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 44 Collections and/or Records:
National Sharecroppers Fund can no longer support National Advisory Committee.
Digital item
Identifier: CAC_CC_014_8.12_9_53_0003
Praise for Dr. Frank's dedication to service and belief in justice, fair play.
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Identifier: CAC_CC_014_8.12_9_53_0011
Reminder of Joint NSF-NACFL Committee meeting to discuss activities, finances.
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Identifier: CAC_CC_014_8.12_9_53_0007
Ruth invites Helen for lunch to discuss symposium, but Helen declines.
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Identifier: CAC_CC_014_8.12_9_24_0019
Ruth invites Helen to a symposium on aging women's identity crisis.
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Identifier: CAC_CC_014_8.12_9_24_0012
Senators seek to extend committee investigating hunger due to need for action.
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Identifier: CAC_CC_014_8.12_9_53_0008
Sue Lyman invites Helen G. Douglas to speak at Radcliffe Institute.
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Identifier: CAC_CC_014_8.12_9_24_0020
Teacher seeks guest speakers, including Mrs. Douglas, for political course.
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Identifier: CAC_CC_014_8.12_9_24_0023
The National Advisory Committee on Farm Labor promotes farm labor welfare through research and activities.
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Identifier: CAC_CC_014_8.12_9_53_0001
Unitarian Church invites Helen Gahagan Douglas to speak, offering honorarium.
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Identifier: CAC_CC_014_8.12_9_24_0005