Leonor Sullivan | |
|---|---|
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| Secretary of the House Democratic Caucus | |
| In office January 3, 1965 – January 3, 1975 | |
| Leader | John McCormack Carl Albert |
| Preceded by | Edna Kelly |
| Succeeded by | Patsy Mink |
| In office January 3, 1959 – January 7, 1964 | |
| Leader | Sam Rayburn John McCormack |
| Preceded by | Edna Kelly |
| Succeeded by | Edna Kelly |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromMissouri's3rd district | |
| In office January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1977 | |
| Preceded by | Phil Welch |
| Succeeded by | Dick Gephardt |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Leonor Kretzer (1902-08-21)August 21, 1902 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | September 1, 1988(1988-09-01) (aged 86) Sappington, Missouri, U.S. |
| Resting place | Calvary Cemetery |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses | |
| Education | Washington University |
Leonor Kretzer Sullivan (August 21, 1902 – September 1, 1988) was a member of theUnited States House of Representatives fromMissouri. She was aDemocrat and the first woman inCongress fromMissouri.
_and_Leonor_Kretzer_Sullivan_(1902%25E2%2580%25931988)_at_Calvary_Cemetery%2c_St._Louis.jpg)
Born Leonor Kretzer inSt. Louis, Missouri, three of her grandparents were German immigrants.[1] Sullivan attendedWashington University in St. Louis and was a teacher and director at St. Louis Comptometer school. She was married toJohn B. Sullivan, who served four terms in Congress, and she served as his administrative aide. Following her husband's death in 1951, she served as an aide to CongressmanLeonard Irving until she left to run for Congress herself in 1952. She was re-elected eleven times. In Congress, she served for many years asSecretary of the House Democratic Caucus.
Sullivan helped create thefood stamp program,[2] which was opposed by Agriculture SecretaryEzra Taft Benson and became law in the 1960s during the Kennedy and Johnson administrations.
Sullivan did not sign the 1956Southern Manifesto, and voted in favor of theCivil Rights Acts of 1957,[3]1960,[4]1964,[5] and1968,[6] as well as the24th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and theVoting Rights Act of 1965.[7][8]
Sullivan was one of very few members of Congress, and the only woman member of Congress, to vote against theEqual Rights Amendment for women in the early 1970s. Sullivan opposed abortion and called for the passage of theHuman Life Amendment[9]
She did not seek re-election in 1976, and was succeeded byDick Gephardt.
In 1979, theSupersisters trading card set was produced and distributed; one of the cards featured Sullivan's name and picture.[10]
She died atSt. Anthony's Medical Center on September 1, 1988, and was buried atCalvary Cemetery in St. Louis.[11]
The former Wharf Street in front of theGateway Arch in DowntownSt. Louis was renamed Leonor K. Sullivan Boulevard in her honor.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromMissouri's 3rd congressional district 1953–1977 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chairperson of theHouse Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee 1973–1977 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Secretary of the House Democratic Caucus 1959–1964 | Succeeded by |
| Secretary of the House Democratic Caucus 1965–1975 | Succeeded by | |
| Preceded by | Response to the State of the Union address 1972 Served alongside:Carl Albert,Lloyd Bentsen,Hale Boggs,John Brademas,Frank Church,Thomas Eagleton,Martha Griffiths,John Melcher,Ralph Metcalfe,William Proxmire | Vacant Title next held by Mike Mansfield |
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Italics indicates acting chairman | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
