October 24, 1999

Libby Quits, But She Paved the Way for Next Woman

Elizabeth Dole gave up her campaign to be the first woman president of the United States, but she kicked the can down the road.

With her husband Bob Dole standing by, shedding the family tears, Libby conceded the Republican nomination to George W. Bush. There was something pathetic about the underlying relationships represented.

Mrs. Dole had been secretary of labor under George H. Bush who was defeated for re-election within months of the highest presidential approval rating in history. She also was the wife of highly respected Senator Bob Dole who was soundly defeated in his bid for the presidency three years ago.

Now she has been pushed aside by President Bush’s son who is benefiting partly from a “regret” vote of lukewarm Republicans who abandoned his father for the entreaties of a shameful Bill Clinton.

Mrs. Dole also is a victim, like her husband, of a campaign process more dependent on fund-raising ability than grasp of issues. She undertook the campaign long after George W. had already nailed establishment endorsements and contributions.

At the end of this year’s third quarter, she had $861,000 on hand compared to Bush’s $38 million. “Perhaps I could handle 2 to 1, or even 10 to 1,” said Mrs. Dole, “but not 80 to 1.”

Putting aside the intermingling of Doles’ and Bushs’ destinies, Mrs. Dole had the problem of her gender to overcome. She is too much a lady. Born and reared in North Carolina, she acquired the charm and deference admired by Southerners but misunderstood by Yankees.

Her courteous manners, unfailing smile and genteel accent often are mistakenly equated to timidity. Wrong! There is no one more determined or capable than a southern lady who has Made Up Her Mind.

Americans are ready to elect a woman president -- provided she has elected experience, confident mannerisms and strong convictions about issues whose times have come.

Republican Senator Margaret Chase Smith of Maine had all the required attributes but to no avail. In 1964, she was the first woman to be placed in nomination for president at a major- party convention. She received 27 votes – not much, but something.

However, the nation at that time was involved in hot wars with North Korea and North Vietnam and a cold war with the Soviet Union. Another stereotype attributed to women is that by the nature of motherhood they are emotionally restrained in military situations.

Again, not necessarily so. Great Britain’s Margaret Thatcher and Israel’s Golda Meir were as militant as they had to be in circumstances confronting them.

More importantly, they espoused policies that were unpopular in the beginning; but they held to them with crusade zeal until the populous caught up with them. This is the formula the first woman president must master.

Shirley Chisholm of New York City, the first African- American woman to be elected to Congress, campaigned for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1972 and gained 157 convention votes. She was thrice handicapped by gender, race and special-interest issues.

Elizabeth Dole campaigned on a strategy of appealing women while appeasing the right and left wings of her party with middle-of-the-road programs. This is customary for a primary race in which only party members vote. It is a losing strategy in national elections decided by so-called independent voters.

Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, New Jersey Republican, would be a strong candidate for president. However, her womanly pro- abortion stand is an insurmountable hurdle to winning her party’s nomination. George W. Bush has the safe, mugwump stance at this stage. He says he is personally against abortion but would let states decide the issue.

Whether it’s a white woman or a black man aspiring to the presidency, they will have to tap into the money problem facing all candidates. When Congressman John Kasich, Ohio Republican, quit the race, his chief consultant lamented, “We’re turning the nominating process of both parties into lifestyles for the rich and famous.”

Despite Elizabeth Dole’s handicaps, she was a credible candidate, placing third in the Iowa Republican caucus. She breached the gender barrier. The next woman – Republican or Democrat – will have a better chance of succeeding.

PARTING SHOTS

Linda Tripp -- who blew the whistle on Clinton’s dalliance with Monica -- is being sued for allegedly recording phone calls illegally. She is counter-suing a gaggle of White House informers. There is no fury like that of a woman suborned.

* * *

The presidential yacht “Sequoia” is for sale by the volunteers who restored it. Clinton never used it. He was already up the river -- without a paddle.

By Lindsey Williams, columnist for Sun Coast Media Group newspapers