By Donald H. Harrison
SAN DIEGO – One of the joys of convention watching on television is seeing the traditional roll call when, before announcing their votes, delegates from the U.S. States and Territories get to do a little bragging about where they are from.
This year at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, where Hillary Clinton on Tuesday, July 26, became the first woman nominated by a major party to become President of the United States, many of the states invoked their links to the current and past U.S. Presidents, as well as to landmark accomplishments in women’s march towards equality. It was a wonderful history lesson.
On U.S. Presidents, Vice Presidents, and challengers for President, those listening carefully, were reminded by the following delegations of these facts:
Arkansas – Where former U.S. President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton had served as governor and first lady.
Delaware – The home of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, and the first state to sign the U.S. Constitution.
Democrats Abroad – Home of Larry Sanders, brother of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, who got to cast his vote in memory of their parents Elias and Dorothy Sanders – a moment that visibly brought tears to both brothers’ eyes.
Georgia – The home of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, as well as of Civil Rights icon the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Hawaii – The birthplace of U.S. President Barack Obama.
Illinois – The home of President Barack Obama.
Kansas – Birthplace of Ann Dunham, mother of President Barack Obama.
Massachusetts – Home of presidents ranging from John Adams to John Kennedy.
Minnesota – Home of Vice Presidents Hubert Humphrey and Walter Mondale, who were presidential candidates respectively in 1968 and 1984.
Missouri – Home of Harry S. Truman and the university alma mater of vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine.
New Hampshire – Where Democrats come together in unity, as when Hillary Clinton endorsed her rival Barack Obama in 2008 and where Bernie Sanders likewise endorsed Hillary Clinton in 2016.
New York –Current home of former President Bill Clinton, and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.
South Dakota – Home of 1972 presidential nominee George McGovern, who rewrote Democratic party rules to call for equality of male and female delegates.
Texas – home of Lyndon Baines Johnson, and where as young political activists Hillary and Bill Clinton worked on a campaign to register voters.
Virginia – Home of vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine.
Vermont – Home of Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders, who following the roll call vote showing Clinton the winner made a successful motion to nominate her by acclamation.
Women’s March to Equality:
American Samoa – Per capita, more men and women of this territory serve in the U.S. Armed Services than in any other territory or state.
Arizona – A 102 year old female delegate cast the portion of this state’s votes won by Hillary Clinton.
Arkansas — Home of Maya Angelou, the first woman to recite her poetry at the inauguration of a President (Bill Clinton).
Iowa – Where in 1857, first woman was accepted as a university student. In 1869, the first woman became the member of a state bar.
Maryland – Whose U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski was the first woman to chair the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee.
Minnesota — Its senator Walter Mondale, who was the 1984 Democratic nominee, chose Geraldine Ferraro of New York as his vice presidential running mate.
Missouri – Its delegation included the youngest delegate, 17 year-old Rachel Gonzalez.
New Mexico – A Native American woman chairs its Democratic party.
New York – The birth place of the drive for women’s rights at Seneca Falls in 1848.
Oklahoma –Cherokee matriarch Isabelle Baker announced the state’s delegate vote for Hillary Clinton.
Tennessee – Was the state that put over the top the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing women the right to vote.
Texas – Home of Barbara Jordan, the first African American woman from a southern state to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Wyoming – First state to guarantee women the right to vote. First state to elect a woman as governor.
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Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com. Comments intended for publication in the space below MUST be accompanied by the letter writer’s first and last name and by his/ her city and state of residence (city and country for those outside the United States.)