Margaret Heckler facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Margaret Heckler
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| United States Ambassador to Ireland | |
| In office January 30, 1986 – August 20, 1989 |
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| President | Ronald Reagan George H. W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Robert F. Kane |
| Succeeded by | Richard A. Moore |
| 15th United States Secretary of Health and Human Services | |
| In office March 10, 1983 – December 13, 1985 |
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| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Richard Schweiker |
| Succeeded by | Otis Bowen |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 10th district |
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| In office January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1983 |
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| Preceded by | Joseph Martin |
| Succeeded by | Gerry Studds |
| Member of the Massachusetts Governor's Council from the 2nd district |
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| In office January 3, 1963 – January 3, 1967 |
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| Governor | Endicott Peabody John Volpe |
| Preceded by | Alvin C. Tamkin |
| Succeeded by | John Craven |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Margaret Mary O'Shaughnessy
June 21, 1931 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | August 6, 2018 (aged 87) Arlington, Virginia, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | John M. Heckler |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Albertus Magnus College (BA) Boston College (LLB) |
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Margaret Mary Heckler (born O'Shaughnessy; June 21, 1931 – August 6, 2018) was an important American politician and diplomat. She served in the United States House of Representatives for Massachusetts from 1967 to 1983. A member of the Republican Party, she also became the 15th United States Secretary of Health and Human Services from 1983 to 1985. Later, she was the United States ambassador to Ireland from 1986 to 1989.
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Early Life and Education
Margaret Mary O'Shaughnessy was born in Flushing, New York. She studied at Albertus Magnus College, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1953. She also studied abroad in the Netherlands. Later, she graduated from Boston College Law School in 1956 with a law degree. She was the only woman in her law school class. After finishing her studies, she became a lawyer in Massachusetts.
From 1963 to 1967, Margaret Heckler made history. She was the first woman to serve on the Governor's Council for Massachusetts. This council helps the governor make decisions. She was also a delegate at the Republican National Convention in 1964 and 1968. This meant she helped choose the Republican candidate for president.
Serving in Congress
Margaret Heckler was elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1966. She represented Massachusetts from 1967 to 1983. In Congress, she was known as a "Rockefeller Republican." This meant she supported moderate policies, which were popular in her home state. She voted for the Civil Rights Act of 1968. This law helped end discrimination.
In 1977, she helped start the Congresswoman's Caucus. This was a group of 14 women from both political parties. They worked together on issues important to women. These issues included equal rights in Social Security and tax laws. Heckler also strongly supported the Equal Rights Amendment. This amendment aimed to guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex.
Margaret Heckler was very good at helping the people in her district. She built a strong network to assist them. This helped her win re-election many times, even though Massachusetts was mostly a Democratic state. In Washington, D.C., she was also known for her love of fashion.
In the House, she served on important committees. She was on the Banking and Currency Committee. She also became a top member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee.
Electoral Challenges
Margaret Heckler won her first election in 1966. She defeated a very experienced politician, Joseph W. Martin, Jr. He had been in Congress for 42 years and was a former Speaker of the House. Heckler won by a small margin. However, she was easily re-elected in later years.
After the 1980 census, Massachusetts lost one of its congressional seats. This meant some districts had to be combined. Heckler's district was merged with that of a new Democratic representative, Barney Frank. In 1982, Heckler and Frank ran against each other. Even though Heckler was a frontrunner, she lost the election. After her defeat, no woman from Massachusetts was elected to Congress until 2007.
Secretary of Health and Human Services
After leaving Congress, President Ronald Reagan nominated Margaret Heckler for a new role. In 1983, she became the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services. The Senate confirmed her appointment with a large majority.
As Secretary, Heckler started an important project. She created a task force to study health differences among Americans. This led to "The Secretary's Report on Black and Minority Health." This report, also known as the Heckler Report, was a landmark document. It showed that minority groups faced more illness and death. This report became a key foundation for studying health equality.
Heckler supported the Reagan administration's policies. She oversaw budget cuts in her department. She also spoke often about public health issues. This included the growing AIDS crisis. She worked to assure the public that the nation's blood supply was safe.
On January 21, 1985, Margaret Heckler became the first woman to be named designated survivor. This means she was chosen to take over as president if something happened to the president and vice president during the inauguration.
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In late 1985, some people in the White House thought Heckler was not managing her department well. However, President Reagan said he had no plans to fire her. Instead, he appointed her as the Ambassador to Ireland. This was seen as a "promotion," even though it came with a pay cut. She was confirmed as ambassador in December 1985.
Ambassador to Ireland
As the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland, Margaret Heckler played a very important role. She helped secure a US$120 million grant for the International Fund for Ireland. This organization helps with economic development. She often appeared on Irish television. She was seen as a good spokesperson for U.S. policies. In February 1989, Heckler announced she would resign to pursue other career paths. Her term as ambassador ended in August 1989.
On May 31, 1987, Heckler became the first woman to give the commencement address at the University of Scranton. Her official papers are kept at the Burns Library at Boston College.
Death
Margaret Heckler passed away on August 6, 2018, in Arlington, Virginia. She was 87 years old.
See also
- List of female United States Cabinet members
- Women in the United States House of Representatives
In Spanish: Margaret Heckler para niños
