ABSTRACT
In 1974, California representative Yvonne Braithwaite created a stir when she became the first member of Congress to give birth. The prospective Grand Old Party (GOP) field tilted right and included Bob Dornan, the caustic congress man from California who moonlighted as Rush Limbaugh's substitute host, and Morrie Taylor, a tire salesman from Midwest who had never held public office. Bono has company on Capitol Hill talking child-care arrangements with other women. More than dozen women members of House have school age or younger children in contrast with earlier era when mothers with young children rarely sought elective office. Martin was one of several promising women who lost bids for Senate that year. The reasons for each candidate's defeat can be enumerated and they all deserved to lose but collectively women have had a tougher time than men becoming senators and governors, the traditional pipelines to presidency. For women, key to winning is demonstrating toughness while not surrendering their inborn empathy.
