[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 40 (Thursday, March 21, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H2656-H2657]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING KATHARINE HOUGHTON HEPBURN DURING WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Seastrand). Under a previous order of

[[Page H2657]]

the House, the gentlewoman from Connecticut [Mrs. Johnson] is 
recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut. Madam Speaker, I first want to commend 
my colleagues for the attention they have brought to Women's History 
Month. Their hearings, seminars, and legislative measures have focused 
much needed attention on women--their health, their reproductive rights 
and the need for gender equity in class and on the courts. I am pleased 
to be a part of tonight's activity saluting extraordinary women from 
our districts and from around the world.
  I rise today to salute Connecticut's Katharine Houghton Hepburn, one 
of the earliest advocates for gender equity in education and 
reproductive rights for women. Her name may sound familiar for other 
reasons as she was the mother of actress Katharine Hepburn. But not 
enough is known about her own achievements. Orphaned at 14, it's been 
said that her mother's dying words to her were ``get an education''--
and she did, entering Bryn Mawr's Class of 1899 at the age of 16.
  She obtained degrees in chemistry and physics--precisely because 
those were the subjects she most dreaded, and later earned a master's 
degree in art history from Radcliffe.
  After college, Katharine Houghton married a prominent Connecticut 
doctor and became a determined suffragist and an outspoken birth 
control advocate. Her opposition was formidable. Connecticut State 
obscenity laws at the time made it illegal to mail any information on 
birth control and it was even a crime for doctors to distribute birth 
control information or tell anyone where it might be obtained. In a 
1941 interview, Houghton said that when she confronted Connecticut 
State Legislators with the birth control issue, they were embarrassed 
and terrified. ``They nudged each other like schoolboys,'' she said, 
``but after ten years of it, they got used to us.'' And one can only 
imagine what her neighbors of upscale Fenwick, CT, thought of her 
views. Houghton once said that they were worried her campaign to make 
birth control available for all women would only lead to their 
corruption. She responded by saying:

       We are not trying to produce immorality * * * we are trying 
     to explain the use of human intelligence to control human 
     nature.

  At the same time, her work on behalf of the suffragist movement 
continued. And in 1920, right after the 36th State gave women the right 
to vote, Connecticut Democrats approached Houghton and asked her to run 
for the U.S. Senate. Connecticut had not yet ratified the 19th 
amendment, though, so she continued with the task at hand. As her 
daughter's fame grew, so did her own and in 1933, she led a procession 
of women up to Capitol Hill to push for a bill that would have 
permitted physicians to distribute birth control information. Among the 
marchers--Margaret Sanger and Amelia Earhart. Houghton worried that her 
activities would harm her daughter's burgeoning acting career. But 
Katharine Hepburn strongly supported her mother's work. ``I detest the 
newspaper's reference to her as Katharine Hepburn's mother,'' she said, 
``My mother is important. I am not.'' Let's all remember Katharine 
Houghton's importance today. She fought for women when the country, her 
State, and even her own neighborhood, were opposed to her causes. But 
she continued on for decades for most of her life--inspiring women and 
creating an America that would make good on her promise of equal 
opportunity and equal justice for all.
  Madam Speaker, I would like to yield now to my friend and colleague 
from North Carolina [Mrs. Eva Clayton].
  Mrs. CLAYTON. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding to 
me, and thank my colleagues who have arranged this special tribute to 
women.
  Madam Speaker, as we celebrate Women's History Month, I think of the 
numerous contributions women have made to make this world a better 
place to live.
  When I look at the First Congressional District of North Carolina, I 
find an extraordinary woman, a woman who is a fine example of womanhood 
who has dedicated her life to improving the lives of others. She has 
taken on many difficult task, oftentimes sacrifing herself and spending 
her own money to improve the lives of others.
  She is a living legend in North Carolina. She is Mrs. Alice Ballance, 
a mother, a grandmother, and businesswoman.
  Her commitment to her family and community has made her stand head 
and shoulders above the masses. She is many things to many people, but 
above all she is a champion of the disadvantaged and children.
  ``Miss Alice'' as she is affectionately known around Bertie County in 
the First Congressional District of North Carolina, has proven again 
and again her commitment to being a model citizen. ``Miss Alice'' has 
maintained close ties to her community, church, and family, and has 
worked tirelessly to improve the lives of the poor and disadvataged 
citizens of her county. She organized and established child and adult 
care for the children and seniors of her county.
  Her activism dates back to the civil rights era of the sixties. She 
has testified before the U.S. Senate on behalf of North Carolinians and 
founded the People's Program on Poverty to assist the needy citizens of 
Bertie County. She has been recognized by several national and regional 
organizations for her many community activities.
  Mr. Speaker, today I salute a woman who is part of our rich and proud 
history in North Carolina. A woman whose contribution to our society 
has made North Carolina a better place to live.
  She is the essence of leadership, the epitome of statesmanship, and 
the embodiment of selflessness and commitment.
  More importantly, she is not afraid to fight for her principles and 
to stand up for her beliefs. Pride, achievement, and success are her 
watchwords. Alice Ballance has paved the road of opportunity for women 
like me and I am happy to name her North Carolina's First Congressional 
District, Woman of the Year.

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