Journey Through Time 4. The First Woman to Run for President: Sex, Scandal, and Suffragists (Ep 2)
9 snips
Apr 2, 2025 Discover the remarkable story of Victoria Woodhull, the first woman to run for president. From Wall Street success to defying societal norms, her candidacy was as groundbreaking as it was controversial. Uncover her scandalous battle against a revered preacher that led to her arrest on election night. Delve into the complicated legacy of a radical feminist who later embraced eugenics, sparking debate on how history should remember her. Examine the intersection of women's rights and societal hypocrisy during the Gilded Age.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Woodhull's Rise
- Victoria Woodhull's early life was marked by poverty, spiritualism, and Wall Street success.
- She became the first woman to open a brokerage firm and advised Cornelius Vanderbilt.
Woodhull's Weekly
- Woodhull launched "Woodhull and Claflin's Weekly," a newspaper covering women's rights, labor reform, spiritualism, and political autonomy.
- It was also a scandal sheet, exposing corruption and personal revelations.
Woodhull's Legal Argument
- Victoria Woodhull argued before Congress that the 14th and 15th Amendments granted women the right to vote.
- She asserted that women were citizens with equal protection under the law, thus already enfranchised.
