Firsts for women: Supreme Court and VP nominations, News Journal archives, week of July 7

"Pages of history" features excerpts from The News Journal archives including The Morning News and the Evening Journal.

July 8, 1981, The Morning News

First woman nominated for Supreme Court

The reaction Tuesday to President Reagan’s firs Supreme Court nominee was an ironic one: he was condemned by conservatives who supported him all the way to the Oval Office, and praised by liberals and feminists who have found so little to like about him there.

The Rev. Jerry Falwell, head of Moral Majority, declared that the nomination of Sandra Day O’Connor was a “disaster.” The National Right to Life Committee, an anti-abortion group, pledged an all-out fight against her confirmation because of “her consistent support for legal abortion.”

But Eleanor Smeal, president of the National Organization for Women, called the nomination “a major victory for women’s rights.”

Meanwhile, prospects appeared good for a quick and relatively painless confirmation by the Senate. Among the first to jump aboard Mrs. O’Connor’s bandwagon following Reagan’s announcement Tuesday were Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., and Rep. Morris K. Udall, D-Ariz., two of the most outspoken liberals in Congress….

July 11, 1922, The Evening Journal

Government to keep mail trains moving during strikes

The industrial situation throughout the country increased in gravity today. The cabinet was to meet with President Harding to consider the crisis in coal and rail strikes.

Rationing of the nation’s coal supply impends with the strike in its 102nd day. Because of the fact that in many industrial centers coal supplies are extremely low, any extensive curtailment of rail service soon would cause an industrial paralysis, officials said….

The “Big Four” railroad brotherhoods will unofficially join the strike of shop workers, M.O. Laisure, director of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen declared today….

Reports of violence, sabotage and serious effects of the strikes upon industry mounted.

The Southern Pacific Railroad called for troop protection, charging that strikers have used dynamite and shot a guard in attempts to enforce the shop strike….

A mob stormed a Lehigh Valley roundhouse at Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

A non-union worker was beaten at Augusta, Ga.

Two strike-breakers and a guard were injured at Milwaukee.

At Brownsville, Pa., a striking miner and his son were seriously hurt and taken to a hospital.

Suspension of railway mail service from 3,000 miles of the M.K. and T., and a run on the B. and O., was announced….

It is expected that President Harding will issue a warning that the United States mail must not be interfered with, that interstate commerce must be moved and that disorders and violence will not be tolerated….

Officials are studying the precedents established by Grover Cleveland in 1894 when he used federal troops to move mail during the Pullman strike in Chicago….

Recent rail transportation news: How a Wilmington trolley could improve transit access, spark economic development

July 11, 1925, The Evening Journal

Decline in marriages; young men and women want easy lives

Present-day marriages are falling off because responsible people are pausing before they enter a contract in which too few nowadays succeed.

Divorces are climbing steadily because irresponsible ones are rushing in with the idea that they can get out of it easily.

Those are the views of Dr. Clarence T. Wilson, secretary of the Methodist Board of Temperance and Morals, expressed in an interview commenting on…Commerce Department reports showing marriages in nine representative states had decreased 6% in 1924 whereas divorces had increased 6%.

“Marriage is falling off because young men want an easy ‘snap,’ both in business and domestic life,” Dr. Wilson says….

“The young woman of today is dodging unintentionally the responsibility of the kitchen and the nursery. This is creating a divorce situation which is causing disintegration of the home and striking at the foundation of the state. A nation has no future when marriage vows are lax and standards of morality are low. This is what caused the downfall of Rome.”

Catch up on history: Churchill criticizes Russia, Cronkite says goodbye: News Journal archives, week of March 5

July 13, 1984, The Morning News

Ferraro first woman nominated by major party for vice president

Walter F. Mondale on Thursday named Rep. Geraldine A. Ferraro, D-N.Y., as his running mate, the first woman selected to run for that office on a major-party ticket.

Mondale, the probable Democratic presidential nominee, announced his historic step before an ebullient crowd at the Minnesota State Capitol. He introduced Ferraro by saying, “I looked for the best vice president and I found her in Gerry Ferraro.”…

The 48-year-old former teacher and assistant prosecutor from Queens County broke into a wide grin as Mondale said, “I’m delighted to announce that I will ask the Democratic convention” to ratify her….

“When Fritz Mondale asked me to be his running mate he sent a powerful signal about the direction he wants to lead our country,” Ferraro said. “American history is about doors being open, doors of opportunity for everyone no matter who you are, as long as you’re willing to earn it.”

Reach reporter Ben Mace at rmace@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: News Journal archives July 7: first women picked for Supreme Court, VP