Doris "Granny D" Haddock

DIED ON 3/9/2010 at the age of 100. May she rest in peace and her memory and spirit inspire the rest of us to be active and involved in supporting campaign finance reform and other social justice issues. (See more tribute to her on the 3/9/10 posting).

Ideal Use: Any political or motivational program; campaign finance reform, domestic and foreign policy

“Doris Haddock is a true patriot, and our nation has been blessed by her remarkable life”. Jimmy Carter

“I am intensely curious and I find each day of my life an adventure — which gets me into some challenging situations, such as becoming the Democratic Nominee to U.S. Senate in New Hampshire when I was 94. Politics is my passion, I’m an activist and have been fighting for campaign finance reform. I have 16 great grandchildren and I want them to grow up in a democracy that I would be proud of, rather than the current corrupt mess in D.C.”

At age 99, inspiring speaker Doris “Granny D” Haddock does have an agenda: activism for democracy. At 89, she embarked on a cross-country walk to promote campaign finance reform. She traveled as a pilgrim and took no food or shelter unless it was offered for free, and she said. “And I never went without a meal” Her personal example of sacrifice and non-violence is a powerful impetus towards a Culture of Peace. “It took me this long to get angry enough at how we are misrepresented. We have the power to get involved and set things right, instead of sitting at home and feeling like victims of our own system.”

After walking ten miles each day for fourteen months and making speeches along the way, Granny D arrived in Washington D.C. surprised to be met by 2,200 people, representing a wide variety of reform groups. Several dozen Members of Congress walked the final miles with her. Eventually the McCain Feingold campaign finance reform bill passed thanks in large part to Granny’s efforts.  A short film by Alidra Soldray titled “Granny D Goes to Washington” captures her spirit and impact and was shown on PBS.

Four years later when the presumed Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate dropped out of the race days before the filing deadline, Granny D – having just completed a more than 22,000 mile voter registration effort directed at working women – surprised everyone by deciding to challenge the incumbent. Granny D and her staff crafted a feisty, exhausting campaign that personified her ideals of a government of, by and for the people and became the inspiration for another documentery by Marlo Poras. A tale of doggedness vs. dollars, grit vs. greenbacks, “Run Granny Run” is a documentary currently running on HBO and a portrait of Granny D, a remarkable woman - and an exploration of our fragile democracy in the corporate age. She ran on the same message she has walked long for: our nation’s leaders have been corrupted by special interests dollars and no longer represent the interests of their constituents. Her candidacy proved that ordinary people can run for office, raise the crucial issues and make a difference.

Recently she was honored by the state of New Hampshire on her 99th birthday. To a packed room of school children, senators and state representatives and members of the public, Granny D said, “The time for publicly funded elections has come, and people across the country are looking to New Hampshire to help lead the way.” She cited a recent national poll by Lake Research Partners that showed 79% of voters think large contributions keep Congress from tackling pressing issues, and 67% support limited public funding for congressional candidates who agree to take no large contributions.

Granny is currently working on a third book to be published around the time of her 100th birthday.

Her earlier books are:

Granny D: You’re Never Too Old to Raise a Little Hell      

and

Granny D: Walking Across America in My Ninetieth Year

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