Edith Green

Edith Green

Edith Louise Starrett Green (born January 17, 1910 in Trent , South Dakota , † April 21, 1987 in Portland , Oregon ) was an American politician . Between 1955 and 1974 she represented the third constituency of the state of Oregon in the US House of Representatives .

Early years and advancement

In 1916, Edith Louise Starrett, her maiden name, moved to Oregon with her parents. She attended the public schools in Salem . She then studied at Willamette University between 1927 and 1929 . Later she was also at the University of Oregon . In the meantime she worked as a teacher in Salem. Since 1930 she was married to Arthur N. Green. Between 1943 and 1947 she was a radio commentator. However, her real interest was in education policy, and she worked to improve it.

Political career

Green was a member of the Democratic Party . In 1952 she ran unsuccessfully for the office of executive officer of Oregon ( Secretary of State ). Between 1956 and 1968 she was a delegate to all Democratic National Conventions . In 1960 and 1968 she headed the respective delegation from Oregon at these party conventions.

In 1954 she was elected to the US House of Representatives in the third district of Oregon against the future Governor Tom McCall , where she replaced Homer D. Angell on January 3, 1955 . After being confirmed in office in the following years, Green was able to complete a total of ten terms in Congress . She resigned from this post on December 31, 1974, four days before the actual expiry of her last term of office, after she had previously waived another candidacy.

During her time in Congress, she continued to advocate education. But she was also involved in social and health issues as well as issues of equality between the sexes. Edith Green was considered one of the most powerful women to have served in Congress by then. In her capacity as a Congresswoman, she represented the United States at many international conferences and conventions. For example, she was at an inter-parliamentary conference in Switzerland in 1958 . A year later she took part in a NATO conference in London . In 1964 and 1966 she was an American delegate to the UNESCO General Assemblies. Green was also a member of a commission set up by the president to deal with gender issues.

She also campaigned and supported Democratic candidates John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy in the 1960 and 1968 Oregon presidential primaries, respectively.

Another résumé

After her tenure in Congress, Edith Green taught as a professor of politics and government at Warner Pacific College . In 1979 she was appointed to the Oregon College of Education Committee. She died on April 21, 1987.

Web links

• Edith Green in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)

• Edith Green in the database of Find a Grave (English)