"Granny D"
Having Walked 3,200 Miles for Campaign Finance Reform
-- in her 90s!
Granny D -- A Marvel in her 90s! Creative Transformation of Pain into Beauty Her Background
Felt God-sent On the Road with Doris Build a Democracy with Granny D
How many of us could (would) walk 3,200 miles across the U.S.,
--as a memorial for people we love,
--for a cause we deeply believe in,
--beginning at the age of 89!
How many of us would even dream of doing it? Much less go ahead? With very little planning and preparation?
Doris Haddock, known affectionately as Granny D, did it...and inspired and motivated thousands and thousands of people along the way! What motivated her? After years as an activist, she felt that campaign finance reform was a top priority for the United States as a step forward in reclaiming it's heritage as a country of the people, by the people and for the people.
Corporations have been giving large amounts of money to political candidates through the loop hole known as "soft money." Granny D's message, that she carried with her on her long walk from Pasadena, California, to Washington, DC, is that people of the United States are "letting corporations run our country. This must be stopped. Democracy is in peril."
Why did Doris start such an adventure? The idea blossomed about two years ago while traveling to Florida. Her son, Jim, recounts that his mother, seeing a hitch hiker, suddenly announced, "I would like to do that. I would like to walk." Jim, becoming the parent, suggested that she test her idea by trying 100 miles. She learned to hitch hike. She was then ready to walk for a good cause. She also wanted to demonstrate to older people that they can get up and be active. As she says, "There is no need to sit around and mope, even following the deaths of loved ones." Her words -- in a May 14, 1999, speech to an all-night Cancer Society group -- best convey her motivation:
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"When my husband died several years ago and then my best friend, Elizabeth, in 1998, I looked at my life and my lifelong beliefs and said to myself, what shall I do now? What can I do to honor the memory of the people I have loved? How can I turn my pain into something beautiful in the world? Something beautiful? Let me tell you that great Art and great Writing often are transformations of suffering to beauty. Life is full of suffering, and what we must do when we have more of it than we can bear is to trick it into beauty through a medium of exchange such as art, or handiwork, or a written story or poem, or good parenting, or good friendship, or the creation of good work in the community, or the pursuit of some unfinished work we may find unfinished among our lifelong interests and concerns, some of which we put away in the attic for too long. What work can I do that may be done now as a memorial to those I miss? What can I do to amaze them and fill their angel eyes with tears and laughter as they watch me lovingly from the other side?" |
What in Doris' background brought her to this life-altering moment? In many ways, her life was like millions of others. She was born on January 24, 1910, in New Hampshire. She attended Emerson College in Boston. In the summer of 1930, she met her late husband (of 62 years), Jim, and they raised a son and daughter. Granny D, an activist ever since she knew the difference between right and wrong, recognizes that the more money that comes into the system from large corporations, the less ordinary people have an influence. Thus, campaign finance reform eclipses everything else -- for it is intrinsically bound to all of the issues.
Her son, Jim -- who describes his mother as charismatic, energetic, courageous, honest, and determined -- has never seen her more alive! Initially thinking that her idea was insane, he is now delighted for her, is very proud of her, and has been one of her most ardent supporters. He frequently walked with her when he could time away from his business.
Traveling as a pilgrim, Granny D felt "God-sent. I am in God's pocket. Every time there is a need, I have an angel. They just come out of the blue"
She started out with a 25-pound back pack and very little preparatory work. She planned to knock on doors. However, people volunteered to help and came to join her from all over. One wonderful response was the donation of a van, which volunteers drove. Each driver made contacts along the way. Thanks to an appeal sent by Common Cause, its members played a major role in scheduling events, speeches, and interviews, as well in providing food and housing.
Doris usually walked six days: averaging 10 miles per day in 3 1/2-4 hours. With arthritis in her back and in one leg, she sometimes wore a steel-ribbed corset. She usually rested in the afternoon and had to soak her feet at night. Following her initial walk through California's Baja Desert she was hospitalized due to dehydration and a touch of pneumonia. After time to recoup her forces, Granny D was on the road again -- her charisma and commitment drawing people to her and to her mission.
She walked east-to-west and road the van for the south-to-north stretches. By the time she reached Washington, DC, about a month past her 90th birthday, she had walked over 3,200 miles! People came from all over to walk with her, and she was interviewed regularly along the way. People's responses were overwhelming and gratifying.
Matt Keller, a staff member with Common Cause, was one of many who walked with Granny D and became very energized by the experience. He watched people come up and hug her, saying that what she was doing was great. One poignant example for him was an old Indian woman who approached Doris saying, "I'm nothing. I don't count for anything. You're walking for me." Another woman, who runs a restaurant, gave Granny D a big hug and had her picture taken with "my hero."
A stalwart companion was another wise and well-honed individual: Ken Hechler, age 84 at the time. A former speech writer for President Truman, current Secretary of State for West Virginia, he ran for Congress in order to more effectively push for campaign finance reform. Inspired by Granny D, he walked many miles with her and helped raise attention to this vital issue.
Truck drivers and police officers honked at her. Train conductors blew their whistles. Complete strangers bought meals and took her and her companions into their homes. According to Matt, ordinary people "may not understand the nuances around campaign financing but they know intuitively that something is wrong. Granny D touched that chord, and people responded with energy, graciousness, and generosity." Thanks in great part to her commitment and stamina, an initial campaign finance reform bill was passed and signed by President Bush. However, much work still needs to be done, and Granny D is still fully involved.
You are invited to visit Granny D's web site to learn more about the latest activities of this inspirational person (including running for U.S. Senate!), to spread the word about her, to join her in pushing for complete reform of the system of financing campaigns. Her site includes a biography of her life, photos, a selection of her important speeches, and much more.
Check out her memoirs: Granny D: Walking Across America in My 90th Year and a follow-up one entitled: Granny D: You're Never Too Old to Raise a Little Hell. Let this marvelous woman inspire you in efforts to build a democracy of the people, by the people and for the people.
Pictures -- thanks to Common Cause
Top Granny D (on the left) on the road.
Second from top Doris (in front of van) and companions.
Second from bottom Granny D (on the right) being interviewed on the road.
Bottom Ken Hechler (on the left), Granny D (in the middle), and friends.