Mrs. America: Rosalynn Carter and the ERA

The ratification of the 19th Amendment on August 18, 1920, guaranteed women the right to vote and gave a voice to all in American elections. Some of the suffragists who fought tirelessly for women’s right to vote left political life while others continued to fight for social justices. Women politicians took up the causes of the disenfranchised such as the Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill in 1922 which failed to pass, the Sheppard-Towner Maternity and Infancy Act in 1921 which did pass, and the introduction of a bill to guarantee full legal equality to men and women, the Equal Rights Amendment, which remains unratified. 

The fate of the amendment was in jeopardy after the seven-year deadline that was placed on the ratification process by Congress came to a near end. In the following years 1973 only saw eight ratifications, 1974 had three, and 1975 only saw one. In 1976, no states ratified the amendment. President Jimmy Carter and First Lady Rosalynn Carter took up the fight to help the passage of the ERA. Although a president cannot veto a constitutional amendment and he is not required to sign approval, on October 20, 1978, President Carter signed the Extension of the Equal Rights Amendment Ratification (H.J.Res.638) as a gesture to show how strongly he felt about it and how much he supported extending the ratification time limit to 1982.

July 20, 1978, Memo to Departments on ERA efforts naming President Carter’s assistant, Midge Costanza, as the lead organizer on advancing the efforts of women’s issues. 

Midge Costanza was an advocate for gay and women's rights and served as the Assistant to the President for Public Liaison in the Office for Public Liaison. Costanza was the first woman to hold the position. 

This blue silk ERA scarf was made by Carolyn Sexton Johnson and given to Mrs. Carter. This scarf depicts a blue background with white male symbols combined with red female symbols and reads. “Equality Under the Law/ Support ERA.” 

October 20, 1978, President Jimmy Carter signs the Extension of the Equal Rights Amendment. 

October 23, 1979, the White House hosted a “Presidential Salute to the ERA” which drew more than 800 people to the White House in support of the Equal Rights Amendment. 

Sharing a podium together, President Carter fully supported the ERA and the First Lady.

Sarah Weddington's agenda for a December 1978 meeting with the First Lady includes the opposition strategy for groups against the ERA, the general position of the Carter Administration, problem areas, and possible areas that need help. 

 This certificate from the Coalition of Labor Union Women Expressing Appreciation for Mrs. Carter's support of the ERA was presented to the First Lady in 1981. Pay equality was a critical area of contention for pro-ERA groups. In the 1970s women’s median wage incomes were 40%-50% of men’s wage incomes. 

This book was a gift to each woman who attended the luncheon. "Growing Up Female in America: Ten Lives,"  edited by Eve Merriam,  NY Dell Publishing Co., 1971, has a tan cover with a picture of a Victorian era girl on the front, contained in a purple velvet case that is embossed "Senate Ladies Luncheon/ The White House/ May 15, 1978/ Rosalynn Carter" in gold.

Stage and film actresses Carol Kane, Geraldine Fitzgerald, and Maureen Anderman portrayed women's rights advocates Eliza Southgate, Mother Mary Jones, and Dr. Anna Howard Shaw during the entertainment portion of the evening. 

This Certificate of Achievement reads, "In appreciation of your consistent support and tireless efforts to ensure passage of the Equal Rights Amendment," to the President and Mrs. Carter from the Equal Rights Coalition of Utah, Utah Mormons and Friends for ERA, and Salt Lake Chapter National Organization for Women. This acknowledgement shows support for President and Mrs. Carter’s efforts from a historically political and religious conservative group. 

This poster shows just a fraction of the Women Appointees under the Carter Administration.

A summary of President Carter’s efforts to advance the ERA, dated June 1980.

Delegates to the 1980 DNC carried this turquoise sign which reads in full "ERA" and "Democratic National Convention 1980".

Women continue to fight for equality, as did Geraldine Ferraro who was the first female vice-presidential candidate on a major party ticket. This poster reads, "Liberty/Mondale-Ferraro" The image depicts "Liberty Leading the People" by Delacroix with Geraldine Ferraro as Liberty holding the American flag while Walter Mondale is the man with the musket holding an ERA flag.