But if anyone thinks the fight is over recall the massive turnout in january to reaffirm protesting Donald Trumps election. In july has lots of experience herself telling these stories as a veteran journalist working with the net will also landed at the new york times. There she wrote as copy editor to be the first africanamerican woman promoted to this Senior Editor position at the time. Then she left the paper and is edited various publications and also has edited or goes written a number of books. Angelo will be in conversations this evening with Carol Richards the Founding Editor of usa today and lecturing and George Washington school of media and public affairs. Of course a longtime columnist for the Washington Post writers even more do well a little more than a year from now. Please join me to welcome Angela Dodson. [applause] good afternoon, a good evening. Is a pleasure to be here at politics and prose. We are excited about Angela Dodson new book remember the ladies and before i turn it over and ask her questions i want a moment for somebody else that was very important to the production of this book her editor from her book group please stand for just a moment. Something about that Suffrage Movement can you give five or six of those key moments . I also thought i knew something about the movement until i wrote about it. The key moments is that lucretius and who was one of the leaders of the movement of the first Womens Convention of the Antislavery Movement was the beginning of the of movement 1938. The other several moment as they began to speak it public. 1838. The other several moment was when they started to address public audiences because with it or not even allowed to speak but a free woman of color began speaking of the Antislavery Movement and she was followed by two white women who were born into a Slave Holding Family in South Carolina and became very active in the Antislavery Movement they had to fight for the right to speak in public as there wrote in cyclical condemning them soties 18487 befalls convention which was called by mostly quaker with it even cady stanton who was not quaker but about in a weakened 1 2 they attracted 300 people so that next seminal moment was from 1850 with day met a newly they had not settled on the vote but they wanted to talk about Property Rights and custody and divorce on that Temperance Movement that became a womens issue but the next is when they split up after the civil war because some want to support the 14th and 15th amendment giving black men the right to vote and some did not want to work for that and at that point they were told that is not on the table. Some people like Elizabeth Cady stanton and susan b. Anthony did not take well and formed an organization for womens suffrage. Stayed with the 14th or 15th amendment as well as the womens vote so really with those two groups get back together and finally had energy to move forward forward, and then there is a day period were more states begin to give women the vote and in 1970 the your state voted for womens suffrage it the york and some states follow after that and then the final push is the ratification which chokers and i devote a chapter just to that. What struck me the most with that vast expanse of time written 1776150 years later that women got the of the vote like that is a long time that is the almost 100 years since Hillary Clinton ran for president to get the popular vote so the program that angelo was talking about that hope of the of hope they would get there and their hopes were dashed one time after another low pay and get that the black suffrage gets that bet that theyre all these other things that disturb them. They did not win and said we didnt win in 2016. That means there is more work to do the other thing in angeles book as those women voted for trump it wasnt easy manner and it isnt easy. Just to build on that. And then to get together to vote to elect a woman as president . I think they will but it will take maybe this administration would be a blessing in disguise the fact that 53 percent of white women voted for trump given that misogynist it campaign phrases of grabbing things and what ever the those that could still vote for hillary without concern for her race in particular many people bought hillary was a flawed candidate so my answer to that is we have elected 45 flawed men. One of those led to an africanamerican but he was not perfect either so we have to decide what is it important to enough for us to do one for the girls . I have to say it is more important and more damning that they have never elected a woman with an africanamerican. So if its ever going to happen women have to hold it together but this book also showed they did not do it alone as many many appear in the book. Many men attended like Frederick Douglass those that went to the conference stood up for the rights for women to vote when nobody else did know basted with Elizabeth Cady stanton and then writing about it afterwards. Also all kinds of other abolitionists that introduced the first legislation the first versions of the womens rights amendments then had to ratify. Wyoming and by the time it came around for us to do more things but women were dependent on the mail helpers as well in the early days it didnt even want to run because nobody presided over anything they never addressed a meeting. In the ohio conventions goes on to say could never speak in front of an audience and it addresses the audience for an hour very eloquently but what we have learned there has to be some sort of coalition that we will have to stand up because were always been women. The way that they related to Woodrow Wilson they worked in the upward manner. Woodrow wilson was on record for womens suffrage there are things about this student and the waste of time so alice paul and a few of her friends organized a march before the inaugural this whole campaign was to work on him specifically and they began to pick him every single day there was less tolerance they were arrested or rearrested they were let go then arrested again and it went on a couple of years but the whole impetus was to work with Woodrow Wilson and meanwhile the others were playing the good girl as the factions were leading with them as they led the efforts from world war i and that seems to be what turned them around. He was a stinker. [laughter] he was not good for women or africanamericans and after the terrible publicity of these women put in jail his treatment was appalling i think he came around because he had to. I am not a fan. I thought the of way that women handled it the constancy with which they kept bombarding the white house with of picketing during wartime day got so much criticism that said you are interrupting though war. They learn that from the british women and alice paul spent time in britain and actually went to jail with him. The day had gone to observe the of british rapids they applied some principals from that. They had some marches in the day decided to organize these women marching down fifth avenue. That was a mock turning point nobody was used to women making noise or dressing up a. But just the sight of the women and that they are not silent any more would not be unseen is a very big deal. One of the things that struck me about your book the first nyse non suffrage the really talked about the intersection malady of the American History to do that in the way so this is a very important departure. I think it is. I tell people i did not set out to write a black book about suffrage or white with it and suffrage i sent out the Suffrage Movement with whenever i found and early on and i found there were black characters that none of us were aware of. But they interacted in ways we dont think about the way that is the most important those that started the Womens Movement were abolitionist connate first name basis with people like Frederick Douglass they met with them and entertain them in their homes and lucretia everybody heard about Henry Box Brown had himself ship to the box one of the first places they bring him is to lucretia house because she would get a kick out of the story. Natalie were most of these early with bin abolitionist but the most radical they started a Second Movement they would add even use a product known to be made with a slave laborer. They have stores like we have a whole foods they call it the free produce movement. They didnt have sugar during this period or molasses or anything else you can think of coming from somebody enslaved in the south. What of the women who was an organizer so that was interesting to me and at the same time their homes were known stations of the underground railroad. And this literature of the womens Suffrage Movement they with talk about todays were hiding the last week were those that went up to canada or hiding someone in her kitchen overnight and Elizabeth Cady stanton talks about somebody in her attic of she takes the family up to meet this young black woman. Is a big thing theyre not ordinary women they did not give lip service it is probably more that they were reformist to begin with and they were allowed to speak in their churches and treated as equal so they got this thing they should have their own rates and start speaking what they believe but they would kick the of black people under the bus. That happened towards the end if people knew anything about black women was for instance during the 1913 march at the end of the parade and the sorority that was just formed would march at the back. And then to pretend she would go along with this with the state delegation would pass by so then there was that and discourage black women from going in atlanta up. With that white southern participation and have not been particularly active. So they were trying to get the southern women into the fold with black women and white women and ask Frederick Douglass not to come to amanda because it would not go over well in the south. But susan b. Anthony was called out to to cast a black women decide in some of the women did also. One of the reasons people were abolitionist they became suffragist because they realized we did could not vote to free the slaves. I was interested how industry banded together against the Suffrage Movement and we still see that in Politics Today with the of liquor industry because they feared they would get the vote and voted with prohibition in what was it good for industry live better salaries for women or the labor laws. And at that point prohibition was not passed. We will go to the audience for questions so please get your questions ready also come to the microphone on my left so cspan camera capture your words and faces. So my last question was was, looking at where we are today you said you dont think we could elect a will bid for president now but what was it have to change for that to happen . But some state has to change and we have to start thinking as when bin with some other concerns of their not that important to have the right candidate at the right time but also raise one heckuva lot of money. The candidate is the big one. Hillary had the experience and the publicity and that made her a good candidate for go right now the democrats dont have anybody of mine to read a couple of great women to come forward. But i havent seen anybody come in force. But since we are journalist there is an article in the Washington Post there is a new study the media that was taken to task and that was a very good article because in many ways they suggested trump was given a free ride and they worry equivocating to basically say that the faas of hillary called the flaws in trouble the article went on to say the journalists start to look at the election but then it was the two the Suffrage Movement. And for years to say if you Say Something bad about somebody you have to Say Something bad about the other somebody. That this is the enormous thing that there was a big journalistic problem. If anybody wishes to come forward and angelou would be happy to answer your question. To grow a very strong and dominant with all of those problems that exist. But the first question if you put the list together man or woman you figure that out. One of the big problems with that very low the represented. So would you believe this is a good idea . And other places of europe. Because the history is if you dont do it are you in favor of that . It has to be 50 . Yes. But the second question but it is relegated to the ladies. And as that vindication of women . So what are the other women doing that have influence . I dont know those indications of wouldnt bet samuel adams was well read not having a formal education but allowed to read the family is library and she did. So for her time she was an extremely well educated woman in the Second Continental Congress did not draw up any laws. So it was a loose confederation at that point it also didnt have womens suffrage in mind remember they had no rights at all they could not divorce or own property and they did not exist as an entity. So those that they bought whenever they wrote into the constitution later other than new jersey did give women the right to vote. So with that legislative principle. But i never thought of that but it does seem that would pass in this country. So each of these had to adopt separately but then it did finally pass so what advocacy the suffragettes had to do for the 19th amendment . So for most of the 1800s the states could pass a referendum to have women vote in their state analog of energy was spent trying to get the battles won. Somewhat after the 15th amendment there was an argument that there were citizens but they were not denied the right to go. And trying to row get the vote that way but those efforts for this day referendum continued bid to pass that 19 amendment and tennessee was the last when they needed to qualify. On vacation in New Hampshire i heard about those local efforts to get those powerful with bin into office last couple of years there is so much work to be done of the of politics that we might subscribe to apple local and state level with very local jurisdictional because of this the beginning of your presentation so i just want to do know of this dimension it has to getting into the pipeline unless they become legislators or senators in their own state that they have to come forward themselves because people have to raise money. I have friends of the audience that works for the Democratic Party because suddenly a meeting that would attract 12 people so if this keeps up the pipeline will fill up but you cannot just tried that once. That has to be held up in a very strategic way i appreciate that strategy stick this book is a good indicator of the strategy that we need and what we need to get this passed. I remember your editing i and a professor and two particular points that you raise how forward those british women were during the time they were phot voting with that was happening one of the few women the first wife of marcus garvey. Waiting for different people to publish the story and all so i really appreciate Francis Harper because that debate is still so relevant to that decision to go with the era there is that analogy in that very public disagreement with Elizabeth Cady stanton. Sorry angeles describes that bested her book. He is talking about Francis Harper who was a free woman who was an abolitionist lecturer in did africanamerican after the civil war they had all stopped beating after words as they get together and to step to say basically that they should have the vote and white women needed to go for a. Thats not how i say it in the book it is much more elegant. [laughter] cry of a novelist as well i happen to think women are superior and are more courageous to find day, and pious so i would advocate strongly was 50 percent women and men that is why states and. It was more of a referendum tobe disenfranchised of the National Government would that be interesting for women would that be interesting to explore the great c0 run for the presidency . Yes. Of course i meant female. Maybe that was ted Pinterest People to capture their imagination and i am not sure the first woman president will come not of business. Day feet you will come out of the senate. Got even the one from massachusetts. But i would really hope one of the lessons we have is to be somebody who does understand government because anybody who doesnt know the interest of the of legislation will not get things done so i will vote for somebody to come up through local politics the parties may shatter the way things are going with some new formats but you have to pay your dues. The with the reduced to a depth of the health care bbv almost there. You said at the beginning before they started digging in to their research what really surprised to . I the guy was most surprised by the fact they were all abolitionist. I dont think anybody ever really said that. Riot are writing about a band of white women. Claman glad the story was deeper root than that and i am happy that i found out that was not the story. I just lived a the subject and was the president that is now a Historic Site if you have not been there you should go now a National Park service site where alice paul went in and 8029 where she wrote the era amendment after suffrage but they were there to take a vintage to be next door to the capital. Your panel is great and having a good turnout. There is a project at the Wilson Center that is trying by 2050 to have 50 50 women and men in government worldwide. And the comment i would make being did the Clinton Administration but my observation of Hillary Clinton was that by definition the first woman nominee for president in the Democratic Party would need to have so much credibility of the background to be a first lady because it took so much credibility by definition she wears is betting that the and bruised do you think that . Yes with Everything Else to be stronger and wiser and faster in dealing in high heels to be considered as equals. It will have to be super wanted will lead and to say i can do best. So that idea to be smarter faster ideals and of high heels ahead with womens suffrage to use the pad best approach that it is say bit of both had day have to compensate for that idea 50 50 gender quotas . And i was just wondering with womens suffrage over representation . Defeat she says why cant it be 50 50 . To have that knowledge into claim that is different and successful. There is a list of each states elected people and you will notice it has grown over the years. It is like pulling teeth to get the first female elected to the senate and those so that was a long road to hoe. So those are pretty darn terrific that would be great to aim at 50 50. And this does not happen overnight. And those that are 53 percent of white women voted for donald trump. And those that voted for donald trump and obviously sexist and racist also talking about consciousness and those that vote the way their husbands vote. I am not trying to do analysis and there are other serious reasons who thought the evangelicals were a big part of that. So reads a the consciousness of people with those basic issues not feeling that they can do things that this is what needs to be addressed. But does this suffragist assumed they would vote as a block and in the manner to clean up politics and society would be perfect but it turns out they tended to vote more like their husbands maybe they got the vote because they realized they would vote like ben. They have not been voting in their own interest. But that is what we need to gather. Absolutely this is sent day called just for women. Great way to spend august 18. I come from a long line ayatollah debbie interested in this but a question is aisle the dann organization so a particular interest of suffrage of those movements title my aid in the Voting Rights act they all involve changing rules do systems. To encourage women to vote or try harder so there is a one did is a barrier the fact that Different Countries have different rules and norms so 100 countries here we are the leading exporter of democracy. In those are the same. They have different rules with gender quotas in different voting systems to give it to those rules that have the potential to excel rate because it isnt happening the best and brightest are collected. Beg getting off negative high horse my dear friends say which is forget the identity politics we will be 0k and smooth sailing. So we all want to be represented and were all with that obligation so i feel that it is poignant this week to dave kelly we really gave those certain identities where the norm is the identity i feel like we have to embrace the fact that identitys exist and not to disparage them to have power in society. Whether a black woman or whatever it is the you have to figure out of those collective identities can do something together. You may have that same social agenda even though we dont look anything like that we have a lot of the same values because of that. But it is the problem because they have never accepted that identity and woven into the fabric of American Life and that is what needs to be attacked and trying to get to the bottom of. To say this is my old the identity is not my only concern. Want to address the sentiments of with the first woman president but the Supreme Court that has not been brought up and in Central Africa and to be part of the of legislatures and to be amended before it had its chance and those quotas of eddy will work. And i encourage the key matter of the of box and the Supreme Court with two opposing people that voted for a the california as a proposition to ban samesex marriage totally reverse that as a sports analogy and not on what is right on the civil rights issue so it the idea that hillary and bill had of a the. Presidency or splitting the term and taking the vice presidency that could be the gateway or anything that could start the dialogue that way could create a fresh idea. We have to be openended willing to do a lot of things it doesnt have to be sustainable that women say at the bottom and not be represented. If we have to try unusual ideas maybe we will. We have time for one more question. To address one other question there is an Organization Called the verge maryland and those across the country specifically engaged in trading women to the Democratic Party but my question is talking about your research and what you found out with Henry Ward Beecher beneath an be irony he was the president. There is a photograph of him in the book and he has been active in the movement for some time when he was elected as president of the american womens Suffrage Association of the Splinter Group that decided to support the 14th and 15th amendment. It then there was a scandal also connected to a lot of people in the book. Want to ignore ullage i want to ignore lead to a couple people in that house all longtime philadelphia editor for the daily news. Journalist are always correct. [laughter] and hopefully is carried right here so on behalf of vigilante carol a. Gear for your participation, and we hope you enjoy reading the book as much as i did. Ive learned a lot you just want to get yourself all fired up with an hourlong it to agree to these accomplishments. Things to my cousins and friends and former colleagues and former landlord. [laughter]. [applause] [inaudible conversations] every weekend booktv offers programming focused on nonfiction authors and books. Keep watching for more here on cspan2. And watch any of our past programs online at booktv. Org