10-Question Quiz: Women's History Month

Title: 10-Question Quiz: Women's History Month

[MUSIC - They Might Be Giants: The Brian Lehrer Show Theme Song]

Brian Lehrer: Brian Lehrer on WNYC. This membership drive, we're doing a 10-question quiz each day, different theme each day. Get two in a row right. Today, you'll be able to choose between a Brian Lehrer Show baseball cap or the loaf of babka from Russ & Daughters that we're giving away as a thank-you gift only this morning. Today, in honor of the beginning of Women's History Month, the topic is New York trailblazing women who are, let's say, either from New York or made history in New York. New York trailblazing women. Who wants to play? We're going to start with Heather in Brooklyn. Hey, Heather, ready to play?

Heather: I'm ready.

Brian Lehrer: We'll start with an easy one. I hope this is easy. Who am I? If you don't recognize the voice, I'll give you a clue. Maybe you won't need it. Who am I in this clip?

Sonia Sotomayor: I was raised in a Bronx public housing project but studied at two of the nation's finest universities.

Brian Lehrer: Do you know it already?

Heather: Oh, it doesn't sound like Shirley Chisholm. Could I have a hint?

Brian Lehrer: Yes. "I was appointed to the US Supreme Court by President Obama in 2009," she could honestly say.

Heather: Got it. Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

Brian Lehrer: Absolutely right. Question 2 for the hat or the babka. "I was the first woman elected to the US Senate from New York, winning my seat in the 2000 election." Do you need any more clues for this? I'll play a clip if you need it. In this case, maybe the question is enough, and you don't need the clip. First woman elected to the US Senate from New York in the year 2000.

Heather: I'd love a clip.

Brian Lehrer: Here's the clip.

Hillary Clinton: I am honored today to announce my candidacy for the United States Senate from New York.

Brian Lehrer: Recognize the voice?

Heather: I do. Senator Hillary Clinton.

Brian Lehrer: [chuckles] That is exactly right. Congratulations. Would you like the hat or the babka?

Heather: Since I'm a proud owner of your hat already, Brian, I would love the babka, please.

Brian Lehrer: Heather, we're going to take your address off the air. Thank you for playing. Let's try Bill in Harrington Park, New Jersey. Hi, Bill. Ready to play?

Bill: I think I am.

Brian Lehrer: Question 3, a little harder now. "I am the first Asian American to represent New York in Congress, serving the 6th Congressional District in Queens, first elected in 2012, still in office." Who am I? This one is harder.

Bill: Is that Grace Meng?

Brian Lehrer: Oh, very good. You got Grace Meng right. Question 4 for the hat or the babka. Now, some deeper history. "I was the very first woman appointed to a presidential cabinet when she was sworn in as Secretary of Labor on March 4th, 1933," a women's rights activist and labor reformer. Before that, she could say, "I was appointed to the New York Industrial Commission and the State Industrial Board in the 1920s." Who am I? You've got to know a little history to know this one, but very important person in history.

Bill: That's Frances Perkins.

Brian Lehrer: Oh, you are good, Bill. Do you want the hat or the babka?

Bill: I think I'll take the hat.

Brian Lehrer: Bill, thank you very much. We're going to take your address off the air. He's a non-breadatarian, I guess. Hang on. We're going to go on to our next player, and it's Ellen in Connecticut. Hi, Ellen. Ready to play?

Ellen: I am. I hope the questions are as easy as the first ones.

Brian Lehrer: Oh, yes. By the way, I thought everybody was going to take the babka today. I don't know. Here we are. Let's see. Question 5. "In 1968, I became the first Black woman ever elected to the United States Congress representing New York's 12th District." Do you need any more than that?

Ellen: No. Shirley Chisholm.

Brian Lehrer: Shirley Chisholm is exactly right. In 1972, she became the first woman and first Black candidate to seek a major party's nomination for president of the United States when she said this.

Shirley Chisholm: I am not the candidate of Black America, although I am Black and proud. [applause] I am not the candidate of the women's movement of this country, although I am a woman and I'm equally proud of that.

Brian Lehrer: You got Shirley Chisholm right. Question 6 for the hat or the babka. You're in Connecticut. Maybe this is going to be a little out of your portfolio of knowledge, but let's see. "I served as the first female, first openly gay, and first Irish American speaker of the New York City Council from 2006 to 2013." Do you know who I am?

Ellen: Christine Quinn.

Brian Lehrer: Christine Quinn is right, paying attention from across state lines. Ellen, do you want the hat or the babka?

Ellen: Brian, definitely the hat.

Brian Lehrer: Oh, thank you, sporting the BLS hat up there in Connecticut. Ellen, we're going to take your mailing address off the air. Let's go next to Rouge on the Upper East Side. Rouge, you're on WNYC. Ready to play?

Rouge: I'm nervous, but let's play.

Brian Lehrer: "I was the first woman--" Question 7, "nominated for vice president by a major US political party while I was a member of Congress from Queens." Need any more?

Rouge: I believe that would be Geraldine Ferraro.

Brian Lehrer: Absolutely, it was. She was Walter Mondale's running mate in the 1984 presidential election. Question 8 for the hat or the babka. "In 1933, I became the first First Lady to hold my own press conference in an attempt to afford equal time to women." Need any more than that?

Rouge: I believe Eleanor Roosevelt.

Brian Lehrer: Absolutely right. She really transformed the role of First Lady, actively supporting the NAACP, for example, serving as the first US delegate to the UN General Assembly. She had that role. There you go. Would you like the hat or the babka?

Rouge: I would love the hat.

Brian Lehrer: Another hat wearer. Rouge, thank you very much. We're going to take your address off the air. I really thought everyone was going to take the babka. I am happy for the enduring popularity of Brian Lehrer Show baseball cap. Let's see. How about Peter in Livingston, New Jersey. Has been hanging for a while. Hi, Peter. Ready to play?

Peter: Yes, I am. How's it going, Brian?

Brian Lehrer: Good. Question 9. "In addition to being a trailblazing American abolitionist and women's rights activist, in 1828, I became the first Black woman to win a lawsuit against a white man ever in the United States following the illegal sale of my son," a very famous Black woman from that era, the 1800s. Need any more?

Peter: I'm afraid I might.

Brian Lehrer: This could be one of the harder ones. "At the 1851 Women's Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio, I gave a very famous speech," probably the thing that she's most well known for, "titled 'Ain't I a Woman,' about the intersection of racism and sexism." Do you know?

Peter: Oh, boy. Gosh.

Brian Lehrer: Sorry. Three, two, one.

Peter: [unintelligible 00:08:41]

Brian Lehrer: Sorry, did you say your name there? I didn't hear it.

Peter: I said [unintelligible 00:08:48], but I'm sure it's wrong.

Brian Lehrer: Peter, sorry about that. The answer is Sojourner Truth. We have one question left to go. We have James in Los Angeles. Hello from the East Coast, James, the Right Coast, as some might say. Do you say that out there?

James: Good morning.

Brian Lehrer: We say Left Coast here. Do you say Right Coast there when referring to--

James: It's not as common as [crosstalk]--

Brian Lehrer: It doesn't have the range. You get the luxury because we only have one question left in the quiz of getting one in a row right, and you'll win the hat or the babka. Here's the question. "In 1856, I was the New York representative of the American Anti-Slavery Society, though I'm much better known for my work for women's rights. Later, my image was the first of any woman to have official US government dollar value." Who am I?

James: Susan B. Anthony.

Brian Lehrer: Susan B. Anthony is right. Of course, the Susan B. Anthony dollar coin, that, as well as the other history that I gave. Would you like to wear a Brian Lehrer Show baseball cap in LA or get some babka sent coast to coast? Oh, we lost James's line. James, just call back, and we'll take your address off the air. There you go, folks. That's our 10-question quiz for today. We'll do another one at the same time on another theme in the membership drive tomorrow. Stay with us.

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