Many women today take for granted the ability to apply for a credit card or mortgage in their own name. Yet, as recently as 50 years ago, this was not the case. It wasn’t until the passage of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act in the 1970s that women were legally allowed to access credit without a husband or father’s signature. Behind this groundbreaking legislation was Margaret Heckler, a trailblazer whose tireless work reshaped the landscape for women’s rights and equality.

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On the Your Radical Truth podcast, host Margaret Mary O’Connor sat down with Kimberly Heckler, author of the upcoming book A Woman of Firsts: Margaret Heckler, Political Trailblazer. The conversation revealed Margaret Heckler’s extraordinary contributions to politics, health, and veterans’ affairs, painting a vivid picture of a woman who fought relentlessly for justice and equality.

From Lawyer to Political Pioneer

Margaret Heckler’s journey to political prominence was nothing short of groundbreaking. As one of the first women to graduate from Boston College Law School, she was undeterred by rejection from male-dominated institutions like Harvard Law. Her legal career laid the foundation for her entry into politics, where she defied odds to become a congresswoman, Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), and U.S. ambassador to Ireland.

Her role in securing women’s financial independence through the Equal Credit Opportunity Act is just one example of how Heckler used her position to challenge societal norms. At the time, Heckler was one of only 11 women in Congress, and she worked tirelessly to bring her male colleagues—and even skeptical female peers—on board with her vision for gender equality.

The Inspiration Behind A Woman of Firsts

Kimberly Heckler’s personal connection to Margaret Heckler inspired her to write A Woman of Firsts. Married to Margaret’s son, John, Kimberly first encountered Margaret during her tenure as ambassador to Ireland. Over years of Sunday dinners and heartfelt conversations, Kimberly gained insight into the life of a woman whose accomplishments had shaped the course of history.

“I realized these stories must be shared with the world, not just kept within the confines of the Heckler family,” Kimberly explained. After seven years of research and writing, including combing through hundreds of boxes of Margaret’s personal and professional records, Kimberly completed the biography to honor Margaret’s legacy.

Breaking Barriers in American Politics

Margaret Heckler’s career spanned five presidencies, and she played a pivotal role in shaping legislation and public policy. Some of her most notable achievements include:

• Women’s Rights: Passing the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, which allowed women to access credit independently.
• Veterans’ Advocacy: Championing benefits for Vietnam veterans and securing long-overdue recognition for the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) of World War II.
• Public Health: Leading HHS during the AIDS epidemic, launching the first Hospice program under Medicare, and addressing health disparities through minority health initiatives.

Overcoming Resistance

As a woman in politics during the 1960s and 1970s, Heckler faced significant resistance. When she first ran for Congress, her opponent, a 42-year incumbent, underestimated her. With little financial backing from her party, she campaigned tirelessly, personally connecting with voters at grocery stores, train stations, and town halls. Her grassroots efforts paid off, and she unseated one of the most established politicians in Massachusetts.

Even in Congress, Heckler encountered skepticism from her male colleagues, many of whom resented her victory over their long-time ally. Undeterred, she used her legal expertise, relentless work ethic, and ability to collaborate across party lines to advance critical legislation.

Ambassador to Ireland: Revitalizing a Nation

As U.S. ambassador to Ireland, Heckler’s initiatives had a lasting impact on the country’s economy. Recognizing the brain drain caused by limited opportunities for young Irish professionals, she used her political and business connections to attract American companies like Intel and Microsoft to invest in Ireland. Today, more than 350 American businesses operate in Ireland, a testament to her efforts to rebuild the nation’s economy.

A Compassionate Advocate

Margaret Heckler’s empathy and determination were shaped by her own struggles. Born during the Great Depression to Irish immigrant parents, she was given up at birth and raised outside her biological family. This early hardship instilled in her a deep sense of compassion, fueling her lifelong fight for justice and equality.

“She understood deep pain,” Kimberly explained. “Out of that grew an extraordinary compassion for others, regardless of race, gender, or background.”

A Lasting Legacy

Margaret Heckler’s story is one of perseverance, vision, and unwavering commitment to public service. Her legacy, as captured in A Woman of Firsts, serves as a reminder of the progress achieved through courage and determination.

As Kimberly Heckler noted on the podcast, Margaret’s work laid the foundation for many of the rights and opportunities women enjoy today. Her story is a call to action for current and future generations to continue breaking barriers and creating a more equitable world.

About Kimberly Heckler

Kimberly Heckler is a native Washingtonian whose passion for reading and writing has taken her on a journey of discovery. Her debut book, A Woman of Firsts: Margaret Heckler, Political Trailblazer, will be published by Lyons Press on February 4, 2025. A Woman of Firsts is more than a biography of Margaret Heckler, it is a rare view into the behind the scenes world of American politics where Heckler rubbed shoulders with leaders from L.B.J. to Ronald Reagan. The book also details the 1960s-1980s experiences of a woman who successfully broke the glass ceiling in the sphere of politics that had always been dominated by men.

Learn more about Kimberly Heckler at: https://www.kimberlyheckler.com/ 

About the Book

As we mark the 50th anniversary of women gaining the right to credit, credit cards, and home mortgages in their own names, it’s important to reflect on the monumental changes brought about by leaders like Margaret Heckler. In the early 1970s, many men in Congress argued against granting women financial independence, claiming that women “did not pay their bills.” At the time, most women were stay-at-home mothers, with a few working as nurses, teachers, or secretaries. Yet Margaret Heckler broke through the stereotypes of the 1960s, refusing to let anyone stand in her way.

Born during the Great Depression and given away at birth, Margaret forged her own path in life, guided by a deep sense of destiny. “I’ve always been in touch with my destiny,” she often proclaimed, believing strongly in God’s plan. “I feel like a pawn on the chessboard of life and a great believer in the Lord’s plan for each of us. When it’s your turn to move, you move. You can’t fight these forces.”

A Trailblazer in Congress

Margaret Heckler was the first woman elected to Congress in her own name, not stepping into the role of a deceased husband—a common route for women in politics at the time. She entered Congress in 1967 as the only newly elected congresswoman among 70 men, a freshman class that also included George H.W. Bush.

During her 16 years in Congress, she championed the Equal Rights Amendment, Title IX, and Equal Credit legislation. Recognizing the lack of collaboration among the 10 other women in Congress, she founded the Congresswomen’s Caucus to unite them in advancing women’s rights. As she famously said, “A country that can put a man on the moon can put women in the Constitution.”

Margaret also dedicated herself to veterans’ issues, serving on the Veterans Affairs Committee for 16 years, as well as the Banking and Currency Committee, the Agricultural Committee, and the Joint Economic Committee.

Secretary of Health and Human Services

In 1983, President Ronald Reagan appointed Margaret Heckler as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), where she oversaw the third-largest budget in the world (after the U.S. federal budget and the Soviet Union’s budget). Her tenure coincided with the emergence of the AIDS pandemic, a fatal disease with no cure at the time. She worked to protect the nation’s blood supply and advocated for the humane treatment of AIDS patients.

Margaret also established the Office of Minority Health after discovering that Black Americans were dying up to eight years earlier than White Americans. She convened a National Institutes of Health (NIH) task force to address these disparities, leading to significant improvements in minority health outcomes.

Hospice care was another of her groundbreaking initiatives. At the time, hospice was unavailable under Medicare, leaving many terminally ill patients to die alone at home. Margaret built the first Medicare Hospice program in the U.S., even enlisting nuns from Arlington, VA, to advocate for lawmakers’ support. Today, hospice care is a Medicare benefit, ensuring pain management and compassionate care for all terminally ill Americans.

Ambassador to Ireland

In 1985, Margaret Heckler became the first woman ambassador to Ireland. She used her position to help revitalize the Irish economy, leveraging her connections to attract major American companies like Boeing, Intel, Microsoft, and Anheuser-Busch. Her diplomatic efforts were marked by lavish events at her residence, designed to build relationships and foster economic opportunities for the Irish people.

A Legacy of Compassion

Margaret Heckler’s childhood experience of abandonment instilled in her a deep empathy for others and a lifelong commitment to justice and equality. Her legacy, as detailed in this book, is a testament to her unwavering dedication to improving lives, breaking barriers, and making history.

The official release date of the book is February 4, 2025 and is available for pre-publication purchase on Amazon. https://amzn.to/4frvt7R 

About Margaret Mary O’Connor 

Margaret Mary O’Connor, as a member of the Catholic Laity, thought she knew everything about the Catholic Church, at least until she came upon a centuries-old Scandal of lies and cover-up by the Hierarchy of that Church. Frankly, she was fed up being lied to by her own Church, about its own past Church’s History on Women priests. With that realization, she truly felt in that moment, the monumental feeling of betrayal by her own Church.

Follow Margaret, as she travels down this Highway of Radical Truth where lies and outright coverup will be disclosed. Millions of Catholics are unaware of that past presence of Women Bishop’s, Women Deacons, as well as Women Priests, all there hiding in plain sight, in Early Church History.

As the complicity of this centuries-old Scandal continues, Margaret wants her fellow Catholics to learn the actual truth of this matter for themselves. She strongly believes, at minimal, any Catholic deserves the actual truth of this matter. To say that change is needed is hardly an understatement. She doesn’t let the Church’s betrayal stop her from uncovering some very fascinating Church Skeleton’s – one which very well might help solve our current priest shortage issue today.

Margaret Mary O’Connor has been called, “The Modern Day David” on many occasions. On a mission to reveal carefully guarded secrets of the Catholic Church, she unveils the truth through her well-researched writings.

Author of Scandal in the Shadows and Journey of a Celiac’s Soul, Margaret Mary is a force to be reckoned with.