Millicent Fenwick facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Millicent Fenwick
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| United States Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture | |
| In office June 13, 1983 – March 20, 1987 |
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| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Fred Eckert |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 5th district |
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| In office January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1983 |
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| Preceded by | Peter Frelinghuysen |
| Succeeded by | Jim Courter (redistricting) |
| Member of the New Jersey General Assembly from the 8th district |
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| In office January 13, 1970 – December 14, 1972 |
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| Preceded by | Webster B. Todd Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Victor A. Rizzolo |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Millicent Vernon Hammond
February 25, 1910 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | September 16, 1992 (aged 82) Bernardsville, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Hugh McLeod Fenwick
(m. 1932; div. 1945) |
| Children | 2 |
| Parents | Ogden H. Hammond Mary Picton Stevens |
| Education | Columbia University New School |
Millicent Fenwick (born February 25, 1910 – died September 16, 1992) was an amazing American woman. She was a fashion editor, a politician, and a diplomat. She served four terms in the United States House of Representatives for New Jersey as a Republican. Millicent Fenwick started her political career later in life. She was known for her energy and strong beliefs. People saw her as a moderate and progressive member of her party. She spoke out for civil rights and the women's movement.
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Early Life and Family
Millicent Vernon Hammond was born in New York City. She was the middle child of three. Her father, Ogden H. Hammond, became the U.S. Ambassador to Spain. Her mother was Mary Picton Stevens. Both her parents came from families with a lot of history. Her father went to Yale University and later worked in finance.
When Millicent was five years old, a sad event happened. Her mother died in 1915 when the British ocean liner RMS Lusitania sank. Her father survived the sinking. After this tragedy, her father remarried two years later. Millicent and her stepmother did not have a close relationship. Millicent became very close with her siblings, especially her sister Mary.
Millicent grew up in Bernardsville. She went to private schools like the Nightingale-Bamford School and Foxcroft School. She also attended college at Barnard College and the New School for Social Research.
Marriage and Early Career
In 1931, Millicent met Hugh McLeod Fenwick. They got married on June 11, 1932. They had two children: Mary Stevens Fenwick and Hugo Hammond Fenwick. Being a mother was challenging for Millicent. She hired a nanny to help raise her daughter.
Their marriage faced difficulties, and Hugh and Millicent divorced in 1945. Millicent did not remarry. She focused on her work and raising her children.
Before her divorce, Millicent briefly worked as a model for Harper's Bazaar. After her divorce, she needed a job to support her family. She was hired by Vogue magazine as a "caption editor." She worked at Vogue for over ten years. She even wrote Vogue's Book of Etiquette, which sold millions of copies. By 1952, Millicent retired from work. Her children were older, and she had also inherited money.
Political Journey
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Starting in Local and State Government
In the 1950s, Millicent Fenwick became interested in politics. She joined the Civil Rights Movement. People admired her intelligence and quick wit. She quickly moved up in the Republican Party.
She was elected to the Bernardsville Borough Council in 1957. She served there until 1964. Around the same time, she joined the New Jersey Committee of the United States Commission on Civil Rights. She served on this committee from 1958 to 1974. In 1969, she was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly. She served there until 1972. Then, she became the director of the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs.
Serving in the U.S. Congress
In 1974, at age 64, Millicent Fenwick was elected to the United States House of Representatives. She served four terms in Congress. She quickly became popular with the media. She was known for fighting against corruption. Television newscaster Walter Cronkite even called her "the conscience of Congress." She was one of the most liberal Republicans in the House.
In 1975, the Helsinki Accords were signed. These agreements aimed to reduce tension between different countries. One week after the signing, Fenwick traveled to Moscow. She met with people who wanted to contact American lawmakers. She also met with a famous activist, Yuri Orlov. This trip convinced her that political action could improve human rights in the Soviet Union. When she returned to the U.S., Fenwick helped create the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE). This group made sure the Helsinki Accords were followed.
Millicent Fenwick worked very hard in Washington. She often stayed late in her office. She was always ready to answer questions from reporters. She was known for her sharp and witty responses. Once, a male congressman made a comment about women. He said he thought of women as "kissable, cuddly, and smelling good." Fenwick famously replied, "That's what I've always thought about men, and I hope for your sake that you haven't been disappointed as many times as I've been."
Running for U.S. Senator
In 1982, Millicent Fenwick ran for a United States Senate seat. She won the Republican primary election. However, she lost the main election to Frank Lautenberg. It was a very close race. Millicent Fenwick later said she never expected to lose.
Becoming an Ambassador
After leaving Congress in 1982, President Ronald Reagan appointed Millicent Fenwick as an ambassador. She became the United States Ambassador to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Rome, Italy. She held this important job from June 1983 to March 1987. She retired from public life at the age of 77.
Later Life and Legacy
Millicent Fenwick passed away from heart failure in her hometown of Bernardsville on September 16, 1992. She was 82 years old. She was very talented and could speak Italian, French, and Spanish fluently.
A sculpture called the Millicent Fenwick Monument was created in her honor. It is located near the Bernardsville train station.
Many people believe that Millicent Fenwick was the inspiration for the character Lacey Davenport in the comic strip Doonesbury. This character was also a congresswoman.
Millicent Fenwick was known for her honesty and strong moral values. Her commitment to her beliefs, like opposing pay raises for politicians, earned her the nickname "the conscience of Congress."
New Jersey Governor Thomas Kean once said that Millicent Fenwick loved serving in office. He noted that she always marveled at being chosen to represent the people. She was a strong individual who hated dishonesty. She stuck to her ideals and did not care much about popularity polls. Her life serves as a great example for anyone interested in public service.
Images for kids
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Millicent Fenwick with President Gerald Ford and Clifford P. Case in 1976
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Millicent Fenwick, known for her elegant style
See also
- Women in the United States House of Representatives
