Granny D

Granny D (born January 24, 1910), born Ethel Doris Haddock, is an American politician and liberal political activist from the state of New Hampshire. Haddock famously walked across the continental United States in 1999 to advocate campaign finance reform and in 2004 ran unsuccessfully as a Democratic challenger to incumbent Republican Judd Gregg for the U.S. Senate. She is noted for her colorful character and advanced age.

Related Topics:
January 24 - 1910 - American politician - Political activist - State - New Hampshire - Continental United States - 1999 - Campaign finance reform - 2004 - Democratic - Republican - Judd Gregg - U.S. Senate

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Haddock requested an official name change to "Granny D," which was name her family began calling her in 1972. On August 19, 2004, Haddock's request was officially granted after by Judge John Maher during a hearing at the Cheshire Country Probate Court

Related Topics:
Name change - 1972 - August 19 - 2004

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Granny D was born in Laconia. She attended Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts for three years before marrying James Haddock (nicknamed Jim). Though Haddock never graduated from Emerson, she was awarded an honorary degree in 2000 (she was awarded another honorary degree by Franklin Pierce College on October 21, 2002). After marrying, Granny D started a family and worked during the Great Depression, and was employed in a shoe factory in Manchester for 20 years.

Related Topics:
Laconia - Emerson College - Boston - Massachusetts - Honorary degree - 2000 - Franklin Pierce College - October 21 - 2002 - Great Depression - Manchester

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In 1960, Granny D began her political career when she and her husband successfully campaigned against planned hydrogen bomb nuclear testing in Alaska, saving an Inuit fishing village at Point Hope. Granny D and her husband retired to Dublin, New Hampshire, in 1972. There Granny D served on the Planning Board and was active in the community. Her husband later developed Alzheimer's disease, dying after a ten-year struggle.

Related Topics:
1960 - Hydrogen bomb - Nuclear testing - Alaska - Inuit - Point Hope - Dublin - 1972 - Alzheimer's disease

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After the first efforts of Senators John McCain and Russ Feingold to regulate campaign finances through eliminating soft money failed in 1995, Granny D became increasingly interested in campaign finance reform and spearheaded a petition movement. On January 1, 1999, at the age of 89, Granny D left the Rose Bowl parade in Pasadena, California, in an attempt to walk across the United States to raise awareness of and attract support for campaign finance reform.

Related Topics:
John McCain - Russ Feingold - Soft money - 1995 - Petition - January 1 - 1999 - Rose Bowl - Pasadena - California

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Granny D walked ten miles each day for 14 months, traversing California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia, making many speeches along the way. The trek attracted a great deal of attention in the mass media. When Granny D arrived in Washington, D.C., she was 90 years old and had traveled about 3,200 miles, and was greeted in the capital by a crowd of 2,200 people. Several dozen members of Congress walked the final miles with her during the final day's walk from Arlington National Cemetery to the Capitol building on the National Mall.

Related Topics:
Arizona - New Mexico - Texas - Arkansas - Tennessee - Kentucky - Ohio - West Virginia - Pennsylvania - Maryland - Virginia - District of Columbia - Mass media - Washington, D.C. - Congress - Arlington National Cemetery - Capitol building - National Mall

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Two books were written by Granny D, both co-authored with Dennis Burke.

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Granny D was the Democratic candidate for a U.S. Senate seat in New Hampshire during the 2004 election. She was one of the oldest major-party candidates to ever run for the U.S. Senate and lost to incumbent Republican Judd Gregg, capturing 34 percent of the vote to Gregg's 66 percent.

Related Topics:
2004 election - Judd Gregg

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Granny D has 12 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

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