Independent Women's Forum - Research Areas > Miscellaneous

William F. Buckley, Jr. 1925-2008

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 13:26:00 EST

The Independent Women's Forum is saddened to learn of the loss of William F. Buckley Jr., founder of National Review and a leader of the conservative movement. Mr. Buckley had a profound impact on America and will be lived on by the numerous publications, scholars, and nonprofit organizations that have joined the battle of ideas as a result of his leadership. Our sympathies are with his family and many friends.
—Michelle D. Bernard, President and CEO

IWF Mourns Elizabeth Lurie

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 11:00:00 EST

The Independent Women's Forum mourns the loss of Elizabeth Brady Lurie, an IWF founder and a stalwart supporter without whom IWF would not exist. Elizabeth Lurie, who died last Wednesday, November 21, at her home in Sedona, Arizona, believed in the power of ideas.

"Elizabeth Lurie was a truly independent thinker," said IWF Chairman Heather R. Higgins, "thoughtful, original, and fearless-all of which was tempered with a lively sense of humor. She was a bold grantmaker, a visionary agent of change, and consistently deployed limited resources so that they had a substantial effect. She played a critical role in IWF's early years. She also touched many lives, and will be missed."

Elizabeth worked tirelessly for the Brady Corporation of Milwaukee Wisconsin, the company founded by her grandfather, William H. Brady Sr., serving as a board member and later as an advisor. Through her work with the W. H. Brady Foundation, she contributed enormously to the vibrancy of many institutions that are key to the country's cultural and policy debates.

"Elizabeth gave generously of her time and support to matters of public policy, art, literature, and to the needs of her community," a family statement noted. "She loved all sorts of people, books, and art of every kind and at every opportunity a good healthy debate about the things that mattered to her. Perhaps most of all Elizabeth believed strongly that every person should have a passion for something worthy of service and sacrifice."

Mrs. Lurie often proudly recalled that her father, William H Brady Jr., loved to assign his children the task of writing essays on provocative topics. "It is not government, it is not dictators or presidents or generals or popes who rule the world. It's ideas," he famously declared. This had an enormous impact on Elizabeth, who retained her love of matters of the mind and philosophical discussion for the rest of her life. She was a woman of great intellect.

"She knew that only ideas can move society towards a place that reflects the best values of a free and flourishing society and was willing to work and contribute to promoting the best ideas," said Carol T. Crawford, an IWF board member.

Mrs. Lurie was preceded in death by her husband Shy Lurie. She is survived by her daughter Dr. Elizabeth Pungello, currently a director of the Brady Corporation, her son-in-law Robert Pungello, her grandchildren Daniel, Hope, and Mia. Other survivors include her stepson Scott Lurie, his wife Julie and their daughters Victoria and Jordon and her stepdaughter Cheryl Lurie. She is also survived by her brother William H Brady, III.

The family asks that remembrances be sent to the Elizabeth Brady Lurie Fund for Arts and Literature at the Community Foundation of Western North Carolina P.O. Box 1888, Asheville, NC 28802.

Pelosi: "It's not a matter of size...."

info@iwf.org (Charlotte Hays) — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 11:11:00 EST

Speaking of women in space (see Lisa Nowak item below), Nancy Pelosi has learned that, having broken the alleged "marble ceiling," she is going to have to break the sound barrier in a smaller jet than she had originally requested:

"The Department of Defense yesterday sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that puts limits on the size of the plane she may use to travel across the country and restricts the guests she can bring, The Washington Times has learned.

"A congressional source who read the letter signed by Assistant Secretary of Defense Robert Wilkie said it essentially limits her to the commuter plane used by former Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, which requires refueling to travel from Washington to Mrs. Pelosi's San Francisco district. A second source, in the Bush administration, confirmed the contents of the letter.

"The Washington Times first reported last week that Mrs. Pelosi's staff was pressing the Department of Defense for an Air Force aircraft large enough to fly nonstop to San Francisco. She also has pressed to be able to include other members of the California congressional delegation, her family members and her staff on the plane.

"'It's not a question of size. It's a question of distance,' Mrs. Pelosi told reporters yesterday. 'We want an aircraft that can reach California.'"

Honoring Deborah Orin

info@iwf.org (Charlotte Hays) — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 13:17:00 EST

Deborah Orin, the ace New York Post reporter and columnist, who died last week, was described in her New York Times obituary as being known for her "conservative viewpoint." Well, maybe so, journalism being what it is nowadays. But Deborah, who lived in my building when she was in Washington and we sometimes chatted on the 42 bus, was more of an old-fashioned Democrat who worshipped New York Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and a woman committed to honest reporting. A mutual friend sends along word of Deborah's memorial service in New York:

Sunday, February 11th at 2pm sharp

Gramercy Park Memorial Chapel
152 Second Avenue
New York
New York 10003

Reception to follow, no RSVP required

Duke Lacrosse Update

info@iwf.org (Allison Kasic) — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 10:08:00 EST

For the first time since the indictment, members of the grand jury for the Duke lacrosse case are speaking out. Two jurors recently talked to ABC's Good Morning America:

"When asked whether he would have made the same decision today to indict lacrosse players Collin Finnerty, Reade Seligmann and David Evans, the first grand juror said he had second thoughts.

"'Knowing what I know now and all that’s been broadcast on the news and in media, I think I would have definitely ... made a different decision,' he said to ABC News.

"'I don’t think I could have made a decision to go forward with the charges that were put before us. I don’t think those charges would have been the proper charges, based on what I know now,' he said.

"In contrast, the second grand juror said he did not regret the decision to indict, but he said that he now had new doubts based on what he had learned as the case had unfolded.

"'I don’t know for sure whether she was raped, you know, because of everything that ... came out,' he said. 'I’m not sure, to tell you the truth.'"

Check out the whole story here.

New IWF Podcast

info@iwf.org (Allison Kasic) — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 15:29:00 EST

If you haven’t already checked it out, I encourage you to listen to Charlotte Hays’ interview with Dr. Elizabeth Kantor. They discuss Elizabeth’s new book, The Politically Incorrect Guide to English and American Literature, which we’ve discussed here on Inkwell.

You can access the audio file over on our podcast page.

Let poppies bloom in Afghanistan?

info@iwf.org (Charlotte Hays) — Tue, 16 Jan 2007 13:45:00 EST

I am in favor of legalizing drugs. This is my opinion, not the IWF's. Holding it, I sincerely wish the U.S. would stop trying to get poor farmers in Afghanistan to cease growing one of their few good sources of revenue: opium poppies.

I don't know what Post columnist Anne Applebaum thinks about drug legalization, but she makes the point that harassing the poor Afghanis about their most important cash crop is likely to have disastrous consequences -- and that it's also quite unnecessary:

"[B]y far the most depressing aspect of the Afghan poppy crisis is that it exists at all -- because it doesn’t have to. To see what I mean, look at the history of Turkey, where once upon a time the drug trade also threatened the country’s political and economic stability. Just like Afghanistan, Turkey had a long tradition of poppy cultivation. Just like Afghanistan, Turkey worried that poppy eradication could 'bring down the government.' Just like Afghanistan, Turkey -- this was the era of 'Midnight Express'-- was identified as the main source of the heroin sold in the West. Just like in Afghanistan, a ban was tried, and it failed.

"As a result, in 1974 the Turks, with American and U.N. support, tried a different tactic. They began licensing poppy cultivation for the purpose of producing morphine, codeine and other legal opiates. Legal factories were built to replace the illegal ones. Farmers registered to grow poppies, and they paid taxes. You wouldn’t necessarily know this from the latest White House drug strategy report which devotes several pages to Afghanistan but doesn’t mention Turkey -- but the U.S. government still supports the Turkish program, even requiring U.S. drug companies to purchase 80 percent of what the legal documents euphemistically refer to as 'narcotic raw materials' from the two traditional producers, Turkey and India.

"Why not add Afghanistan to this list? The only good arguments against doing so -- as opposed to the silly, politically correct 'just say no' arguments -- are technical: that the same weak or nonexistent bureaucracy will be no better at licensing poppy fields than it has been at destroying them, or that some of the raw material will still fall into the hands of the drug cartels. Yet some of these issues can be resolved, by building processing factories at the local level and working within local power structures. And even if the program succeeds in stopping only half of the drug trade, a huge chunk of Afghanistan’s economy will still emerge from the gray market; the power of the drug barons will be reduced; and, most important, Western money will have been visibly spent helping Afghan farmers survive, instead of destroying their livelihoods. The director of the Senlis Council, a group that studies the drug problem in Afghanistan, told me he reckons that the best way to "ensure more Western soldiers get killed" is to expand poppy eradication.

"Besides, things really could get worse. It isn’t so hard to imagine, two or three years down the line, yet another emergency presidential speech, calling for a 'surge' of troops to southern Afghanistan -- where impoverished villagers, having turned against the West, are joining the Taliban in droves. Before we get there, maybe it’s worth letting some legal poppies bloom."

What's going on outside our building?

info@iwf.org (Allison Kasic) — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 13:00:00 EST

I'm not sure, but I hear protesters. Clearly, I'm going downstairs to investigate. Stay tuned.

Life in the World's Third Most Populous Country--It's Great!

info@iwf.org (Charlotte Allen) — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 18:57:00 EDT

At 7:40 p.m. tonight (in just 50 minutes as I'm blogging this), the U.S. population will reach the 300 million mark. Blogstress Fausta links to this Forbes article about how much better off average Americans are than when the population hit the 200 million mark in 1967:

"Mr. and Mrs. Median's $46,326 in annual income is 32% more than their mid-'60s counterparts, even when adjusted for inflation, and 13% more than those at the median in the economic boom year of 1985. And thanks to ballooning real estate values, median household net worth has increased even faster. The typical American household has a net worth of $465,970, up 83% from 1965, 60% from 1985 and 35% from 1995.

"Throw in the low inflation of the past 20 years, a deregulated airline industry that's made travel much cheaper, plus technological progress that's provided the middle class with not only better cars and televisions, but every gadget from DVD players to iPods, all at lower and lower prices, and it's obvious that Mr. and Mrs. Median are living the life of Riley compared to their parents and grandparents."

So there, Malthusians!

Letter from the Chairman of IWF's Board of Directors

Fri, 21 Oct 2005 00:00:00 EDT

To IWF's Funders and Friends:

I am thrilled to announce that IWF has completed its search and that Michelle D. Bernard will assume the position of president and CEO on Jan. 2, 2006, when she returns from her maternity leave. (As of this writing the baby hasn't yet hatched, but is expected at any moment.)

We are delighted that Nancy Pfotenhauer will continue to serve as president and CEO until that time, and thereafter will participate actively as a member of IWF's board, working with fundraising and, of course, media.

Michelle's appointment culminates a thorough search for the best candidate to lead IWF into the future. I want to thank Ricky Silberman, Carol Crawford and Nancy Pfotenhauer for constituting such an excellent, thorough, and professional search committee.

After winnowing the field of applicants, our first round of interviews presented us with eight serious candidates. The caliber of these applicants demonstrates that the strategic importance of IWF to the greater public-policy debate is broadly appreciated. And it is also a testimony to Nancy Pfotenhauer's leadership. Thanks to Nancy, IWF is on solid footing financially, has reestablished its institutional presence, has focused and strenghtened its strategic vision, and presents today an organization filled with talented, dedicated people.

Nancy has consistently gone beyond the call of duty, committing herself to IWF's well being and always acting with professionalism, courtesy, and grace. IWF would not be where it is today, nor would it be in a position to attract the field of candidates that it did, without Nancy's selfless devotion and determination to see IWF through the bumpy times.

Michelle Bernard stood out clearly among those superb candidates as the person best able to lead IWF in the future. Michelle came to IWF in February 2004 as a senior fellow with an impressive resume: former partner at Patton, Boggs, LLP; CEO of her own law and lobbying firm, Bernard International; and chairman of the District of Columbia Redevelopment Land Agency. She quickly demonstrated a capacity for leadership, trenchant policy analysis, as well as articulate media appearances. Eight months after arriving at IWF, Michelle was named senior vice president. Since joining IWF, she has focused on judicial, legislative and foreign policy matters.

The board was particularly influenced by Michelle's outstanding work on IWF's Iraqi Women Leaders Program, the Iraqi Women's Educational Institute (IWEI), a joint project of IWF, the American Islamic Congress and the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. Michelle was instrumental in the conception of this initiative, which has successfully cultivated a nationwide, influential group of pro-democracy Iraqi women leaders and activists who are committed to working to strengthen and sustain democratic institutions in Iraq and assume leadership positions in political, economic, and decision making processes at the national and local levels. Michelle led IWF's efforts in being selected as one of six grantees in the U.S. Department of State's $10 million Iraqi women's democracy initiative and is the project administrator of the entire project. In April 2005, IWEI held a five-day conference in Jordan for 150 pro-democracy Iraqi women leaders on the principles and practice of democracy. Joined by two Congressional delegations, faculty and speakers from around the world, the conference was a great success.

Several delegations of Iraqi women visited the United States for training on issues ranging from micro-enterprise to women's human rights and the Iraqi constitution. Michelle and IWF have won rave reviews on the project, which is ongoing.

This past summer, when Nancy took a partial leave, Michelle's leadership skills came to the fore. As we looked at her work over the past two years and her dedication to the institution and to her colleagues, it was clear to all of us that IWF is extremely fortunate to have found a president whom we know we can rely on in the years ahead.

As we have the great fun of building IWF into the strategic force it can be, it is my hope that you will join with us and we will do it together.

Sincerely,
Heather R. Higgins
Chairman

IWF Names New President

Tue, 18 Oct 2005 00:00:00 EDT

Contact: Christie Hobbs
Phone: (202) 349-5889

WASHINGTON, DC -- The Independent Women's Forum (IWF) is pleased to announce that Senior Vice President Michelle D. Bernard has been named president and chief executive officer of IWF, beginning January 2, 2006.

"The board of IWF spent the last five weeks conducting a thorough search for the best candidate to lead IWF into the future, opening up the process not only internally, but externally as well," said Heather Higgins, chairman of IWF's board of directors. "After winnowing the field, we started with eight serious candidates, several of whom would have been excellent choices. We were delighted when, after multiple interviews, we concluded that the person who would work best as IWF's next president and CEO was our own Michelle Bernard, who has demonstrated exceptional leadership skillls and commitment to all that IWF is and can be."

Ms. Bernard joined IWF in February 2004. Since that time she has served as a senior fellow and most recently as IWF's senior vice president, working on domestic, international, and legal issues. She has focused on legislative and foreign policy matters pertaining to women. Ms. Bernard has distinguished herself as head of IWF's Iraqi women's democracy initiative and is the program officer of the Iraqi Women's Educational Institute (IWEI), a joint project of IWF, the American Islamic Congress, and the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies.

As a media commentator, Bernard has spoken on a variety of topics, including the war in Iraq, judicial appointments, and the political participation and voting trends of women and African Americans. She is eager that IWF not only develop its domestic programs further but also help advance the cause of economic liberty and human rights for women in other countries who do not enjoy the same status that women in the United States often take for granted.

Ms. Bernard came to IWF with an already impressive set of professional accomplishments. She was a partner at the Washington, D.C., law and lobbying firm, Patton Boggs, LLP. Before that, she served in the executive office of the Bush/Cheney 2000 Inaugural Committee and was chairman of the District of Columbia Redevelopment Land Agency.

On her appointment as president and CEO of IWF, Bernard said, "I am thrilled with the board's decision and look forward to bringing IWF to the next level in my new role as president."

Ms. Bernard will assume the presidency on January 2, 2006, when she returns from maternity leave. She is married to CNN correspondent Joe Johns and the couple already has a son, Logan Christopher.

Nancy M. Pfotenhauer will remain president and CEO of IWF until Ms. Bernard takes the helm. Thereafter, Ms. Pfotenhauer intends to remain active on the board and do media for IWF.