Evening star., 1953-05-17
Mrs. Sullivan Likes Politics
Continued From Page DID

seat, which a Republican had
won in the special election.
Party leaders still weren't en-
thusiastic about her candidacy
At ward meetings she usually
was halfheartedly introduced as
Mrs. Leonor Sullivan" or Mrs.
Lee Sullivan"
II knew that name didn't
mean anything to most of those
people," she says. They knew
my husband, and they loved him.
So I would stand up at those
meetings and tell them that !
was John Sullivan's widow and
I wanted to 60 to Congress to
continue the good work he had
done on their behalf"
She got a special ruling from
the Missouri attorney general
that she could be listed on the
ballot as Mrs. John B. Sullivan.
She won the primary against
seven other candidates Gall
mem, and in November defeated
the Republican incumbent,
Claude I. Bakewell, by $4,000
votes.
I'm under no illusions about
why I won," she says, frankly
II won on the strength of Johns
name and reputation. In time
I hope to build a reputation of
my own. Then I can run as
Leonor Sullivan"
A Good Stort
In four and a half months the
Congresswoman has made a
good start at building a reputa-
ton for herself. She has been
unusually active for a first term
er. male or female.
She has made four speeches,
introduced two public and sew
eral private bills, and is CO.
sponsor with % other Represent
ativeS Of a bipartisan resolu-
ton to set up a joint House.
Senate committee to protect the
interests of consumers.
Her speeches were in support
OF her bill to strengthen the Fed
eral Food and Drug Act, in sup
port Of continued rent controls
in opposition to the tidelands
bill. and in supprt Of continued
Federal support of public hous-
ing.
Each address was short, punchy
and to the point. She impressed
her listeners as having a good
grasp Of the issues she discussed
II don't intend to get up and
talk all the time." she says. But
certainly will when something
comes up that !. think is impor-
tant and that I can contribute
to-"
SpecioI Function
The Congresswoman thinks
women in Congress can perform
a very special function in areas
close to every woman-educa-
ton, children and welfare"
Her first Washington speech,
delivered at a Women's National
Press Club dinner the day the
new Congress convened, was a
strong plea that Congresswomen
in both parties work closely to-
gether in the welfare fields
which she thinks are women s
special province.
She was delighted to get a
phone call the next day from
Representative Edith Nourse
Rogers, Massachusetts, Repub-
lican and the dean of the con-
gressional feminine contingent
congratulating her on the speech
and saying she was going tc
arrange a series Of lunches fol
women on both sides of the aisle
1T didn't work out too well,
Mrs. Sullivan reports. "Unfor-
tunately, we found. there was not
too much meeting of minds or
many issues"
Sports Enthusiast
The new Congresswoman was
one Of nine children Of a St
Louis merchant tailor. She was
a director Of a st. Louis comp
tometer school when she mar
ried Mr.. Sullivan in 1941.
Before she ran for Congress
she used to participate actively
in several sports-riding, bowl
ing, ice skating, fishing and
golfing. II golf in the low 80s
for nine holes" she says with
a grin. Since last spring she
hasn't had time for any extra
curricular activities, even her
Indoor sport" making hooked
rugs.
She and her 85-year-old
mother, Mrs. Nora Kretzer, live
in a two-bedroom apartment in
Southeast Washington, and "just
taking care of mother (who has