Artifacts
Outspoken former actress Helen Gahagan Douglas of California became a spokesperson for liberal causes in the post-war era. Inspired to enter politics due to the widespread suffering she witnessed in the west during the Great Depression, Douglas spoke up for desegregation and labor rights, challenging reactionary policies such as the Committee on Un-American Activities and military oversight of nuclear research.
Helen Gahagen Douglas Campaign Button, 1944–1951, Collection of U.S. House of Representatives