A Woman of Firsts cover art

A Woman of Firsts

Margaret Heckler, Political Trailblazer

Pre-order free with Premium Plus
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

A Woman of Firsts

By: Kimberly Heckler
Narrated by: Hillary Huber
Pre-order free with Premium Plus

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Pre-order for $19.99

Pre-order for $19.99

Confirm Pre-order
Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.
Cancel

About this listen

The extraordinary story of Margaret O'Shaughnessy Heckler offers a rare view into the behind-the-scenes world of American politics from the 1960s through the 1980s.

The daughter of Irish immigrants, Margaret Heckler represented the American dream. She served as a congresswoman, a presidential cabinet secretary, and an ambassador—all groundbreaking achievements for a woman of her era. The fiery Irish Republican (R-MA) mastered the seemingly unbeatable game of being a woman in a man's world and a Republican in a Democratic state, becoming a champion for others against all odds.

Heckler was the only newly elected woman appointed to Congress in 1966, entering rooms where few women were invited before. Her landmark legislation, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, gave women the right to credit in their own names for the first time in American history. She took a lead in addressing the AIDS crisis and commissioned the Heckler Report to address the racial inequalities in health care.

A Woman of Firsts is a tribute to a woman who helped break the glass ceiling and fought to provide equality and justice for millions of Americans.

©2025 Copyright 2025 by Kimberly Heckler (P)2025 Tantor Media
Americas Politicians United States Women

What listeners say about A Woman of Firsts

Average Customer Ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.