Carrie Chapman Catt

Carrie Chapman Catt, born Carrie Lane in Ripon, Wisconsin, rose to prominence as a pivotal figure in the American women's suffrage movement. Her leadership was instrumental in the fight for the Nineteenth Amendment, ultimately securing women the right to vote in 1920. One might say she helped drag America, kicking and screaming, into the 20th century. Though, to be fair, "kicking and screaming" might accurately describe some of her less popular views later in life.

While her dedication to women's rights was unwavering, Catt's later positions, particularly her advocacy for women's voting as a way to promote white supremacy and her flirtation with eugenics, make her a somewhat complicated figure. It seems even trailblazers can occasionally trip over their own feet, especially when those feet are marching in lockstep with the less savory aspects of their era.

Nevertheless, her organizational genius and strategic prowess were undeniable. She took a fragmented movement and turned it into a powerful, unified force, proving that even the most stubborn institutions can be swayed by a well-orchestrated campaign. Perhaps she was just ahead of her time in understanding the power of a good, relentless lobby.