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Published on 01/11/1999 All articles from this issue

Will we have a woman as president in 2000?

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By Clyde Noel

A Side of Clyde

When you ask young girls what they want to be when they grow up, they list numerous exalted positions, but they omit an obvious one - president of the United States. (see Sidewalk Interview)

I asked Linda Eckols, the principal of Loyola School (K-6) in Los Altos if any of her girl students wanted to be president. She said she certainly hoped so.

"In my lifetime we will see a woman as president of the United States," Eckols said. "I would also like to think we have someone in the Loyola student body who would be an appropriate candidate."

Elizabeth Dole may have taken that first step on the long journey last week when she resigned from her position with the American Red Cross and became the first woman considered to be a serious contender for the position.

"The Red Cross has been a glorious mission, but I believe there may be other duties yet to fulfill," she told her employees. Dole said she wanted to leave the nonpartisan Red Cross before actively considering a presidential campaign. She said she will soon begin talking to supporters and potential donors, and perhaps travel to key presidential states.

Few women have ever run for the exalted office and put themselves or their ideas out on the line for the voters to accept or reject. They came to national fame largely because of the men they married, rather than the skills and talents they possess.

Two women come to mind immediately as the nation's hottest political commodities, and they invite speculation that they might run for the office. They are Elizabeth Dole and, yes, Hillary Clinton.

Dole, 62, is a Harvard-trained lawyer from North Carolina. Clinton, 51, is an accomplished attorney who had a long record of advocacy on children's rights issues. She led the Clinton administration's efforts to overhaul the nation's health care system, an effort that ended in dismal failure. A tireless campaigner for Democrats, she remains a favorite, despite being a target for scandals along with husband Bill.

We consider ourselves the most sophisticated and progressive country on earth. Yet, more than 20 countries, from Britain to Israel to the Philippines, have had female presidents or prime ministers.

In Iceland, little boys think only girls can grow up to be president because Vigdis Finnbogadottir has been the woman president for 16 years. There, boys would rather be fishermen or farmers.

Laura Liswood, co-founder of the White House Project, a nonpartisan national effort founded last year to put a woman in the White house by 2008, said society changes by moving from the unthinkable to the possible to the inevitable. She said a woman president is inevitable.

"After the Clinton experience, it will probably be easier for a woman to pass the type of scrutiny a president receives," said Elayne Dauber, a former mayor of Los Altos Hills.

One thing in a woman's favor is she probably will not be prone to an ego-driven sexual affair with a man half her age. Any scandals will probably involve a lustful liaison with a sinful amount of chocolate and no woman president would lie to a grand jury about that.