meese; and Senator Ed Markey (D-MA). It isa thoroughly researched tribute to a woman who helped break the glass ceiling and the remarkable battles she fought to provide equality and justice for many.
276 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 18, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 17, 2025
This book is a mix of historical and personal accounts combined to create a biography of a former public servant, Margaret Heckler. Margaret Heckler served in various roles in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as Congressman in United States House of Representatives, as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, and as Ambassador to Ireland from the mid-1960s through the late 1980s. The author was the daughter-in-law of Heckler. The book is firmly grounded in interviews with other politicians who served with Ms. Heckler. There are newspaper accounts and various other reliable sources which, put together, provide an engaging characterization of this important public servant.
My book club read this book. What struck us all was how little we knew of this important figure in women’s history. There is little of importance that occurred in the advancement of women in national politics that Heckler wasn’t a part of. Are you a woman with a credit card? Thank Margaret Heckler. Are you a woman with a mortgage or car loan in your name? Thank Margaret Heckler. Remember the crazy misinformation over the Equal Rights Amendment? Imagine being a moderate Republican congressman trying to keep a rational lid on that while trying to drum up support from male congressmen, largely. The list goes on and on. She went on to have numerous accomplishments during the AIDS crisis, advancement of the hospice movement, and so forth.
None of this could be predicted from her extremely humble beginnings. For me, the contrast between that and her landmark accomplishments as an adult is what makes this book so interesting. If you are interested in neglected corners of the Women’s Movement, this book is for you. It is interesting and surprising because throughout I kept thinking, “Why don’t I already know this?”
My book club read this book. What struck us all was how little we knew of this important figure in women’s history. There is little of importance that occurred in the advancement of women in national politics that Heckler wasn’t a part of. Are you a woman with a credit card? Thank Margaret Heckler. Are you a woman with a mortgage or car loan in your name? Thank Margaret Heckler. Remember the crazy misinformation over the Equal Rights Amendment? Imagine being a moderate Republican congressman trying to keep a rational lid on that while trying to drum up support from male congressmen, largely. The list goes on and on. She went on to have numerous accomplishments during the AIDS crisis, advancement of the hospice movement, and so forth.
None of this could be predicted from her extremely humble beginnings. For me, the contrast between that and her landmark accomplishments as an adult is what makes this book so interesting. If you are interested in neglected corners of the Women’s Movement, this book is for you. It is interesting and surprising because throughout I kept thinking, “Why don’t I already know this?”
March 9, 2025
Margaret Mary Heckler (née O'Shaughnessy; June 21, 1931–August 6, 2018) attended Boston College Law School (LL.B. 1956), and was the only woman in her law school class. She was admitted to the bar in Massachusetts.
From 1963-1967, Heckler was the first woman to serve on the Governor's council for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1964 and 1968, and was elected as a Republican from the 90th to the 97th Congresses (January 3, 1967– January 3, 1983).In 1967, when she was first elected, Heckler was one of only 11 women in Congress.
Heckler voted in favour of the Civil Rights Act of 1968. In 1972, she co-sponsored Title IX, which forbade sex discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.
In 1974, on the Banking and Currency Committee, Heckler authored the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, giving women credit in their own names for the first time in American history.
In 1977, she launched and co-founded the Congresswoman's Caucus, a bipartisan group of 14 members focused on equality for women in Social Security, tax laws, and related areas. It was the first all-women's caucus in the Congress. Heckler was also an outspoken advocate for and co-sponsor of the Equal Rights Amendment. At the Republican National Convention in 1980, Heckler urged Ronald Reagan to put the first woman on the Supreme Court.
In Massachusetts, she was noted for building an especially effective network of constituent services that allowed her to triumph through several re-election bids in an overwhelmingly-Democratic state. She also served on the Veterans Affairs committee, visiting Vietnam.In the early 1980s, Heckler became Health and Human Services Secretary, where she investigated the racial and ethnic disparities in US healthcare,leading to the landmark Heckler Report. She also raised awareness on the AIDS crisis.
In late 1985, Heckler was appointed Ambassador to Ireland.She helped obtain a US grant to the International Fund for Ireland. She advanced both countries' interests.
Margaret wed John Heckler and had 3 children.They divorced in 1984,which caused scandal.
From 1963-1967, Heckler was the first woman to serve on the Governor's council for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1964 and 1968, and was elected as a Republican from the 90th to the 97th Congresses (January 3, 1967– January 3, 1983).In 1967, when she was first elected, Heckler was one of only 11 women in Congress.
Heckler voted in favour of the Civil Rights Act of 1968. In 1972, she co-sponsored Title IX, which forbade sex discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.
In 1974, on the Banking and Currency Committee, Heckler authored the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, giving women credit in their own names for the first time in American history.
In 1977, she launched and co-founded the Congresswoman's Caucus, a bipartisan group of 14 members focused on equality for women in Social Security, tax laws, and related areas. It was the first all-women's caucus in the Congress. Heckler was also an outspoken advocate for and co-sponsor of the Equal Rights Amendment. At the Republican National Convention in 1980, Heckler urged Ronald Reagan to put the first woman on the Supreme Court.
In Massachusetts, she was noted for building an especially effective network of constituent services that allowed her to triumph through several re-election bids in an overwhelmingly-Democratic state. She also served on the Veterans Affairs committee, visiting Vietnam.In the early 1980s, Heckler became Health and Human Services Secretary, where she investigated the racial and ethnic disparities in US healthcare,leading to the landmark Heckler Report. She also raised awareness on the AIDS crisis.
In late 1985, Heckler was appointed Ambassador to Ireland.She helped obtain a US grant to the International Fund for Ireland. She advanced both countries' interests.
Margaret wed John Heckler and had 3 children.They divorced in 1984,which caused scandal.
April 30, 2025
In this fascinating new biography of Health and Human Services Secretary Margaret O’Shaughnessy Heckler, readers discover her political career among five presidencies both in Congress, in local government, as an ambassador, and as a Cabinet member. A groundbreaking woman in American politics, Heckler notes how Margaret O’Shaughnessy Heckler represented the American dream and how her political career improved the lives of women around the United States as well as the other members of the country. Full of fascinating photos, primary documents, quotes, and inspiring anecdotes, readers will love this brilliant new biography of this powerful and capable woman and her political contributions. The book is engaging and well-written, and the narrative flow really offers readers an immersive look into her life. The historical and political context and Heckler’s interactions with other major political figures from the time also really allows readers to orient themselves and best understand the large-scale impact that Heckler had on modern American politics. For readers interested in politics, history, and women’s rights, this is a fantastic read that offers a lot of detail and insight into major political events from the late twentieth century, and readers will love the complex and fascinating stories about Margaret O’Shaughnessy Heckler’s brilliant and groundbreaking life.
Thanks to NetGalley, The Globe Pequot Publishing Group, Inc., and Lyons Press for the advance copy.
Thanks to NetGalley, The Globe Pequot Publishing Group, Inc., and Lyons Press for the advance copy.
September 20, 2025
Written by her daughter-in-law with significant input from Heckler’s own daughter and son, A Woman of Firsts: Margaret Heckler, Political Trailblazer may be the first, but surely not the last, narrative about the Honorable Margaret O’Shaughnessy Heckler. Born of Irish immigrants who gave her away at birth and paid a stranger to raise her, Margaret Heckler’s life is a testament to the often-quoted trope: “Only in America…”
A Woman of Firsts narrates the early life of Heckler as an abandoned child, aspiring student, eventual lawyer, tracking the people who helped her along the way. Her commitment to public service expanded as she broke down barriers and championed the causes of others. As a legislator, a cabinet secretary and an ambassador, she took on causes often because of the empathy she felt for those in her own life experience and from her conviction that government could make the lives better for others, especially those left behind.
As one of her staff noted, “Margaret was a top-down visionary. She was operating at thirty thousand feet, and she needed us to bring it in for a landing. ‘Here are my ideas,’ she would say to her staff, now you assemble the ingredients and bake the cake. She knew what the problem was, she knew what the solution was, but she wanted us to work on the stuff in the middle. This skill set resulted in some of Margaret’s greatest achievements as secretary of HHS: greater focus on minority health, increased HIV/AIDS research, creation of a federally funded hospice program, and more attention given to women’s health, child services, Alzheimer’s disease, breast cancer research, and much more.”
She also pioneered work to assure that medical services were equally available for minority patients and doctors. As a legislator she focused on women and equal rights, pioneering the Women’s Caucus in Congress to assure a more powerful voice on issues affecting women; she championed legislation that for the first time allowed women to get credit on their own. This was only achieved in 1974. She also pioneered work for Veterans; her father was a veteran. She worked on a bipartisan basis whenever she could.
Her work and energy are impressive whether one agreed with her politics or not. Mother of three children, her personal journey was not always easy, and the personal details and tensions are only lightly touched on in this book. In the beginning of her career, her husband was one of her earliest advocates and was her campaign manager, but eventually the marriage dissolved.
In the future there may be more books…and/or a movie. But for now, readers will be grateful for her devoted family who have brought her story to the public in clear prose and a chronological narrative with pictures!
A Woman of Firsts narrates the early life of Heckler as an abandoned child, aspiring student, eventual lawyer, tracking the people who helped her along the way. Her commitment to public service expanded as she broke down barriers and championed the causes of others. As a legislator, a cabinet secretary and an ambassador, she took on causes often because of the empathy she felt for those in her own life experience and from her conviction that government could make the lives better for others, especially those left behind.
As one of her staff noted, “Margaret was a top-down visionary. She was operating at thirty thousand feet, and she needed us to bring it in for a landing. ‘Here are my ideas,’ she would say to her staff, now you assemble the ingredients and bake the cake. She knew what the problem was, she knew what the solution was, but she wanted us to work on the stuff in the middle. This skill set resulted in some of Margaret’s greatest achievements as secretary of HHS: greater focus on minority health, increased HIV/AIDS research, creation of a federally funded hospice program, and more attention given to women’s health, child services, Alzheimer’s disease, breast cancer research, and much more.”
She also pioneered work to assure that medical services were equally available for minority patients and doctors. As a legislator she focused on women and equal rights, pioneering the Women’s Caucus in Congress to assure a more powerful voice on issues affecting women; she championed legislation that for the first time allowed women to get credit on their own. This was only achieved in 1974. She also pioneered work for Veterans; her father was a veteran. She worked on a bipartisan basis whenever she could.
Her work and energy are impressive whether one agreed with her politics or not. Mother of three children, her personal journey was not always easy, and the personal details and tensions are only lightly touched on in this book. In the beginning of her career, her husband was one of her earliest advocates and was her campaign manager, but eventually the marriage dissolved.
In the future there may be more books…and/or a movie. But for now, readers will be grateful for her devoted family who have brought her story to the public in clear prose and a chronological narrative with pictures!
February 2, 2025
Kimberly Heckler, A Woman of Firsts Margaret Heckler, Political Trailblazer, Foreword by Jean Sinzdak, The Globe Pequot Publishing Group, Inc. | Lyons Press, February 2025.
Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.
This biography not only covers the period in which five presidents, from different parties were elected (Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, and Reagan) but when Sandra Day O’Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsberg made their mark on the Supreme Court. It would have been appealing without this context, but the additional information makes this biography exceptionally engaging. Of course, this context is only relevant to Margaret Heckler’s public life – her private life, including her upbringing with distant parents, her passion to do well and her marriage are also relevant. To have accomplished so much, to have been a loving and successful wife and mother, and to have made such a distinctive career makes for an absorbing read. Kimberly Heckler’s biography is the very readable story of a woman, as in the title, of firsts.
The biography is written in three parts, Early Life, 1914 – 1961; Elected Office 1961 – 1982; Appointments 1982 – 1989. There is an index, including subjects such as The Equal Opportunity Credit Act; the Northern Ireland Peace Process Testimony at the House of international Relations Committee, 1995; health issues such as abortion, Alzheimer’s Disease and AIDS; women in the armed forces (a current issue); bipartisanship; the Civil Rights Act; Divorce and Credit; ERA, and the Cold War; and people such as Hillary Clinton, Martin Luther King, Helen Gurley Brown, Shirley Chisholm, Anthony Fauci (again a current source of interest), Betty Freidan – all suggesting the breadth of the interests approached in the biography. Again, the wide appeal, whatever one’s own political stance is demonstrated in the notes for each chapter which are informative about the varied sources in the volume - Maeve Binchy appears, the Heckler Family Archives are there, reports from newspapers and interviews feature prominently.
Written with the family’s imprimatur, by Kimberly Heckler, married to John Heckler Jr and supported by Margaret Heckler’s daughter, Belinda, the volume is a sympathetic but a worthy contribution to women’s political history.
Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.
This biography not only covers the period in which five presidents, from different parties were elected (Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, and Reagan) but when Sandra Day O’Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsberg made their mark on the Supreme Court. It would have been appealing without this context, but the additional information makes this biography exceptionally engaging. Of course, this context is only relevant to Margaret Heckler’s public life – her private life, including her upbringing with distant parents, her passion to do well and her marriage are also relevant. To have accomplished so much, to have been a loving and successful wife and mother, and to have made such a distinctive career makes for an absorbing read. Kimberly Heckler’s biography is the very readable story of a woman, as in the title, of firsts.
The biography is written in three parts, Early Life, 1914 – 1961; Elected Office 1961 – 1982; Appointments 1982 – 1989. There is an index, including subjects such as The Equal Opportunity Credit Act; the Northern Ireland Peace Process Testimony at the House of international Relations Committee, 1995; health issues such as abortion, Alzheimer’s Disease and AIDS; women in the armed forces (a current issue); bipartisanship; the Civil Rights Act; Divorce and Credit; ERA, and the Cold War; and people such as Hillary Clinton, Martin Luther King, Helen Gurley Brown, Shirley Chisholm, Anthony Fauci (again a current source of interest), Betty Freidan – all suggesting the breadth of the interests approached in the biography. Again, the wide appeal, whatever one’s own political stance is demonstrated in the notes for each chapter which are informative about the varied sources in the volume - Maeve Binchy appears, the Heckler Family Archives are there, reports from newspapers and interviews feature prominently.
Written with the family’s imprimatur, by Kimberly Heckler, married to John Heckler Jr and supported by Margaret Heckler’s daughter, Belinda, the volume is a sympathetic but a worthy contribution to women’s political history.
March 24, 2025
4.0 stars
DEFINITE recommend
This is a difficult review to write. I loved Margaret O'Shaughnessy Heckler, but I only liked this book. It is a well-researched, but densely written biography. It was written by Margaret's daughter-in-law, Kimberly, and was a ten-year labor of love.
Of course, I wanted more stories, anecdotes, and insights. This was dry and had no insight into what made Margaret tick. She accomplished so very much and I would love to know how she had it all!
Congresswoman, HHS Secretary, and Ambassador to Ireland. THE political trifecta!!
If you are a political nerd, curious about the 1960-80s Washington D.C. political scene, or want to learn about Margaret, read this book!
For a more detailed review, check out my blog - booksbydorothea:
https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/...
DEFINITE recommend
This is a difficult review to write. I loved Margaret O'Shaughnessy Heckler, but I only liked this book. It is a well-researched, but densely written biography. It was written by Margaret's daughter-in-law, Kimberly, and was a ten-year labor of love.
Of course, I wanted more stories, anecdotes, and insights. This was dry and had no insight into what made Margaret tick. She accomplished so very much and I would love to know how she had it all!
Congresswoman, HHS Secretary, and Ambassador to Ireland. THE political trifecta!!
If you are a political nerd, curious about the 1960-80s Washington D.C. political scene, or want to learn about Margaret, read this book!
For a more detailed review, check out my blog - booksbydorothea:
https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/...
Read
June 3, 2025A great look back into Margaret Hecklers impact on American politics.
From 1963-1967, Heckler served as the first woman on the Governor's council for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, from there she in Congress until 1983. Her actions such as voting on the Civil Rights Act, authoring the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, and co-founding the Congresswoman's caucus has impacts that ripple through to today's congressional delegation.
This is great for any political nerd, policy geek, or biography enthusiast. I wasn't anticipating a memoir of any sort so the information felt very direct and easy to process, which I particularly enjoyed.
From 1963-1967, Heckler served as the first woman on the Governor's council for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, from there she in Congress until 1983. Her actions such as voting on the Civil Rights Act, authoring the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, and co-founding the Congresswoman's caucus has impacts that ripple through to today's congressional delegation.
This is great for any political nerd, policy geek, or biography enthusiast. I wasn't anticipating a memoir of any sort so the information felt very direct and easy to process, which I particularly enjoyed.
June 25, 2025
FASCINATING.
I didn’t know anything about Margareth Heckler before picking up this book and what I learned was astonishing.
I was unaware that women could not get credit in their names until the mid 70s and only afterwards thanks to legislation she championed.
The work she did at HHS was noble is the fields of AIDS, veterans and hospices. She seemed to have done well as Ambassador to Ireland as well.
The book was a little dry in the beginning and lacked an insight to who she was as a person and with her inner family, specifically since it was written by her daughter-in-law, that should have great sense to that. The research on her life was remarkable though.
I didn’t know anything about Margareth Heckler before picking up this book and what I learned was astonishing.
I was unaware that women could not get credit in their names until the mid 70s and only afterwards thanks to legislation she championed.
The work she did at HHS was noble is the fields of AIDS, veterans and hospices. She seemed to have done well as Ambassador to Ireland as well.
The book was a little dry in the beginning and lacked an insight to who she was as a person and with her inner family, specifically since it was written by her daughter-in-law, that should have great sense to that. The research on her life was remarkable though.
June 18, 2025
A truly uplifting and inspirational read for women. Margaret Heckler was an example of what a dedicated and hardworking woman can accomplish against incredible obstacles. Thanks to Kim Heckler for sharing this amazing woman with us.
June 18, 2025
A must-read for every American woman! We owe Margaret many thanks and her story is an inspiration!
October 19, 2025
A thorough exploaration of an amazing woman. If you have the opportunity to hear Kimberly talk about the book, do go. Her insights are fabulous and she is a very engaging speaker.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews