Grassroots Women: A Memoir of the Texas Republican Party

You are a Grassroots Woman

if you want good government.

if you are willing to stand up and be counted.

if you act on your concerns by supporting candidates
who represent your views.

if you discuss your views and candidates you support
with family, friends, and neighbors.

      "Okay, girls, let's go save the country," was Gwen Pharo's rallying call as she and thousands of ordinary women fought to bring two-party politics to Texas. As the 1950s began, an entrenched and complacent Democratic Party ruled the state, as it had since Reconstruction, without a Republican in sight. By 1998, Republicans occupied every statewide office, with a governor poised to be president of the United States.
      This remarkable transformation was the result of the hard work and commitment of women from all corners of Texas-women who believed in the necessity of choice and political competition for responsible and responsive government.
      Nearly 250 women, speaking for hundreds of others who worked by their sides, relive the ups and downs of this historic political movement in Grassroots Women. From the precinct conventions and county organizations to the state committees and up to the national arena-as committeewomen, chairwomen, fundraisers, campaign managers and workers, candidates, staff members, and elected officials-their participation in politics and public service gives us a selfless, uncynical model of the power of grassroots organization, volunteerism, and faith in democracy.

"This is grassroots politics at its best, fought from the trenches by the women next door. With great resolve and persistence, they managed to move political decision-making from the smoke filled rooms to the ballot box and in the process brought the two-party system to a fiercely one-party state. Everything good that has happened to Republicans in Texas is a result of the work of these women, and no one should forget it."
--Mary Matalin, Presidential Advisor and Conservative Commentator

"Women like me enjoy the fruits of the labor of the women you will read about in this book. Their experiences reflect years of work long before Texas could be called a two-party state. They worked for candidates and ran for office when there was little expectation of winning. Today, it's a different story in Texas, but the grassroots experiences of the women in this book are important lessons for anyone intersted in politics or running for office."
--Congresswoman Kay Granger

"Motivated by issues women care about--taxes, national defense, good government--these women brought political competition to Texas by building the Republican Party. Here, they finally tell their story of life at the grassroots, a story that is both personal and political, filled with purpose and filled with fun. And in these pages are lessons for all of us--about responsibility, about caring and volunteerism, and about success."
--Congresswoman Jennifer Dunn

"If we had this book when planning my campaign, we would have run a different race."
--Loretta Knight, Democratic candidate for West Virginia House of Delegates

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		Grassroots Women The "women whom you will meet in this book…have always been a very powerful force…Their stories are remarkable for their candor, their sense of history, and above all else, their determination to bring two-party politics to the state of Texas. The Bushes are proud to call almost all of them friends. Without them, it's possible George and I would still be volunteer poll workers in Midland, praying that a fellow Republican will walk through those doors." --Barbara Bush, Former First Lady




"Okay, girls, let's go save the country," was Gwen Pharo's rallying call as she and thousands of ordinary women fought to bring two-party politics to Texas. As the 1950s began, an entrenched and complacent Democratic Party ruled the state, as it had since Reconstruction, without a Republican in sight. By 1998, Republicans occupied every statewide office, with a governor poised to be president of the United States. This remarkable transformation was the result of the hard work and commitment of women from all corners of Texas-women who believed in the necessity of choice and political competition for responsible and responsive government. Nearly 250 women, speaking for hundreds of others who worked by their sides, relive the ups and downs of this historic political movement in Grassroots Women. From the precinct conventions and county organizations to the state committees and up to the national arena-as committeewomen, chairwomen, fundraisers, campaign managers and workers, candidates, staff members, and elected officials-their participation in politics and public service gives us a selfless, uncynical model of the power of grassroots organization, volunteerism, and faith in democracy.			"This is grassroots politics at its best, fought from the trenches by the women next door. With great resolve and persistence, they managed to move political decision-making from the smoke filled rooms to the ballot box and in the process brought the two-party system to a fiercely one-party state. Everything good that has happened to Republicans in Texas is a result of the work of these women, and no one should forget it." --Mary Matalin, Presidential Advisor and Conservative Commentator "Women like me enjoy the fruits of the labor of the women you will read about in this book. Their experiences reflect years of work long before Texas could be called a two-party state. They worked for candidates and ran for office when there was little expectation of winning. Today, it's a different story in Texas, but the grassroots experiences of the women in this book are important lessons for anyone intersted in politics or running for office." --Congresswoman Kay Granger "Motivated by issues women care about--taxes, national defense, good government--these women brought political competition to Texas by building the Republican Party. Here, they finally tell their story of life at the grassroots, a story that is both personal and political, filled with purpose and filled with fun. And in these pages are lessons for all of us--about responsibility, about caring and volunteerism, and about success." --Congresswoman Jennifer Dunn "If we had this book when planning my campaign, we would have run a different race." --Loretta Knight, Democratic candidate for West Virginia House of Delegates
	Meg McKain Grier has a bachelor's degree from Muskingum College and a master's degree in public affairs from George Washington University. She lives in Boerne, Texas, where she is active in the community, serves as precinct chair, participates in county politics, and belongs to the Kendall County Republican Women.

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