Abstract

Litmus tests

The article presents information on two books. "Tricky Dick and the Pink Lady: Richard Nixon vs. Helen Gahagan Douglas--Sexual Politics and the Red Secure," by Greg Mitchell and "Being Red in Philadelphia: A memoir of the McCarthy Era," by Sherman Labovitz. Mitchell gives information about the political strategy of Richard Nixon, the U.S. politician and the woman politician Helen Gahagan Douglas. While sexual politics hardly constitute a theme of the book, Mitchell does give a few jarring insights into the undercurrent of contempt for and trivialization of women in politics. In another book Labovitz recalls growing up poor in Philadelphia's West Kensington and May fair sections, intending to become a rabbi but joining the Young Communist League instead, noting with favor that communists had been involved with all of the activities.