Molly Ivins: Difference between revisions
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==Early life== |
==Early life== |
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Ivins was born in [[Monterey, California|Monterey]], [[California]], and raised in [[Houston, Texas]]. Her father, Jim Ivins, known as "General Jim" because of his rigid authoritarianism (or sometimes "Admiral Jim" for his love of sailing), was an oil and gas executive, and the family lived in Houston's affluent [[River Oaks, Houston|River Oaks]] neighborhood.<ref name="rebel_life"/> |
Ivins was born in [[Monterey, California|Monterey]], [[California]], and raised in [[Houston, Texas]]. Her father, Jim Ivins, known as "General Jim" because of his rigid authoritarianism (or sometimes "Admiral Jim" for his love of sailing), was an oil and gas executive, and the family lived in Houston's affluent [[River Oaks, Houston|River Oaks]] neighborhood.<ref name="rebel_life"/> |
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Ivins graduated from [[St. John's School (Texas)|St. John's School]] in 1962. In high school, she was active in [[Extracurricular activity|extracurricular activities]], including the yearbook staff. She had her first pieces of journalism published in [http://www.sjsreview.net ''The Review''], the official [[student newspaper]] of St. John's School, though she never wrote any of the political columns that would become her specialty later in life. Ivins later became co-editor of the arts and culture section of the student paper. In addition, she frequently participated in theater productions and earned a lifetime membership in ''Johnnycake'', the drama club. |
Ivins graduated from [[St. John's School (Texas)|St. John's School]] in 1962. In high school, she was active in [[Extracurricular activity|extracurricular activities]], including the yearbook staff. She had her first pieces of journalism published in [https://web.archive.org/web/20070223081420/http://www.sjsreview.net/ ''The Review''], the official [[student newspaper]] of St. John's School, though she never wrote any of the political columns that would become her specialty later in life. Ivins later became co-editor of the arts and culture section of the student paper. In addition, she frequently participated in theater productions and earned a lifetime membership in ''Johnnycake'', the drama club. |
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Ivins enrolled in [[Scripps College]] in 1962 but was not happy there, and transferred to [[Smith College]] in 1963. During that time, she became romantically involved with Henry "Hank" Holland, Jr., a family friend and student at Yale whom she referred to as "the love of my life". After he was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1964, her friends would later say that she never seemed to find anyone else who could replace his memory. Some say that is why she never married.<ref name="rebel_life"/> She spent her junior year at the [[Institute of Political Science]] in Paris and received her B.A. in history in 1966. She earned a master's degree from [[Columbia University]]'s [[Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism|School of Journalism]] in 1967.<ref name="syracuse">[http://provost.syr.edu/lectures/Ivins.asp Syracuse U. Bio], retrieved 11/6/06.</ref><ref name="pbsnow">[https://www.pbs.org/now/politics/ivins05.html NOW, Ivins' Bio], retrieved 11/6/06.</ref> |
Ivins enrolled in [[Scripps College]] in 1962 but was not happy there, and transferred to [[Smith College]] in 1963. During that time, she became romantically involved with Henry "Hank" Holland, Jr., a family friend and student at Yale whom she referred to as "the love of my life". After he was killed in a motorcycle accident in 1964, her friends would later say that she never seemed to find anyone else who could replace his memory. Some say that is why she never married.<ref name="rebel_life"/> She spent her junior year at the [[Institute of Political Science]] in Paris and received her B.A. in history in 1966. She earned a master's degree from [[Columbia University]]'s [[Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism|School of Journalism]] in 1967.<ref name="syracuse">[http://provost.syr.edu/lectures/Ivins.asp Syracuse U. Bio] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060906092922/http://provost.syr.edu/lectures/Ivins.asp |date=2006-09-06 }}, retrieved 11/6/06.</ref><ref name="pbsnow">[https://www.pbs.org/now/politics/ivins05.html NOW, Ivins' Bio], retrieved 11/6/06.</ref> |
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==Career== |
==Career== |
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While at Smith, Ivins spent three summers as an intern at the ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. Her jobs there included the complaint department as well as "sewer editor", as she put it, responsible for reporting on the nuts and bolts of local city life. |
While at Smith, Ivins spent three summers as an intern at the ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. Her jobs there included the complaint department as well as "sewer editor", as she put it, responsible for reporting on the nuts and bolts of local city life. |
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After graduating from Columbia, she took a job in the Twin Cities at the ''[[Minneapolis Tribune]]'', where she covered "militant blacks, angry Indians, radical students, uppity women and a motley assortment of other misfits and troublemakers".<ref>[http://www.freepress.org/columns/display/1 The Free Press – Independent Media – Molly Ivins], retrieved 12/16/2008</ref> |
After graduating from Columbia, she took a job in the Twin Cities at the ''[[Minneapolis Tribune]]'', where she covered "militant blacks, angry Indians, radical students, uppity women and a motley assortment of other misfits and troublemakers".<ref>[http://www.freepress.org/columns/display/1 The Free Press – Independent Media – Molly Ivins] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051110210547/http://www.freepress.org/columns/display/1 |date=2005-11-10 }}, retrieved 12/16/2008</ref> |
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In 1970 Ivins left the ''Tribune'' for the city of [[Austin, Texas]], hired by [[Ronnie Dugger]], |
In 1970 Ivins left the ''Tribune'' for the city of [[Austin, Texas]], hired by [[Ronnie Dugger]], |
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}}</ref> to be the co-editor and political reporter for the ''[[Texas Observer]]''.<ref name="rebel_life">{{cite book |title= Molly Ivins: A Rebel Life|last= Minutaglio|first= Bill|authorlink= |author2=W. Michael Smith|year= 2009|publisher= PublicAffairs|location= New York|isbn= 978-1-58648-717-1|page= |pages= |url= |accessdate=}}</ref> She covered the [[Texas Legislature]] and befriended folklorist [[John Henry Faulk]], Secretary of State [[Bob Bullock]] and future Governor [[Ann Richards]], among others. She also gained increasing national attention through op-ed and feature stories in ''[[The New York Times]]'' and ''[[The Washington Post]]'' along with a busy speaking schedule inside and outside Texas.<ref name="rebel_life"/> The ''Times'', concerned that its prevailing writing style was too staid and lifeless, hired her away from the ''Observer'' in 1976,<ref>[http://archive.salon.com/people/bc/2000/12/12/ivins/index2.html Salon.com], retrieved 11/6/06.</ref> and she wrote for the ''Times'' until 1982. During her run there, Ivins became [[Rocky Mountains|Rocky Mountain]] bureau chief, covering nine western states, although she was known to say she was named chief because there was no one else in the bureau.<ref name="dmnobit">Hoppe, Christy.[http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/020107glivinsobit.ba369f.html Columnist, author Molly Ivins dies,] ''[[The Dallas Morning News]]'', January 31, 2007 (retrieved January 31, 2007)</ref> Ivins also wrote the [https://www.nytimes.com/books/99/01/03/specials/presley-obit.html obituary for Elvis Presley] in ''[[The New York Times]]'' for the August 17, 1977 edition. Generally, her more colorful writing style clashed with the editors' expectations, and in 1980, after she wrote about a "community chicken-killing festival" in New Mexico and called it a "gang-pluck", she was recalled to New York as punishment. When [[A.M. Rosenthal|Abe Rosenthal]], editor of the ''Times'', accused her of trying to inspire readers to think "dirty thoughts" with these words, her response was, "Damn if I could fool you, Mr. Rosenthal." One friend saw her rebellion against the ''Times'' authority structure as a continuation of her rebellion against her father's authority.<ref name="rebel_life"/> In late 1981, after receiving an offer from the ''[[Dallas Times Herald]]'' to write a column about anything she liked, Ivins left New York for Dallas.<ref name="rebel_life"/> |
}}</ref> to be the co-editor and political reporter for the ''[[Texas Observer]]''.<ref name="rebel_life">{{cite book |title= Molly Ivins: A Rebel Life|last= Minutaglio|first= Bill|authorlink= |author2=W. Michael Smith|year= 2009|publisher= PublicAffairs|location= New York|isbn= 978-1-58648-717-1|page= |pages= |url= |accessdate=}}</ref> She covered the [[Texas Legislature]] and befriended folklorist [[John Henry Faulk]], Secretary of State [[Bob Bullock]] and future Governor [[Ann Richards]], among others. She also gained increasing national attention through op-ed and feature stories in ''[[The New York Times]]'' and ''[[The Washington Post]]'' along with a busy speaking schedule inside and outside Texas.<ref name="rebel_life"/> The ''Times'', concerned that its prevailing writing style was too staid and lifeless, hired her away from the ''Observer'' in 1976,<ref>[http://archive.salon.com/people/bc/2000/12/12/ivins/index2.html Salon.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304080626/http://archive.salon.com/people/bc/2000/12/12/ivins/index2.html |date=2009-03-04 }}, retrieved 11/6/06.</ref> and she wrote for the ''Times'' until 1982. During her run there, Ivins became [[Rocky Mountains|Rocky Mountain]] bureau chief, covering nine western states, although she was known to say she was named chief because there was no one else in the bureau.<ref name="dmnobit">Hoppe, Christy.[http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/020107glivinsobit.ba369f.html Columnist, author Molly Ivins dies,] ''[[The Dallas Morning News]]'', January 31, 2007 (retrieved January 31, 2007)</ref> Ivins also wrote the [https://www.nytimes.com/books/99/01/03/specials/presley-obit.html obituary for Elvis Presley] in ''[[The New York Times]]'' for the August 17, 1977 edition. Generally, her more colorful writing style clashed with the editors' expectations, and in 1980, after she wrote about a "community chicken-killing festival" in New Mexico and called it a "gang-pluck", she was recalled to New York as punishment. When [[A.M. Rosenthal|Abe Rosenthal]], editor of the ''Times'', accused her of trying to inspire readers to think "dirty thoughts" with these words, her response was, "Damn if I could fool you, Mr. Rosenthal." One friend saw her rebellion against the ''Times'' authority structure as a continuation of her rebellion against her father's authority.<ref name="rebel_life"/> In late 1981, after receiving an offer from the ''[[Dallas Times Herald]]'' to write a column about anything she liked, Ivins left New York for Dallas.<ref name="rebel_life"/> |
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Ivins wrote for the ''[[Dallas Times Herald]]'' for ten years and was nominated for the [[Pulitzer Prize]] twice.<ref name="rebel_life"/><ref>{{cite web|title=The Pulitzer Prizes, Commentary|url=http://www.pulitzer.org/bycat/Commentary|website=www.pulitzer.org|accessdate=9 March 2015}}</ref> By 1985 the editors had moved her to the paper's Austin bureau to reduce friction with Dallas city leaders.<ref name="rebel_life"/> Her freelance work and speaking engagements continued to grow, and she hired Elizabeth Faulk, John Henry Faulk's widow, as a personal assistant. In 1991, her book ''Molly Ivins Can't Say That, Can She?'' was published, and spent 29 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Also in 1991, rival newspaper ''[[The Dallas Morning News]]'' bought the ''Times Herald'' and closed it down. The ''[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]]'' immediately made Ivins an offer and said she could stay in Austin. Ivins accepted, and wrote a column for the Fort Worth paper from 1992 until 2001, when she became an independent journalist. Her column, syndicated by [http://www.creators.com/opinion/molly-ivins-about.html Creators Syndicate], eventually appeared in nearly 400 newspapers nationwide. |
Ivins wrote for the ''[[Dallas Times Herald]]'' for ten years and was nominated for the [[Pulitzer Prize]] twice.<ref name="rebel_life"/><ref>{{cite web|title=The Pulitzer Prizes, Commentary|url=http://www.pulitzer.org/bycat/Commentary|website=www.pulitzer.org|accessdate=9 March 2015}}</ref> By 1985 the editors had moved her to the paper's Austin bureau to reduce friction with Dallas city leaders.<ref name="rebel_life"/> Her freelance work and speaking engagements continued to grow, and she hired Elizabeth Faulk, John Henry Faulk's widow, as a personal assistant. In 1991, her book ''Molly Ivins Can't Say That, Can She?'' was published, and spent 29 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Also in 1991, rival newspaper ''[[The Dallas Morning News]]'' bought the ''Times Herald'' and closed it down. The ''[[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]]'' immediately made Ivins an offer and said she could stay in Austin. Ivins accepted, and wrote a column for the Fort Worth paper from 1992 until 2001, when she became an independent journalist. Her column, syndicated by [http://www.creators.com/opinion/molly-ivins-about.html Creators Syndicate], eventually appeared in nearly 400 newspapers nationwide. |
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Ivins also remained a board member and contributor to the Texas Democracy Foundation, which publishes the ''Texas Observer'' in Austin.<ref>Joe Holley, the Columbia Journalism Review, [http://archives.cjr.org/year/95/1/texas.asp ''A mid-life crisis in Texas''], January/February 1995. Retrieved February 4, 2007.</ref> |
Ivins also remained a board member and contributor to the Texas Democracy Foundation, which publishes the ''Texas Observer'' in Austin.<ref>Joe Holley, the Columbia Journalism Review, [http://archives.cjr.org/year/95/1/texas.asp ''A mid-life crisis in Texas''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070213021706/http://archives.cjr.org/year/95/1/texas.asp |date=2007-02-13 }}, January/February 1995. Retrieved February 4, 2007.</ref> |
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==Controversy== |
==Controversy== |
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==Death== |
==Death== |
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In 1999, Ivins was diagnosed with [[cancer staging|stage III]] [[inflammatory breast cancer]]. The cancer recurred in 2003 and again in late 2005. In January 2006, she reported that she was again undergoing [[chemotherapy]].<ref name="chemo">[http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/3618697.html ''Houston Chronicle'', expired link]</ref> In December 2006, she took leave from her column to again undergo treatment.<ref name="eandp">[http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/departments/syndicates/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003520952 Ivins Takes Leave for Cancer Treatment]</ref> She wrote two columns in January 2007 but returned to the hospital on the 26th for further treatment.<ref>[http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4502269.html Ivins hospitalized in ongoing cancer fight]</ref> Ivins died at her [[Austin, Texas]], home in [[hospice care]] on January 31, 2007, at age 62.<ref>{{cite news|first= |last= |authorlink= |title=Newspaper Columnist Molly Ivins Dies at 62 |date=1 February 2007 |publisher=Voice of America |url=http://voanews.com/english/archive/2007-02/2007-02-01-voa21.cfm |work=VOA News |pages= |accessdate=25 December 2008 |language= |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202192056/http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2007-02/2007-02-01-voa21.cfm |archivedate=December 2, 2008 }}</ref> |
In 1999, Ivins was diagnosed with [[cancer staging|stage III]] [[inflammatory breast cancer]]. The cancer recurred in 2003 and again in late 2005. In January 2006, she reported that she was again undergoing [[chemotherapy]].<ref name="chemo">[http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/3618697.html ''Houston Chronicle'', expired link]</ref> In December 2006, she took leave from her column to again undergo treatment.<ref name="eandp">[http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/departments/syndicates/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003520952 Ivins Takes Leave for Cancer Treatment] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930033544/http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/departments/syndicates/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003520952 |date=2007-09-30 }}</ref> She wrote two columns in January 2007 but returned to the hospital on the 26th for further treatment.<ref>[http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4502269.html Ivins hospitalized in ongoing cancer fight]</ref> Ivins died at her [[Austin, Texas]], home in [[hospice care]] on January 31, 2007, at age 62.<ref>{{cite news|first= |last= |authorlink= |title=Newspaper Columnist Molly Ivins Dies at 62 |date=1 February 2007 |publisher=Voice of America |url=http://voanews.com/english/archive/2007-02/2007-02-01-voa21.cfm |work=VOA News |pages= |accessdate=25 December 2008 |language= |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202192056/http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2007-02/2007-02-01-voa21.cfm |archivedate=December 2, 2008 }}</ref> |
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After her death, [[George W. Bush]], a frequent target of her barbs, said in a statement, "I respected her convictions, her passionate belief in the power of words. She fought her illness with that same passion. Her quick wit and commitment will be missed."<ref name="apobit">Kelley Shannon, [[Associated Press]], [https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070201/ap_on_re_us/obit_ivins;_ylt=Anz3czW3QVIxzXQaYfjommus0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3MjBwMWtkBHNlYwM3MTg- Syndicated columnist Molly Ivins dies], February 1, 2007.</ref> |
After her death, [[George W. Bush]], a frequent target of her barbs, said in a statement, "I respected her convictions, her passionate belief in the power of words. She fought her illness with that same passion. Her quick wit and commitment will be missed."<ref name="apobit">Kelley Shannon, [[Associated Press]], [https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070201/ap_on_re_us/obit_ivins;_ylt=Anz3czW3QVIxzXQaYfjommus0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3MjBwMWtkBHNlYwM3MTg- Syndicated columnist Molly Ivins dies], February 1, 2007.</ref> |
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* [[Eugene V. Debs]] Award in the field of journalism (2003)<ref name="Creators"/> |
* [[Eugene V. Debs]] Award in the field of journalism (2003)<ref name="Creators"/> |
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* [[David Brower]] Award for journalism from the [[Sierra Club]] (2004)<ref name="Creators"/> |
* [[David Brower]] Award for journalism from the [[Sierra Club]] (2004)<ref name="Creators"/> |
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* [[David Nyhan]] Prize for Political Journalism from the [[Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics, and Public Policy]] at [[Harvard University]] (2006)<ref>[[Harvard University]], [http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/presspol/news_events/calendar_archive/2006_archive.htm David Nyhan Prize for Political Journalism], November 16, 2006. Retrieved February 1, 2007.</ref> |
* [[David Nyhan]] Prize for Political Journalism from the [[Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics, and Public Policy]] at [[Harvard University]] (2006)<ref>[[Harvard University]], [http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/presspol/news_events/calendar_archive/2006_archive.htm David Nyhan Prize for Political Journalism] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070217212657/http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/presspol/news_events/calendar_archive/2006_archive.htm |date=2007-02-17 }}, November 16, 2006. Retrieved February 1, 2007.</ref> |
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* [[The Molly]] National Journalism Prize from the [[Texas Democracy Foundation]] (2006)<ref>[http://www.texasobserver.org/event_molly_award.php The Molly Award], ''[[Texas Observer]]''; retrieved February 24, 2008.</ref> |
* [[The Molly]] National Journalism Prize from the [[Texas Democracy Foundation]] (2006)<ref>[http://www.texasobserver.org/event_molly_award.php The Molly Award], ''[[Texas Observer]]''; retrieved February 24, 2008.</ref> |
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In addition to these formal awards, Ivins said that she was particularly proud of two distinct honors: having the [[Minneapolis, Minnesota|Minneapolis]] police force's [[mascot]] pig named after her, and being banned from the [[Texas A&M University|Texas A&M]] campus.<ref>{{cite web| last =Newcomb| first =Douglas| title =The Long and Happy Life of a Political Columnist| work = Information Outlook| publisher = Special Libraries Association|date=May 2001| url = http://www.sla.org/content/Shop/Information/infoonline/2001/may01/ivins_may.cfm| accessdate = 2007-02-01}}</ref> |
In addition to these formal awards, Ivins said that she was particularly proud of two distinct honors: having the [[Minneapolis, Minnesota|Minneapolis]] police force's [[mascot]] pig named after her, and being banned from the [[Texas A&M University|Texas A&M]] campus.<ref>{{cite web| last = Newcomb| first = Douglas| title = The Long and Happy Life of a Political Columnist| work = Information Outlook| publisher = Special Libraries Association| date = May 2001| url = http://www.sla.org/content/Shop/Information/infoonline/2001/may01/ivins_may.cfm| accessdate = 2007-02-01| deadurl = yes| archiveurl = https://archive.is/20120210060501/http://www.sla.org/content/Shop/Information/infoonline/2001/may01/ivins_may.cfm| archivedate = 2012-02-10| df = }}</ref> |
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==Bibliography== |
==Bibliography== |
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{{wikiquote|Molly Ivins}} |
{{wikiquote|Molly Ivins}} |
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*[http://www.creators.com/opinion/molly-ivins/archive.html Molly Ivins column archive at ''Creators Syndicate''] |
*[http://www.creators.com/opinion/molly-ivins/archive.html Molly Ivins column archive at ''Creators Syndicate''] |
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*[http://www.creators.com/opinion/molly-ivins/molly-ivins-tribute.html Molly Ivins tribute A tribute to Molly Ivins, written by her long-time editor Anthony Zurcher.] |
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070203044802/http://www.creators.com/opinion/molly-ivins/molly-ivins-tribute.html Molly Ivins tribute A tribute to Molly Ivins, written by her long-time editor Anthony Zurcher.] |
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*[http://www.alternet.org/columnists/1406/ Stories by Molly Ivins at ''AlterNet''] |
*[http://www.alternet.org/columnists/1406/ Stories by Molly Ivins at ''AlterNet''] |
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*[http://womenshistory.about.com/od/quotes/a/molly_ivins.htm Selected Molly Ivins quotations] |
*[http://womenshistory.about.com/od/quotes/a/molly_ivins.htm Selected Molly Ivins quotations] |
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*[http://www.motherjones.com/news/update/2007/02/ivins_collected.html Molly Ivins ''Mother Jones'' archive] |
*[http://www.motherjones.com/news/update/2007/02/ivins_collected.html Molly Ivins ''Mother Jones'' archive] |
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*[http://www.startribune.com/blogs/oldnews/?p=126 Minneapolis Tribune article by Ivins on Honeywell protest, April 1970] |
*[http://www.startribune.com/blogs/oldnews/?p=126 Minneapolis Tribune article by Ivins on Honeywell protest, April 1970] |
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*[http://www.newsmeat.com/media_political_donations/Molly_Ivins.php Molly Ivins' campaign contributions] |
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050505090045/http://www.newsmeat.com/media_political_donations/Molly_Ivins.php Molly Ivins' campaign contributions] |
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*[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7115608 Interview excerpts on Fresh Air with Terry Gross from Oct. 3, 1991 and Oct. 7, 2003] |
*[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7115608 Interview excerpts on Fresh Air with Terry Gross from Oct. 3, 1991 and Oct. 7, 2003] |
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*{{IMDb name|997123|Molly Ivins}} |
*{{IMDb name|997123|Molly Ivins}} |
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Revision as of 03:48, 4 February 2018
Molly Ivins | |||||||||||||||||
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Texas Observer in the early 1970s and later moved to The New York Times. She became a columnist for the Dallas Times Herald in the 1980s, and then the Fort Worth Star-Telegram after the Times Herald was sold and shuttered. The column was subsequently syndicated by Creators Syndicate and carried by hundreds of newspapers. The Forbes Media Guide Five Hundred, 1994 stated:
Early lifeIvins was born in Houston, Texas. Her father, Jim Ivins, known as "General Jim" because of his rigid authoritarianism (or sometimes "Admiral Jim" for his love of sailing), was an oil and gas executive, and the family lived in Houston's affluent River Oaks neighborhood.[2]
Ivins graduated from student newspaper of St. John's School, though she never wrote any of the political columns that would become her specialty later in life. Ivins later became co-editor of the arts and culture section of the student paper. In addition, she frequently participated in theater productions and earned a lifetime membership in Johnnycake, the drama club.
Ivins enrolled in Institute of Political Science in Paris and received her B.A. in history in 1966. She earned a master's degree from Columbia University's School of Journalism in 1967.[3][4]
CareerWhile at Smith, Ivins spent three summers as an intern at the Houston Chronicle. Her jobs there included the complaint department as well as "sewer editor", as she put it, responsible for reporting on the nuts and bolts of local city life. After graduating from Columbia, she took a job in the Twin Cities at the In 1970 Ivins left the Tribune for the city of Austin, Texas, hired by Ronnie Dugger,
Ivins wrote for the Dallas Times Herald for ten years and was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize twice.[2][9] By 1985 the editors had moved her to the paper's Austin bureau to reduce friction with Dallas city leaders.[2] Her freelance work and speaking engagements continued to grow, and she hired Elizabeth Faulk, John Henry Faulk's widow, as a personal assistant. In 1991, her book Molly Ivins Can't Say That, Can She? was published, and spent 29 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Also in 1991, rival newspaper The Dallas Morning News bought the Times Herald and closed it down. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram immediately made Ivins an offer and said she could stay in Austin. Ivins accepted, and wrote a column for the Fort Worth paper from 1992 until 2001, when she became an independent journalist. Her column, syndicated by Creators Syndicate, eventually appeared in nearly 400 newspapers nationwide. Ivins also remained a board member and contributor to the Texas Democracy Foundation, which publishes the Texas Observer in Austin.[10] ControversyIn 1995, humorist Florence King wrote in a The American Enterprise article that Ivins had plagiarized King's work in a 1988 Mother Jones article.[1] Like Ivins, King—who was referred to as the "Queen of Mean" by the National Review, which published her columns—pulled no punches in her writing. David Rubien, writing in Salon.com, described the incident: "In a 1995 article for Mother Jones on Southern manners and mores, she extensively quoted, with affectionate attribution, statements from Florence King's book Southern Ladies and Gentlemen. But for some careless reason Ivins still fails to comprehend, she left the attribution off a few King statements."[11] Ivins had also mistakenly included her own words in a quotation she attributed to King. Ivins wrote a letter of apology to King, but characteristically ended it with: "As for the rest of your observations about me and my work..., boy you really are a mean bitch, aren't you? Sincerely, Molly Ivins, plagiarist." The American Enterprise published Ivins's apology and King's reply in a later issue.[12] DeathIn 1999, Ivins was diagnosed with hospice care on January 31, 2007, at age 62.[16]
After her death, George W. Bush, a frequent target of her barbs, said in a statement, "I respected her convictions, her passionate belief in the power of words. She fought her illness with that same passion. Her quick wit and commitment will be missed."[17] From August 23 to October 28, 2012, actress BeliefsWriting from an unabashed populist perspective,[20] Ivins repeatedly described herself as a populist and, on some occasions, as a left-libertarian.[21] Ivins peppered her columns with colorful phrases to create the "feel" of Texas. Her writings often employ irony and satirical humor to make a very serious point. For example, in her 1993 essay "Taking a Stab at Our Infatuation with Guns", she begins by saying:[22]
When outraged by instances of what she considered malfeasance or stupidity on the part of public officials, she couched her argument in an air of stunned amusement. She enjoyed telling stories about the Texas Legislature, which she simply called "The Lege", calling it one of the most corrupt, incompetent, and funniest governing bodies in the nation—a well she dipped into on a regular basis. For example:
In 2003, she coined the term "Great Liberal Backlash of 2003", and was a passionate critic of the 2003 Iraq War.[24] She is also credited with applying the nicknames "Shrub" and "Dubdub" to George W. Bush .
Ivins supported Martin Luther King's birthday.[25]
Quotations
On the subject of liberals, supporters of abortion and gay rights, and for his comparison of American politics to religious warfare, Ivins famously quipped that the speech had "probably sounded better in the original German", noting the similarity between the concept of "culture war" and the Kulturkampf of Otto von Bismarck's Germany.[26]
"We are the people who run this country. We are the deciders. And every single day, every single one of us needs to step outside and take some action to help stop this war...We need people in the streets, banging pots and pans and demanding, 'Stop it, now!'" (from her last column)[27] "Having breast cancer is massive amounts of no fun. First they mutilate you; then they poison you; then they burn you. I have been on blind dates better than that."[28] "So keep fightin' for freedom and justice, beloveds, but don't you forget to have fun doin' it. Lord, let your laughter ring forth. Be outrageous, ridicule the fraidy-cats, rejoice in all the oddities that freedom can produce. And when you get through kickin' ass and celebratin' the sheer joy of a good fight, be sure to tell those who come after how much fun it was."—quoted by John Nichols for The Nation[29] Original source: "The Fun's in the Fight" column for Mother Jones, 1993.[30] Part of the original quote is currently posted in The Daily Beast offices. [31] On Bill Clinton: "If left to my own devices, I'd spend all my time pointing out that he's weaker than bus-station chili. But the man is so constantly subjected to such hideous and unfair abuse that I wind up standing up for him on the general principle that some fairness should be applied. Besides, no one but a fool or a Republican ever took him for a liberal." (Introduction to You Got to Dance With Them What Brung You)[32] On James M. Collins, U.S. Representative, R-Dallas: "If his IQ slips any lower we'll have to water him twice a day." Collins had said that the current energy crisis could be averted if "we didn't use all that gas on school busing...."[33] Ivins' quote engendered substantial controversy, with calls and letters pouring into her newspaper, The Dallas Times Herald. The newspaper turned the controversy into a publicity campaign, with billboards all over the city asking, "Molly Ivins Can't Say That, Can She?"—which she later employed as the title for her first book.[34] "Of Bush's credentials as an economic conservative, there is no question at all—he owes his political life to big corporate money; he's a CEO's wet dream. He carries their water, he's stumpbroke—however you put it, George W. Bush is a wholly owned subsidiary of corporate America. ... We can find no evidence that it has ever occurred to him to question whether it is wise to do what big business wants."[35] Awards
In addition to these formal awards, Ivins said that she was particularly proud of two distinct honors: having the Minneapolis police force's mascot pig named after her, and being banned from the Texas A&M campus.[43]
Bibliography
Notes
References
External links
 Wikiquote has quotations related to Molly Ivins.
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