VIDEO: Local Author Discusses “Mother” of Moderates

By FALLS CHURCH TIMES STAFF
September 14, 2011

In this interview on FCC-TV’s Falls Church Forum, local author Sara Fitzgerald discusses her new book, Elly Peterson:  “Mother” of the Moderates.  Peterson, a Republican from Michigan, was active in state and national politics from 1961-1982 as a groundbreaking woman leader of the party. She was a contemporary of Michigan Governor George Romney and knew current presidential candidate Mitt Romney as a teenager.  Although never elected to political office herself, Peterson rose to prominence as the first woman to head a state Republican party.

In the interview, author Fitzgerald discusses Peterson’s efforts to moderate the Republican Party in the face of influential conservative figures like presidential nominee Barry Goldwater and anti-Equal Rights Amendment activist Phyllis Schlafly.  Fitzgerald goes on to discuss the role of moderate Republicans today at a time of Tea Party dominance.

The interviewer is Falls Church Times’ Stan Fendley.  The video is 37 minutes long.

[Editor’s Note:  The League of Women Voters of Falls Church will host a book talk with Fitzgerald at local bookstore One More  Page, 2200 N. Westmoreland Street #101, Arlington, on Thursday, September 15, 7pm.  The event is free and open to the public. ]