Millicent Fenwick: Her Way

By Amy Schapiro

Book Overview

Amy Schapiro has written the first biography of Millicent Fenwick, the popular and colorful New Jersey congresswoman. Affectionately remembered as the pipe-smoking grandmother who served as the model for Garry Trudeau's Doonesbury character Lacey Davenport, Fenwick defied such simplistic expectations to become, in the words of Walter Cronkite, "the conscience of Congress."

Born in 1910 into comfortable circumstances, Fenwick faced tragedy at an early age when her mother was lost in the sinking of the Lusitania. Following an upper-class childhood and a failed marriage, she began a fourteen-year career at Vogue magazine.

In the 1960s, Fenwick became involved in the civil rights movement and took part in local and state politics in New Jersey. Blessed with striking good looks and a sharp wit, she cut a glamorous figure, rising quickly through the ranks of the state Republican Party at a time when most of her peers were retiring. When this colorful, outspoken figure--one of only five New Jersey women ever elected to Congress-- went to Washington in 1974 at age sixty-four, her victory was portrayed by the media as a "geriatric triumph."

Schapiro's extensive interviews with Fenwick's son, Hugh, who granted her exclusive rights to Fenwick's personal papers, oral histories, letters, and photographs, provide rare insight into the life and career of one of America's most memorable politicians.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0813532310
• ISBN13: 9780813532318
• Release Date: February 2003
• Publisher: Rutgers University Press
• Length: 310 Pages
• Weight: 1.42 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.3" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

Excellent work on the life of politician

Amy Shapiro worked very hard to give the readers a full presentation of the life of Rep. Millicent Hammond Fenwick. To the early childhood trauma of losing her mother on the Lusitania; going forward as the daughter of a US ambassador; her disasterous marriage; a career in magazine writing and reporting; and finally politics. One suspects, that due to her voting record, Fenwick was not so much a liberal Republican, but a moderate Democrat. Looking at her thoughts and actions, it seemed she was trying to find some common ground with her Republican father who closed himself off to her. Although being a moderate/liberal Republican was and is interchangeable with being a moderate Democrat. Those who want to learn about how the political process works, such buy this excellent book. You get to watch someone who worked from the ground- up to make it where she was. One could imagine what she would have to say about the current administration if she was still living, and she'd be saying it, 'her way,' which was 'dead honest.'

Millicent Fenwick, Her Way

After a slow moving start, "Millicent Fenwick, Her Way" took off and quickly became one of the most absorbing biographies I have ever read. Amy Schapiro has written the wonderful story of the life of a truly great human being. While most of the people in the world are "takers," Millicent Fenwick was a "giver" in every sense of the word. Millicent had the same philosophy as Albert Einstein...when asked what was the meaning of life...his response was to serve other people. Ms. Schapiro brings this out in a most interesting way that is based on extensive research into the life and accomplishments of this great person. Each page is filled with many facts that establish the persona of Millicent Fenwick both personally and professionally. Ms. Schapiro obviously gained the cooperation of many people in gathering information, anecdotes and stories about this wonderful person.I believe that this book will be an inspiration for those who choose to read it. The life of Millicent Fenwick speaks to anyone who has a conscious and a sense for the difficulties of the human condition. Although Mrs. Fenwick is thought of as a "politician from New Jersey," the story of her life can be appreciated as a study of a world class human being. Ms Schapiro brings this to light in an easy to read manuscript.