OVERVIEW
This biography shares the extraordinary and groundbreaking story of Margaret (AKA Peggy, Peg) O'Shaughnessy Heckler. I am sorry I knew absolutely nothing about her at all before reading this biography. She is the type of leader that we really need today - who leads by example, crosses party lines, and uses diplomacy and reasoning to get things done! My kind of "girls girl"!
Another "girls girl" I want to thank is my dear friend, Valerie. Thank you so much for sharing Margaret by sending me an author-signed copy. I love you, sweet friend!
OVERALL REVIEW: 4.0 stars
Writing: 3.5 stars
This book was written by Margaret's daughter-in-law, Kimberly, who also had help from professional writers. The writing is strong and well-done with a detailed footnote section and an index. This was a ten-year labor of love.
I enjoyed the book, but it was more like a history book than a biography. It was dry, at times, and lacked the anecdotes and stories that make a biography sing. It needed more like the story about eating pond fish in China, oh, MY!
This is a dense and political read, but it is so well-researched. Margaret was one hell of a leader! I really liked this book, but I didn't love it. I wanted so much more!
Character development: 5.0 stars
There are no characters per se as it is a biography told chronologically (my favorite). But, the main focus is Margaret who had a very unusual childhood. Her parents were Irish immigrants and her father did not want children. Her mother, unexpectedly, became pregnant. So her parents paid someone to care for and raise Margaret. But, inexplicably they visited her once a month. At one point, her parents traveled to Ireland to leave her with relatives when Margaret was about six. Thankfully, providence intervened and they all returned to the United States.
Margaret quickly discovered that education was the key to her future. She did so well in school that she received many scholarships to private schools including law school. Margaret was one of the first women to graduate from Boston College Law School.
When she had difficulty finding a job as an attorney. So she worked for law school friends and was on the Massachusetts Governor's Council which was the start of her political career.
Margaret was a Republican congresswoman from a blue district in the blue state of Massachusetts. She was elected on her own merit and not appointed after the death of her husband. Margaret was instrumental in the passing of the ECOA (Equal Credit Opportunity Act) and the ERA (Equal Rights Amendment) in Congress.
Also, she was the Secretary of HHS (Health and Human Services) during Ronald Reagan's second term. She did much to fight the AIDS epidemic, minority medical care inequalities, and Medicare-covered hospice.
Finally, she was the first female American Ambassador to Ireland.
Storyline: 4.0 stars
The storyline starts when her parents emigrate to the United States and ends with Margaret's death. The time after Margaret was Ambassador to Ireland and returned to the United States until her death was very rushed and not covered fully.
Additionally, Margaret basically single-parented her children as her husband stayed behind in Wellesley, Massachusetts and she and the children resided in McClean, Virginia. I know she had help, but HOW did she do it all???
Also, since Margaret was not a trained manager or diplomat, how did she handle running HHS or being Ambassador to Ireland? What was her secret sauce?
The locations were Massachusetts, Virginia, Washington D.C., and Ireland.
Memorable/Informative: 4.0 stars
Margaret did so much during the beginning of the AIDS epidemic when the Reagan Administration was silent and did nothing. So many lives were saved by her policies and budget requests while she was at HHS. Unfortunately, many including myself did not know what she did. Thank you, Margaret, for your kind and caring heart!
Book cover: 3.5 stars
Meh! There had to be a better picture of Margaret with President Reagan!
Book title: 4.0 stars
Somewhat accurate.
STRONG recommend
Physical book gift
Isola by Allegra Goodman
368 pages
Lyons Press
Release date: 2/18/2025
INFORMATIONAL LINKS
Kimberly Heckler
My Goodreads review
My StoryGraph review
Lyons Press
TRIGGER WARNING: Abandonment, sexism, inappropriate physical contact and behavior, pregnancy, divorce, alcoholism, car accident
Happy reading,
Dorothea 💜
