Doris “Granny D” Haddock
1910 – 2010
“Granny D” was surely one of the greatest Americans of all time. In 2005 we were “moved beyond words” when she helped to launch VelvetRevolution.us, the activist organization co-founded early that year by The BRAD BLOG.
More on this extraordinary patriot who, at the age of 89 walked 3,200 miles from coast to coast to draw attention to the need for campaign finance form, and kept up the fight until the day she died, right here and here.
This nation could use millions more like her. Our loss today is immeasurable.
She sounds amazing. I’m sorry she’s gone.
A national treasure. She will really be missed.
Much respect due.
Hey Brad,
thanks for posting this. I posted my own comments about Granny D at http://www.ospirg.org/home/blog...an-hero-passes
I had the pleasure of meeting her a couple of times, and she was a real inspiration. Her legacy will live on for a long long time.
What a shock this news was to me. I didn’t see anything on CNN/FOX about her passing away.
Being from Oklahoma, I had never heard about her until just 2 months ago.
Thank you Bradblog for making this news!!
I just ‘discovered’ her on NetFlix this year when I watched the documentary. I was so transfixed on her energy & devotion to saving America that I wanted to walk out the front door & do my walk across America.
They will never make another one like her in American history. Granny, we will miss you dearly.
SilverFox –
I do believe CNN ran a 30 second spot on it. Somewhere amidst the hours they were spending on the tickle-fighting Congressman and calling the DoJ the “Dept. of Jihad”, as I recall. Ya know, the stuff that actually matters at CNN, “the most trusted named in news”.
Rachel Maddow did a nice little segment at the end of her show on Wednesday.
I have never heard of this remarkable woman. Sometimes you just have to die to get noticed. I’ll bet Granny D wouldn’t have a problem with that.
As long as she’s noticed, of course!
In 2004 Granny D showed up at the Citrus Festival in Winter Haven, FL to register new voters. She had a decked out van and they gave her a space in an obscure part of the grounds. She told me the doctor told her her walk across the nation had cleared her arteries and she had the body of a 60 year old. Later that year, when I visited NH, she had decided to run against Sen. Judd Gregg because the original opponent had to drop out, ergo: the movie Run Granny Run. I wish NH had had the foresight to elect her like VT elected Mr. Tucker in his primary for the Senate. I will miss her always.
She also wrote some of the best speeches in our political history.
Her friends maintained a web site – http://www.grannyd.com/ – which tells of her campaign for the Senate at age 94, her work on election reform both in support of the McCain/Feinburg legislation and a voter registration drive she undertook targeting working women and minority voters in swing states.
It records more about her life, other activist undertakings…
She was arrested for reading the Declaration of Independence in the Capitol Rotunda. Her statement before the judge is another great performance – http://www.grannyd.com/speeches...may24-2000.htm. One quote: ” I am glad we were only reading from the Declaration of Independence –I shudder to think what might have happened had we read from the Bill of Rights.”
The site has an archive of her speeches. http://www.grannyd.com/speeches.html
I like particularly The Orchard House Speech – “We are resolved to follow our national dream.” [It’s long but I think you’ll find surprises as well as wisdom.]
http://www.grannyd.com/speeches/orchardhouse.htm