Helen Gahagan

Helen Gahagan (25 November, 1900 - 28 June, 1980) was a United States actress and (under the name Helen Gahagan Douglas) a politician of Scottish descent. She was also known as The Pink Lady.

Related Topics:
25 November - 1900 - 28 June - 1980 - United States - Actress - Politician - Scottish

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Gahagan was born in Boonton, New Jersey. She became a well known star on Broadway in the 1920s. In 1931 she married actor Melvyn Douglas. Gahagan starred in one Hollywood movie, She, in 1935, playing The Ice Goddess ("She who must be obeyed").

Related Topics:
Boonton, New Jersey - Broadway - 1920s - 1931 - Melvyn Douglas - Hollywood - Movie - She - 1935

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In the 1940s she entered politics, and was elected to the United States House of Representatives from California for three terms. It is often believed that that Douglas had taken on John E. Rankin on the house floor after Rankin allegedly called her a "Communist." In 1950 she ran for the United States Senate, but was defeated by Richard Nixon in a race considered by her supporters to be a prototypical smear campaign. However, recent biographers have pointed out that Nixon's campaign was no more "dirty" then many others waged and that Douglas and her supporters used similiar tactics to discredit the Republicans.

Related Topics:
1940s - United States House of Representatives - California - John E. Rankin - 1950 - United States Senate - Richard Nixon - Smear campaign

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Illeana Douglas is her grand-daughter.

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