Granny D: You're Never Too Old to Raise a Little Hell

by Doris Haddock, Dennis Burke

In February 2000, ninety-year-old Doris “Granny D” Haddock became a national heroine when she completed her 3,200-mile, fourteen-month walk from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., to bring attention to the issue of campaign finance reform.

Granny D recalls and celebrates an exuberant life of love, ac-tivism, and adventure—from one-woman feminist plays in the thirties, to stopping nuclear testing near an Eskimo fishing village in 1963, to her current crusade. Threaded throughout is the spirit of her beloved hometown in New Hampshire—Thornton Wilder’s inspiration for Grover’s Corners in Our Town—a quintessentially American center of New England pluck, Yankee ingenuity, and can-do attitude.

Told in Doris’s vivid and unforgettable voice, Granny D will move and delight readers with its clarion message that one person can indeed make a difference.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir

294 pages, Paperback

First published April 8, 2003

About the author

Doris "Granny D" Haddock was an American politician and liberal political activist from the state of New Hampshire. Between 1999 and 2000, over a span of fourteen months, Haddock walked 3,200 miles across the continental United States to advocate campaign finance reform. In 2004 she ran unsuccessfully as a Democratic challenger to incumbent Republican Judd Gregg for the U.S. Senate.

Haddock's walk across the country followed a southern route and took more than a year to complete, starting on January 1, 1999, in southern California and ending in Washington D.C. on February 29, 2000.

Haddock requested a name change of her middle name to "Granny D", the name by which she had long been known. On August 19, 2004, Haddock's request was officially granted by Judge John Maher during a hearing at the Cheshire County probate court.

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the first books we selected to be part of our Library Book Discussion group. It seemed rather fitting, because it was about a feisty, independent woman who walked across America from California to Washington D.C. Her story.

So many people who were attracted to coming to our library book discussion group in the early years (probably throughout if I am being honest) were in their 70’s-90’s. Yes, I am not joking! I had many people of varying ages who would come in who were in their 50’s or 60’s, and typically during the summer, I would attract a younger crowd. So, I always planned books accordingly – especially knowing that our library book group brought in visitors from all over the country.

And what I appreciated most about those who would attend, was how engaged they all were. Their minds were active and alive and their discussion was full of spunk!

In those early years, of leading the group, this book, was fitting. And it was exciting to talk about this amazing woman whose intention was to spread her interest in campaign finance reform. And even if the book touched on the topic in some detail, mostly it was about her, and the walk, and the challenges of the walk, and the people she met along the way. And how many actually would walk with her on this trek.

Most interesting, she was aware of the power of her voice and she reflected on this often.

The most refreshing part of this reading experience, is the reassurance of reading about someone who had a strong conviction about doing something out of the ordinary, wanted to do it, and summoned the courage to carry it out.

This is a delightful, quick read.

It challenges readers to think more about their lives. And what any of us can do while we are here living it.

And…

To recognize the power of our Voice. And use it!

[Geneva · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is billed as an account of one woman's fight against campaign reform, and yet it is about so much more. It is about friendship. It is about values. It's inspirational and provocative. And it's just a good story.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can't read this book without coming to love Granny D. Her mission is sincere and from the heart. In addition to stories about her walk across America at the age of 90 to bring attention to the need for campaign reform, she shares stories about her youth and American life as it was in the past. What saddens me is that although her efforts were successful in bringing about campaign finance reform in 2000, the Citizens United case in 2010 has rendered her work null and void. Granny D. died a few months ago at the age of 100; I wonder if heartbreak was a factor.

[Morgan Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly fascinating and inspiring book and woman. You can hear her voice through her writing. Great sense of imagery and community. I picked this book up by chance and feel like it picked me.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

You have to admire the passion of Granny D in her walk across the country in a drive for campaign reform. I was inspired to do more to make the world a better place. I was impressed by her eloquence in her speeches as well as the writing of the book. The people she met along the way imparted lessons that are worth learning. I am glad that she didn't live to see the forces of cynicism triumph in the courtroom with Citizens United and the continued prostitution of our politicians, including Mitch McConnell whom she personally scolded. I wish I thought we could unite the common people of this nation around the same basic principles we all likely agree on, but the same interests that own our government are devoted to dividing the people with false flags. In the end, this story left me as sad as it did motivated to at least keep putting one foot in front of the other.

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an amazing story by an inspiring woman. Well worth the time to read.

[Leila Kern · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was originally written in 2001 yet it is very appropriate today. Doris Haddock began her walk in Los Angeles across America ending in Washington DC to bring attention to the issue of campaign finance reform. Amazingly, Doris was 89 years old when she began her walk. I applaud this woman and wish I could have met and talked with her. The many people she met warms my heart and most felt the same way she did; that politicians are bought by corporate money. Unfortunately, in my opinion, not much has changed today; politicians still don’t grasp or want to grasp the needs of the average person. I fear corporate money still rules politics whether it be local or national. But, this is a heartwarming story of someone who believed in a cause enough to try and bring it to national attention. Made me question what I can do to change things little by little.

[Kaye Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very inspirational read with great stories and wisdom interjected in the narrative about Granny D's walk across the U.S. to raise awareness for campaign reform. I enjoyed her stories about her life and the walk, and I learned quite a bit about activism and how to just put one foot in front of another to accomplish what you want to achieve.

[Niccola Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inspiring read from an inspiring woman!

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Small towns make up for their lack of people by having everybody be more interesting.”

‘Granny D’ an eighty-nine year old lady from small town New England walks across the US to raise awareness about campaign finance reform. As you might expect from such an eighty-nine year old, the story is full of humor and common sense.

Regarding roadside attractions that only happen on two-lane highways: “A good deal of fun died with Eisenhower’s interstate highway program, which he copied from the Nazis.”

“What is the point of being in Arizona, I decided, if you cannot be a rodeo queen?”

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to grow up to be like Granny D!

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

We should all remember: "You're never too old"

[Ann Wells · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspiring. Go Granny Go!