Pat Schroeder

Background

Patricia Scott Schroeder was born on July 30, 1940, in Portland, Oregon, daughter of Lee and Bernice Scott.

Education

Schroeder received a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Minnesota in 1961 and a law degree from Harvard Law School in 1964.

Career

From 1964 to 1972 she held a variety of positions, including field attorney with the National Labor Relations Board, professor of law, and legal counsel for Planned Parenthood of Colorado. She then served 12 terms as a Democratic congresswoman from Colorado (1972–96). As the cochairperson of the Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues, she focused attention on issues relating to family life, such as parental leave, child care, and family planning. As the second ranking member of the Post Office and Civil Service Committee, she was a proponent of programs to protect federal workers. Schroeder was also one of the first women ever appointed to the House Armed Services Committee, where she forcefully advocated the rights of women in the military and crusaded against excessive military spending. Her talent as a wordsmith became widely known when she called President Ronald Reagan the “Teflon president, ” suggesting that criticism never seemed to stick to him.

In 1989, following the U. S. invasion of Panama, she introduced legislation which would afford women a greater chance of participation in all areas of the military Other legislation introduced by Schroeder would also have a profound effect on the lives of American women and children.

In 1993, the Breast and Cervical Cancer Mortality Prevention Act provided breast and cervical cancer screening to poor women and the National Child Protection Act provided for child care providers access to a national database of information on child abusers for the purpose of background checks. The Violence Against Women Act of 1994 was enacted to assist law enforcement professionals and victims rights organizations to fight rape and other forms of violent crime against women. As a congresswoman Schroeder avoided the Washington social scene, preferring to be with her husband and children. She frequently returned to Colorado to report to her constituents. In 1987, however, she became more of a national figure as she travelled the country to see if she should become a candidate for president the following year. After five months of "testing" she decided not to enter the race. The decision to retire from the House of Representatives came only after the 1994 Republican "House cleaning" that removed much of the power of the Democratic party within the House. She announced in 1995 that she would not seek another term, and she spent much of 1996 campaigning on behalf of President Bill Clinton and then turned to teaching and writing.

After leaving the House of Representatives, Schroeder was named president and chief executive of the Association of American Publishers.

Achievements

• Patricia Schroeder became the forceful doyenne of American liberals on issues ranging from arms control to women’s reproductive rights during her 24–year House career.

Works

More photos

• book

  • 24 Years of Housework...and the Place Is Still a Mess: My Life in Politics

Connections

While studying law at Harvard she met James Schroeder, whom she married in 1962.

Father:

Lee Combs Scott

He was a pilot who owned an aviation insurance company.

Mother:

Bernice Scott

She was a first grade teacher.

Spouse:

James Schroeder