European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 4, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse Tuesday february 4, 1986 the stars and stripes Page 17 Eleanor Smeal til she s out to raise heir now by Thomas Ferraro United press International just As she vowed to do last summer when she returned As president of the National organization Tor women Eleanor Smeal is outto raise she is on the streets protesting racial and sexual discrimination and she is in her office directing a mall Blitz to rebuild the ranks of America s biggest feminist group. She is in the courts and on Capitol Hill lighting for women s rights and she is criss crossing the nation likening the political new right to nazis Tor its commie Balting and Gay baiting attacks on the feminist movement. It s time to raise hell against an opposition that is frequently nothing but fascists Smeal said. I Don t like getting into name calling but it s time to show them Lor the bigots that they seated in her office near a bust of suffrage legend Susan b. Anthony Smeal rattled off a Tew recent setbacks to feminists such As the gutting of certain Federal statues and final defeat of the equal rights amendment As Well As mounting challenges to the 1973 legalization of abortion. She slapped her hands together. I be had it. I m 46 years old and i m tired of fighting for civil rights act women s rights As if this we re still the 1950s. We be made Progress and we re not going daughter of italian immigrants Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Duke University wife of a business consultant Mother of two children and a former Pittsburgh Homer maker turned Washington activist Smeal is trying to charge against the tide of rising conservatism j she is gearing up to make another run on behalf of Era planning missive marches in support of abortions rights is pushing for passage of the proposed civil rights restoration act. The act was offered to counter a 1984 supreme court decision that narrowed Federal statutes Banning government funds to schools or institutions that practice discrimination based on sex race age or physical handicaps. In a bitter election last july Smeal who served As now president from 1977 to 1982, Defeated incumbent Judy Goldsmith who she accused of inadequate leadership and vigor. It s time to get Back to the streets Smeal told a now convention that picked her As its $55,000-a-year president. I intend to raise a Little hell with you Smeal also wants to Stem some bleeding in the women a rights organization. During the past Lew years now s membership dropped from a record High of 220,000 to about 150,000. Ii also accumulated debts totalling $2 million. Since taking of lice sept. 1, Smeal has refinanced the debt Cut expenses streamlined operations. She also reduced now s full time staff in Washington from 40 to 26, although she said More May be hired soon. In the meantime she said an increased number of volunteers is helping with our rising level of in the first first three months of her new administration Smeal said now sent out a million pieces of mall directed at recruiting members. The level nearly equated the mail for the previous eight months. We be been told by a lot of our chapters and affiliates that they Are already experiencing increases she said. I fully intend to return to our 220,000 membership figure. I d like to beat however now says it has no hard figures on current membership. Ann Lewis a longtime now member and National director of americans for democratic action formally backed Goldsmith in last summer s election but said up photo we Mote Progress and in n net going i m proud to follow Shell a Superb technician and one of the very Tew charismatic leaders of either gender i know in the United states today Lewis said. I have great respect for As for Smeal lashing out at the new right calling them fascists Lewis said i can t think of another woman Leader who would do it. It s not their she said would i do it no. It s not my style. Am i glad Ellie is there Phyllis sch ally Leader of the pro family movement a foe of abortion and a target of smears attacks attributes the Tough words to the 1984 defeats of Walter Mondale Geraldine Ferraro and several other now backed challengers. I think they lost so bad in the election that they Are now resorting to name calling Schlafly said. I Haven t labelled them anything but what they Are feminists and what they stand for abortion. Era Gay perfect Man bites dog Story by Robin Toner new York times Grant p. Thompson became an when americans had perhaps grown jaded by first woman events from the first woman to become an astronaut to the first woman to become the vice presidential nominee of a major political party _ Thompson created a new 0enre. It was announced that the 45-year-old washingtonian had become the to Rel Man to be named executive director of the venerable league of women voters a non partisan voter education group probably Best known for sponsoring presidential is the perfect Man bites dog Story sad Thompson who found himself answering questions this week torn curious radio stations in san Antonio Phoenix and St. Louis the radio commentator Paul Harvey took note of his appointment As did a Washington Post columnist who mentioned that Thompson won t be asked to Type. Thompson a Man with some humor responded Type 105 words per minute and i take shorthand and i make great Thompson now a senior associate at the conservation foundation a research group As chosen for the top staff Job at the league of women voters after a search that attracted 119 applications. Other men have applied for the Job before said _ Dorothy s. Ridings president of the Orf be we happened to have an extraordinarily qualified male applicant this time which is what made the difference she was one of two final candidates introduced to the league s Board of directors last month the other was a woman and he met with unanimous approval Ridings said. We were looking for an extremely Good manager and we Felt his skills were exactly what we needed she said. He has a sensitivity and understanding of our issues As Well As a Good historical background with the indeed Thompson said he often described himself As a league orphan while growing up in South Pasadena Calif. His Mother now deceased was on the state Board of the league of women voters in California. She would have just loved he said of his appointment. Thompson also named his daughter Carrie after Carrie Lane Chapman Catt a Leader in the fight for women s suffrage and a founder of the league of women voters. A already has some ideas for his new Job saying he Hopes to broaden the league s direct mall fund raising efforts and provide More technical assistance to stale and local chapters. He said he viewed it As a particularly exciting time to of the organization As it tries to retain its solid Virtues of study and objectivity and non partisanship while seeking to allow greater participation by working people. Because most people now have such Busy schedules for example the league is experimenting with computer networks for communication among members he said. And some chapters he added already have Day and evening divisions. Thompson said he was drawn to the Job As soon As he heard it was open but wondered if the league would hire a Man he himself had no qualms about overseeing the staff of 62 women and nine men and working for a predominately female organization. His upbringing he said helped save me from the Poison of his last two supervisors in tact have been women he said. As for the league it has accepted men As members since 1974 and has Long had men on its staff Ridings said. Founded 65 years ago As an outgrowth of the women s suffrage movement the league has 120,000 members of whom about 3 percent to 5 percent Are men said Linda l. Posell director of communications. It also has 130,000 supporters who help finance league activities but Are not full time volunteers she said. Reaction to Thompson s appointment within the league has been positive Ridings said. We All will rejoice in the Day when this does t become a question she added with a Trace of weariness. Thompson who has a Law degree from Yale and also studied at Oxford has worked at the conservation foundation for seven years heading the group s Energy research program. He previously worked at the environmental Law Institute also on Energy issues. His wife Sharon is an Engineer who works for a Gaithersburg md., consulting concern. They have two children. I think it s the Best of in he said. It s a place that has and is known to have clout and integrity. And in this Semi evil world we live in those Are pretty big Thompson a bearded affable Man said one of the nicest things about his appointment has been the reaction of his friends particularly the women who have been enormously i m sure every Man likes to think of himself As a non sexist a added. But this has been a Chance for people who have known and worked with me to give me some feedback and say you re the right person or this Job "
