Weddington, Sarah Ragle.

Sarah Ragle Weddington was born on February 5, 1945 in Abilene, Texas. She received a B.S. from McMurry College in Abilene in 1965 and a J.D. from the University of Texas at Austin in 1967. She practiced law in Austin, Texas from 1967 to 1977, and in 1970 and 1971 she was assistant city attorney in Ft. Worth, Texas. In 1973 she argued the abortion case Roe v. Wade before the U.S. Supreme Court. She served as a state legislator in the Texas House of Representatives from 1973 to 1977. In 1977 she came to Washington and served as General Counsel of the Department of Agriculture from 1977 to 1978. In October 1978 she became Special Assistant (Assistant after September 1979) to the President for Women's Affairs. Her work included two general functions. The first was to be the President's advisor on women's issues and to organize administration resources to enhance equality for women in American life. Weddington's second function was to serve as a liaison to leaders throughout the country to provide information, primarily through White House briefing sessions, about the work and focus of the Carter administration. In January 1981 she returned to Austin to practice law. From 1983 to 1985 she was the director of the Texas Office of State-Federal Relations in Washington, D.C. She has also held a variety of teaching positions since the early 1980s: visiting professor of government at Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts, 1981 to 1983; senior lecturer at Texas Women's University, 1981 to 1990, and 1993; Carl Hatch professor of law and public administration at the University of New Mexico, 1982 to 1983; and adjunct associate professor at the University of Texas at Austin since 1986. In 1992 she wrote a book about her experience with the court case Roe v. Wade, entitled A Question of Choice.

From the description of Weddington, Sarah Ragle, 1945- (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration). naId: 10572198

Lawyer, legislator.

From the description of Reminiscences of Sarah Ragle Weddington : oral history, 1976. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 86131453

Sarah Weddington was born in Abilene, Texas in 1945. After receiving her J.D. degree from the University of Texas, School of Law in 1967, Weddington began a career in law and politics, with a strong interest in women's rights. In 1973, shortly after completing law school, Weddington worked pro bono to represent a group of women who had established an abortion referral program at the University of Texas. Through this association, she successfully argued the landmark case Roe v. Wade, and in doing so, became the youngest person to win a case before the Supreme Court. Also in 1973, Weddington began her political career by becoming the first woman elected to the Texas House of Representatives. She continued to serve in this position for three terms. From 1978 until 1981, Weddington served as Assistant to President Jimmy Carter and directed the Administration's work on women's issues and leadership outreach. In 1977, she became the first woman to hold the position of General Counsel of the US Department of Agriculture, and was the first female Director of the Texas Office of State-Federal Relations from 1983 until 1985. In addition to her successful political career, Weddington worked with the community to establish women's equal rights by helping to establish the Foundation for Women's Resources. This organization sponsored activities such as the Leadership Texas and Leadership America programs and created the Women's Museum that opened in Dallas in September 2000. Because of her extensive work in politics and community service, especially through women's advocacy, Weddington has received numerous awards and honors. For example, in 1999 she was named Texas Woman of the Century by the Women's Chamber of Commerce of Texas and in 1998 was given the Leadership America's Hummingbird Award for contributions toward the advancement of women's leadership. Also, the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders awarded Weddington the Woman of Distinction Award (1993), and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America gave her the Margaret Sanger Award, the highest award of the organization. She was named one of Esquire Magazine's top ten "Outstanding Women in America" and was given the Ladies' Home Journal Woman of the Future Award. Weddington also holds honorary doctorates from McMurray University, Hamilton College, Austin College, Southwestern University, and Nova Southeastern University.

From the description of Sarah Weddington oral history interview [sound recording], 1998 April 15. (Georgia State University). WorldCat record id: 289029564

Sarah Ragle Weddington (1945- ), lawyer and assistant to President Jimmy Carter in the area of women's affairs during the Carter administration.

From the description of Sarah Ragle Weddington collection, 1977-1981. (Jimmy Carter Library). WorldCat record id: 38476275