Drawing from a lifetime of experience, conservative activist Bay Buchanan encouraged high school girls to get involved in the political process.
The luncheon, hosted by the Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute, allowed students to get up close and personal with the former Reagan administration cabinet member. Rule no. 1: Don’t sweat the small stuff.
“The men had views from their offices and were only in for meetings on Thursdays and left Friday mornings,” she said, recalling her tenure as Secretary of the Treasury. “I wasn’t invited to the meetings.”
When a co-worker advised Buchanan to ask for a room with a view and to attend the meetings with the rest of the men, Buchanan called her well-known brother Pat.
“Do you want to be remembered as someone fighting for an office with a window?” he asked. “You have only a few battles, so fight for important issues.”
Rule no. 2: Little things make a difference.
“I became knowledgeable about the Xerox,” she said. “Because I could fix it, I became known by the men in the office. I did what had to be done. The person that can get the job done is successful regardless if they are a man or a woman.”
Of course, Buchanan’s accomplishments went far beyond repairing office equipment. At 32, she was the youngest person to ever hold the position of Secretary of the Treasury, and in the years since has become a respected political commentator. In that capacity, she has demonstrated a willingness to take a strong stand, even if it proves controversial.
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