Trailblazing Jewish Democrat #7: Bella Abzug

Jason Attermann — May 10, 2011 – 4:09 pm | Jewish American Heritage Month 2011 Comments (0) Add a comment

Bella Abzug was the first woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives on a platform focused squarely on women’s rights and promoting peace from 1971 to 1977. She was a champion of liberal causes and made large strides for the feminist movement.

Abzug was born on July 24, 1920 in the Bronx, NY. She grew up surrounded by strong Jewish and Zionist values. Abzug studied political science at Hunter College of the City University of New York and received her law degree from Columbia Law School. Later, she completed post-graduate work at the Jewish Theological Seminary. Following graduation, she practiced labor law at the firm of Pressman, Witt & Cammer, representing unions and fighting for civil rights.

In 1971, Abzug made a successful run for the House of Representatives from New York’s 19^th district. She was the first woman elected on a platform founded on women’s rights and promoting peace. From 1973 until 1977, Abzug represented New York’s 20^th district to the House. While in Congress, she became an outspoken advocate for liberal causes. She opposed American involvement in the Vietnam War and supported the Equal Rights Amendment. She also consistently supported Israel and Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts. Abzug chaired the House Subcommittee on Government Information and Individual Rights. In this role, she coauthored many bills, including the Freedom of Information Act, the Government in Sunshine Act, and the Right to Privacy Act. She helped organize the National Women’s Political Caucus and was the chief strategist for the Democratic Women’s Committee. In addition to her women’s rights causes, she was an early supporter of gay rights. Abzug, along with her colleague Rep. Ed Koch (future Mayor of New York City), introduced the first federal gay rights bill as the Equality Act of 1974. She also sought to amend the Civil Rights Act to include gay and lesbian rights in 1975.

In 1976, Abzug lost the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat. She also failed in her bid for Mayor of New York City in 1977 and future attempts to return to the House. She began to focus her efforts on global issues. President Carter appointed her to Chair the National Commission on the Observance of International Women’s Year. She fought against UN General Assembly Resolution 3379, or the Zionism is Racism resolution, which was eventually repealed in 1985. Continuing her feminist advocacy efforts, Abzug co-founded and co-chaired the Women’s Environment and Development Organization in 1990, and participated in the United Nation’s Beijing conference on women in 1995.

Abzug married Albert Abzug in June 1944, and they had two children. She passed away on March 31, 1998. Her daughter Liz Abzug founded the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute (BALI), established to train young women to become leaders in their fields.

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