Margaret Heckler
Melady Round of Lectures sponsored by the Knights of Columbus (Potomac Council)
at the
Catholic Information Center
“Ireland Unwrapped in 2003”
by Margaret Mary O’Shaughnessy Heckler
Former United States Ambassador to Ireland; United States
Congresswoman; Secretary of Health and Human Services
Introductory remarks by Thomas Patrick Melady – former
United States Ambassador to the Vatican
Time: March 12, 2003; Mass: 12:05 PM; Lecture: 12:40 PM; Informal buffet: 1:20 p.m. Place: Catholic Information Center; 1501 K St, NW, Washington, DC 20005; (202) 783-2062 RSVP: By March 10th, call Jim Sebolka (703) 941-1999 or email: sebolka@usa.net for lecture & buffet reservation, or fill in the reservation card at the Catholic Information Center, Seating is limited.
Margaret Mary O’Shaughnessy Heckler:
Heckler studied at the University of Leiden, The Netherlands and received a B.A. from Albertus Magnus College. She received an LL.
B. from Boston College Law School where she was editor of the law review. She was admitted to the Massachusetts bar; then
elected to the Massachusetts Governor’s Council.
Heckler was then elected eight terms as U. S. Congresswoman for the 10 District of Massachusetts. In Congress, Heckler devoted
much of her attention to the problems and needs of veterans and eventually became the second-ranking Republican member of the
Veterans’ Affairs Committee. She favored installation of aging centers in Veterans’ Administration hospitals and the creation of
counseling facilities for veterans of the Vietnam War.
In addition, she served at various times on the Committee on Government Operations; Banking and Currency; Agriculture; Science
and Technology; the Select Committee on Ethics and also the Joint Economic Committee.
Heckler supported the proposed Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution. She also drafted the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and
was a cofounder of the Congressional Caucus for Women’s Issues. Heckler opposed the use of federal funds for abortions and
endorsed tuition tax credits for parents with children in private, non-profit schools.
While serving as a Congresswoman, she proved herself to be a strong defender of the rights of the less fortunate. She served as a
leading advocate on women’s issues and childcare for working parents.
After 16 years as a Congresswoman, She became Madam Secretary, the Secretary of Health and Human Services. At the Swearing-
In Ceremony for her the President remarked:
Today I’m pleased to say that we welcome aboard someone that I know will be a valuable member of this administration. Now, some have charged that Margaret Heckler was offered the job because this administration is partial to a certain ethnic group in our society — [laughter] — and that I want to keep their favor. [Speaking with an Irish brogue] Now, let me be telling you — that
Margaret Heckler being an Irish colleen has nothing at all to do with this appointment. [Laughter]”
Seriously, Margaret is the daughter of Irish immigrants, and her first ambition was to play the concert piano. Lucky for us she chose a political career instead, where she might add harmony in a much more difficult place to create it. [Laughter]
As Secretary of Health and Human Services, she set herself the goal of being a “catalyst for caring” in America. She had oversight of 142,000 employees and an annual budget of $274 billion. At that time, only two budgets in the world were greater than that — the entire budget of the United States Government and the budget of the Soviet Union.
Later, the President appointed her Ambassador to Ireland for four years.