Georgetown Loses a Giant

Colleges & Universities Georgetown University
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<p>Ambassador and University Professor Emeritus Jeane Kirkpatrick who taught at Georgetown for over 40 years passed away today. She was a true giant who helped to restore American power at a critical time when our nation was at a crisis point in the Cold War. </p>

<p>Of all her achievements, the one I remember best, even though in the grand scheme of her achievements it was minor, was her chiding the New York Times for its calling Henry Kissinger Doctor while not doing the same for her and other high level women with Ph.D.s. The Times, of course, retreated and began calling her and others Doctor too.</p>

<p>Her advice to women in Who’s Who in America that a woman could have it all, just not at the same time, inspired many women to greatness as well as balance.</p>

<p>Her influence also flowed to many of her former students including some who achieved greatness in their own right like Cardinal O’Connor of New York.</p>

<p>This is a sad day.</p>

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<p>I saw this on CNN.com and it is indeed very sad.</p>

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<p>During the 1996 presidential election, Drs. Kirkpatrick and Madeleine Albright were debating foreign policy. The two women were stand-ins for Sentator Robert Dole amd President Bill Clinton. It was highly expected at one of the two women would be the next Secretary of State.</p>

<p>Many in the media treated the debate as a Krystal-vs.-Alexis catfight. These women deserved better.</p>

<p>As a liberal Democrat, Jeane Kirkpatrick wasn’t exactly my cup of tea. However two of academic areas are overshadowed by her work in foreign affairs. The first was her writings on Peronism, a time and a place often dismissed in the history of the Western Hemisphere.</p>

<p>Secondly, Dr. Kirkpatrick did a a groundbreaking study on the lives and careers of women elected to state legislatures. The study is an excellent primer for the study of women in politics.</p>