Golda Meir

by June

I am most impressed with Golda Meir. She came to the US as a Russian immigrant and settled with her family in Milwaukee, Wisc. She married and went to Palestine in 1921 with her husband and lived in a Kibbutz. She served as the Minister of Labor from 1949-1956. As the Minister of Labor she began many social reforms such as subsidized housing for the large influx of immigrants. Golda seved as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1956-1966.

Golda was elected Prime Minister of Israel in 1969 and served until 1974. She served during the hardest wars of Israel's independence and was instrumental in its survival. She was known for her strong will, skilled diplomacy, personality, negotiation and grandmother image. During the Yom Kippur War she was able to secure financial aide and military arms in unprecendanted spending and quantity.

Her own children were in danger in a military decision that had to be made. When officials told her to warn them and get them out, Golda said no. Who would warn and get the others from the Kibbutz?

Golda quote: "To be successful, a woman has to be much better at her job than a man."

Golda gave up so much to help create and establish a country she firmly believed in.