The Honorable Barbara Boxer

U.S. Representative from California (January 3, 1983-January 3, 1993)
U.S. Senator from California (January 3, 1993-January 3, 2017)

At a young age, Barbara Boxer learned the importance of voting from her mother who was born before the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920. Boxer explains how the Vietnam War sparked her political and community activism and led her to work on campaigns, including George McGovern’s presidential run in 1972. In her interview she describes why she decided to run for local office—Marin County Board of Supervisors—and how she made the difficult choice to try again after losing her first bid. Boxer won her second campaign and eventually served as the first chairwoman of the board. She explains how her work at the local level taught her the importance of “building consensus” and “keeping in touch with the people”—lessons that served her well in Congress. Boxer also gained valuable experience working for Representative John Burton of California. When Burton opted not to seek re-election for a sixth term in 1982, he asked his former staffer to run for his seat.

In her interview, the California Representative describes the challenges of her first House campaign and discusses the significance of John Burton’s endorsement, as well as the assistance provided by California Congressmen Vic Fazio and George Miller. Boxer comments on her efforts to encourage women to donate to her campaign and how this led to an annual fundraiser featuring the historic achievements of women. Once in Congress, Boxer became an outspoken advocate for women, children, and the environment. She explains how she became the original House sponsor for the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and reveals the way in which the AIDS epidemic—that had such a devastating impact on San Francisco during the 1980s—propelled much of her legislative work in Congress. During her decade in the House, Boxer fought against gender discrimination in the institution. She describes the early 1980s as “a time of great change” where she and her women colleagues often faced discrimination. Boxer illustrates how women Representatives, although small in number, worked together to gain access to the House gym and to lead a protest during the Clarence Thomas Supreme Court nomination hearings that made national headlines and contributed to her successful run for the U.S. Senate in 1992. As one of the few women to serve in both the House and the Senate, Boxer compares her experiences and outlines the key differences between the two bodies.