Gloria Steinem Instagram – Congresswoman Patricia Schroeder’s witty ability to make complex issues understandable was a model for other candidates, from dubbing Reagan “the Teflon President” to giving advice such as, “You can’t wring your hands and roll up your sleeves at the same time — pick one.” When contributions failed to reach $1 million in her 1988 presidential campaign, however, she withdrew in a tearful speech that got almost as much publicity as her whole campaign; a forerunner of the attention that Hillary Clinton would get for merely tearing up. Schroeder was seen as too emotional, and Clinton was seen as manipulative.  Still, from what I observed as I traveled the country, Schroeder had introduced humor and humanity into a presidential campaign, and that helped other women to imagine themselves in politics. Women’s lives, and all of our lives in this country, are better for having been touched by Patricia’s courage and leadership. Photo credit: Duane Howell/The Denver Post