Lacey Davenport
Encyclopedia
Lacey Davenport was a character in Garry Trudeau
's comic strip Doonesbury
. She is often said to be based on Millicent Fenwick
, a Republican
member of Congress
from New Jersey
, although Trudeau has denied this link.
She and Dick Davenport, her husband, were first introduced as attendees at a Walden College Alumni Reunion in 1974. The two had been "living in sin
" for decades, and finally decided to get married. Lacey later became a major character when she ran as the Republican candidate for a seat in the United States House of Representatives
in the mid-1970s, serving a district
comprising the San Francisco Bay Area
. Her opponents in the election
were Virginia "Ginny" Slade, who ran as an independent
, and the incumbent
, Congressman Ventura, the Democratic nominee.
For a while the race was close, but with Lacey and Ginny fighting over votes, their mutual opponent (whom they both found to be highly immoral) was unifying his support and coming out ahead. Deciding that anything was better than having him win, and that Lacey was more qualified than herself, Ginny dropped out of the race and supported Lacey, who won. Lacey was challenged again for her seat in Congress in 1986 by Clyde, who had been Ginny's boyfriend, and later her husband. Davenport won re-election.
Dick Davenport, a bird watcher, died in 1986 due to a massive coronary brought on by observing the possibly extinct Bachman's Warbler
. As Dick falls into a tall clump of grass, the comic's frame shows a camera on a tripod, and a "click" sound effect, indicating that he successfully photographed the bird. This death scene has been noted as a particularly memorable one.
In many ways, Lacey represented Trudeau's idea of a perfect politician
. Although she was a member of the Republican Party, and was fiscally quite conservative
, she was nevertheless a very liberal character at heart. Although she was very wealthy and traveled in the highest social circles
, Lacey's devotion to her constituents
was unbreakable. In some ways, she seemed naive to how dishonest her colleagues in Congress could be. In 1990, she announced she was resigning over the Savings and Loan crisis
, in order to set an example. Instead of following her lead, most assumed she was dying. Only after the elections that same year did Lacey return to Congress, winning the election as a write-in candidate
.
The personal loyalty she inspired was demonstrated in other ways as well. Joanie Caucus
went to work for her after graduation and stayed in her employ for many years, even though she was a die hard Democrat
. After a discussion with Joanie, Lacey retired from Congress in 1997 after serving many years. By this time she was suffering from Alzheimer's disease
, and could scarcely remember any recent events.
She mistook a homeless
woman, Alice P. Schwarzman, for her late sister Pearl, and ended up willing
all her money to her.
Lacey herself died in 1998. Lacey's spirit was collected by her late husband, and he led her to heaven
. Since then she has made sporadic ghostly appearances.
Garry Trudeau
Garretson Beekman "Garry" Trudeau is an American cartoonist, best known for the Doonesbury comic strip.-Background and education:...
's comic strip Doonesbury
Doonesbury
Doonesbury is a comic strip by American cartoonist Garry Trudeau, that chronicles the adventures and lives of an array of characters of various ages, professions, and backgrounds, from the President of the United States to the title character, Michael Doonesbury, who has progressed from a college...
. She is often said to be based on Millicent Fenwick
Millicent Fenwick
Millicent Hammond Fenwick was an American fashion editor, politician and diplomat. A four-term Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from New Jersey, she entered politics late in life and was renowned for her energy and colorful enthusiasm...
, a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
member of Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
from New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, although Trudeau has denied this link.
She and Dick Davenport, her husband, were first introduced as attendees at a Walden College Alumni Reunion in 1974. The two had been "living in sin
Cohabitation
Cohabitation usually refers to an arrangement whereby two people decide to live together on a long-term or permanent basis in an emotionally and/or sexually intimate relationship. The term is most frequently applied to couples who are not married...
" for decades, and finally decided to get married. Lacey later became a major character when she ran as the Republican candidate for a seat in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in the mid-1970s, serving a district
Congressional district
A congressional district is “a geographical division of a state from which one member of the House of Representatives is elected.”Congressional Districts are made up of three main components, a representative, constituents, and the specific land area that both the representative and the...
comprising the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
. Her opponents in the election
Election
An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
were Virginia "Ginny" Slade, who ran as an independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
, and the incumbent
Incumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
, Congressman Ventura, the Democratic nominee.
For a while the race was close, but with Lacey and Ginny fighting over votes, their mutual opponent (whom they both found to be highly immoral) was unifying his support and coming out ahead. Deciding that anything was better than having him win, and that Lacey was more qualified than herself, Ginny dropped out of the race and supported Lacey, who won. Lacey was challenged again for her seat in Congress in 1986 by Clyde, who had been Ginny's boyfriend, and later her husband. Davenport won re-election.
Dick Davenport, a bird watcher, died in 1986 due to a massive coronary brought on by observing the possibly extinct Bachman's Warbler
Bachman's Warbler
The Bachman's Warbler, Vermivora bachmanii, is a small passerine bird that inhabits the swamps and lowland forests of the southeast United States. This warbler is a migrant, wintering in Cuba. The Bachman’s Warbler is small for a warbler and is unique for its thin and decurved bill. It has strong...
. As Dick falls into a tall clump of grass, the comic's frame shows a camera on a tripod, and a "click" sound effect, indicating that he successfully photographed the bird. This death scene has been noted as a particularly memorable one.
In many ways, Lacey represented Trudeau's idea of a perfect politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. Although she was a member of the Republican Party, and was fiscally quite conservative
Fiscal conservatism
Fiscal conservatism is a political term used to describe a fiscal policy that advocates avoiding deficit spending. Fiscal conservatives often consider reduction of overall government spending and national debt as well as ensuring balanced budget of paramount importance...
, she was nevertheless a very liberal character at heart. Although she was very wealthy and traveled in the highest social circles
Upper class
In social science, the "upper class" is the group of people at the top of a social hierarchy. Members of an upper class may have great power over the allocation of resources and governmental policy in their area.- Historical meaning :...
, Lacey's devotion to her constituents
Electoral district
An electoral district is a distinct territorial subdivision for holding a separate election for one or more seats in a legislative body...
was unbreakable. In some ways, she seemed naive to how dishonest her colleagues in Congress could be. In 1990, she announced she was resigning over the Savings and Loan crisis
Savings and Loan crisis
The savings and loan crisis of the 1980s and 1990s was the failure of about 747 out of the 3,234 savings and loan associations in the United States...
, in order to set an example. Instead of following her lead, most assumed she was dying. Only after the elections that same year did Lacey return to Congress, winning the election as a write-in candidate
Write-in candidate
A write-in candidate is a candidate in an election whose name does not appear on the ballot, but for whom voters may vote nonetheless by writing in the person's name. Some states and local jurisdictions allow a voter to affix a sticker with a write-in candidate's name on it to the ballot in lieu...
.
The personal loyalty she inspired was demonstrated in other ways as well. Joanie Caucus
Joanie Caucus
Joanie Caucus is a character in Garry Trudeau's comics strip Doonesbury.She first appeared in September 1972 in which she has a fight with her husband, Clinton, over her rights as a woman. She finds that her recently acquired feminist beliefs clash with his idea of how a wife should behave, and she...
went to work for her after graduation and stayed in her employ for many years, even though she was a die hard Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
. After a discussion with Joanie, Lacey retired from Congress in 1997 after serving many years. By this time she was suffering from Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
, and could scarcely remember any recent events.
She mistook a homeless
Homelessness
Homelessness describes the condition of people without a regular dwelling. People who are homeless are unable or unwilling to acquire and maintain regular, safe, and adequate housing, or lack "fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence." The legal definition of "homeless" varies from country...
woman, Alice P. Schwarzman, for her late sister Pearl, and ended up willing
Will (law)
A will or testament is a legal declaration by which a person, the testator, names one or more persons to manage his/her estate and provides for the transfer of his/her property at death...
all her money to her.
Lacey herself died in 1998. Lacey's spirit was collected by her late husband, and he led her to heaven
Heaven
Heaven, the Heavens or Seven Heavens, is a common religious cosmological or metaphysical term for the physical or transcendent place from which heavenly beings originate, are enthroned or inhabit...
. Since then she has made sporadic ghostly appearances.