Madam President: Women Blazing the Leadership Trail

by Eleanor Clift

The first Madam President will be sworn in sooner than most people think. But the gender gap in politics is still shockingly broad, say two of America's most readable political commentators in this timely look at the nation's sputtering efforts to envision a woman in America's top job.(The Boston Globe ). Charting the transformation of women's power in American politics from the first female presidential candidate (Victoria Woodhull in 1872) to the shattered presidential hopes of Shirley Chisholm and Elizabeth Dole, Madam President presents tales of passion, determination, set-backs, and triumph from nearly all national women politicians and most leading state politicians in the pipeline. With insight garnered from years on the Washington political scene and candid interviews with leading politicians like Christine Todd Whitman and Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, Clift and Brazaitis explain why the barriers to women are still There are only 3 female governors (one of the best routes to the White House) and at the current rate it will take 250 years before there are as many women Senators and Representatives as men. A forward-looking, savvy analysis of women in politics, Madam President gives the first inside look at how America's female politicians got there, stayed there, and what it will take for them to make it to the presidency.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics

41 pages, Paperback

First published July 18, 2000

About the author

Eleanor Roeloffs Clift is an American news editor, columnist, political commentator, pundit, reporter and author. She is currently a contributing editor for Newsweek magazine. Her column, "Capitol Letter" is posted each week on Newsweek.com and MSNBC. She is a regular political panelist on the nationally syndicated show The McLaughlin Group, which she has compared to "a televised food fight". She is also a political contributor for the Fox News Channel.

Reviews

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seriously, Senator Clinton's serious run for the White House has rendered this book outdated. At the time I thought it was really exciting and novel to think of a female president. Now I really feel that it's just a matter of time.

[Susan Mcgrath · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much. Read it several years ago. Will probably read again if Hillary runs or another woman. I hope we see a female President in my lifetime as my Grandmother used to speak of remembering a time when women could not vote.

[L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Completely Awesome!

[Monica]

i actually have the 1st edition