You Must Remember This 79: The Blacklist Part 9: She: Richard Nixon + Helen Gahagan Douglas
Apr 12, 2016
Dive into the political rivalry of the 1950 California Senate race between Helen Gahagan Douglas and Richard Nixon. Discover how Douglas, a Broadway star turned congresswoman, faced intense scrutiny and accusations of communism. Explore her poignant confrontations against racism and anti-Semitism in Congress, and how national paranoia shaped her career. After her electoral defeat, witness her transformation into a passionate activist focused on nuclear regulation, reflecting on her legacy amidst the political upheaval of the era.
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Meeting Melvin Changed Her Path
- Helen met Melvin Douglas during a stage casting and immediately fell for him despite initial defenses.
- Their romance shifted her life, politics, and worldview toward progressive causes.
Refusing Tosca In Vienna
- In Vienna Helen was recruited by a British critic to the Nazi cause and was shocked to refuse her Tosca debut.
- She returned to the U.S., canceled the contract, and avoided being in Austria when Hitler invaded.
Politics Rewarded Donors Over Principles
- Helen discovered political life sidelined women into ceremonial tasks and donor-driven influence.
- She opposed allowing special interests to buy political outcomes and refused to be shaped by donors.
