Douglas, Helen Gahagan, 1900-1980
Person
Biographical:
Helen Gahagan Douglas (1900-1980) began her professional career on the Broadway stage and was deemed a "star" at age twenty-two. By the 1930s, she left the Northeast and moved to California with her husband, Hollywood actor Melvyn Douglas. Although she made only one movie herself--the science fiction film, She--she soon found herself immersed in politics. She worked with the Farm Security Administration and later was elected Democratic National Committeewoman from California. In 1944, she was elected as the representative of California's Fourteenth District in the U.S. House of Representatives. She was successfully reelected to this position in 1946 and 1948. A tireless New Deal Democrat, Douglas was a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and served as an alternate delegate to the General Assembly of the United Nations. In 1950, she opposed Richard M. Nixon in the general election for the U.S. Senate. The campaign was especially brutal with the Republicans quite "liberal" in their charges that Douglas was a communist. Nixon easily won the election. Though Douglas never entered the political fray again, she remained a tireless public speaker and activist.
Found in 401 Collections and/or Records:
A Contribution for Negro History Week
Digital item
Identifier: CAC_CC_014_2.2_22_9_0057
A Contribution for Negro History Week
Digital item
Identifier: CAC_CC_014_2.2_22_9_0058
A Heartfelt Thank You from Humble Servants
Digital item
Identifier: CAC_CC_014_2.2_22_9_0025
A Letter of Appreciation for Rep. Helen Gahagan Douglas
Digital item
Identifier: CAC_CC_014_2.2_22_9_0027
A Letter of Appreciation for Rep. Helen Gahagan Douglas, 1946-01-01 - 1946-12-31
Item — Box: 22, Folder: 9
Identifier: CAC_CC_014_2.2_22_9_0027
Overview
79th (1945-1947)
A Letter of Appreciation: Recognizing the Contributions of African American Soldiers in World War II
Digital item
Identifier: CAC_CC_014_2.2_23_1_0041
A Letter of Appreciation: Recognizing the Contributions of African American Soldiers in World War II, 1946-04-13
Item — Box: 23, Folder: 1
Identifier: CAC_CC_014_2.2_23_1_0041
Overview
79th (1945-1947)
A Note of Appreciation for Racial Tolerance Advocacy
Digital item
Identifier: CAC_CC_014_2.2_23_1_0062
A Note of Appreciation for Racial Tolerance Advocacy, 1946-05-27
Item — Box: 23, Folder: 1
Identifier: CAC_CC_014_2.2_23_1_0062
Overview
79th (1945-1947)
A Tribute to Honorable Helen Gahagan Douglas
Digital item
Identifier: CAC_CC_014_2.2_22_9_0030