Sarah Weddington is a nationally known attorney and spokesperson on leadership and public issues. She gained worldwide fame when, at the age of 26, she represented “Jane Roe” in the landmark Roe v. Wade case in the U.S. Supreme Court. Her argument made her the youngest person ever to win a case there.Weddington’s experience and charisma make her a highly sought-after speaker. So, when I heard she would be presenting at The Junior League at the annual meeting of the Federation of Houston Professional Women, I jumped at the opportunity to go hear her speak. As it turned out, I was granted an exclusive, one-on-one interview with her just prior to the big event. Below are some of the things we talked about.

HOUSTON WOMAN: Most of our readers know you are a Texan but know little about your upbringing. Would you tell us about it?

SARAH WEDDINGTON: I was born and raised in Abilene, Texas. My father, Herbert Ragle, was a Methodist minister. From a very early age, I loved to talk. I was also someone who wanted to change things. 

HW: Please tell us about your education. 

WEDDINGTON: I graduated from McMurray University in my hometown of Abilene and then went on to Austin to earn a J.D. degree from The University of Texas School of Law.  

HW: What attracted you to the legal profession?

WEDDINGTON: I think I was   always interested in law, but the Dean at McMurray discouraged me. He said being a lawyer would be too tough for a woman. 

HW: What exactly did he mean by that?

WEDDINGTON: He said he didn’t see how I would be able to work as a lawyer and still have enough time for a family - to take care of children, clean the house, cook meals, etc.

HW: You’re kidding, right?

WEDDINGTON: No, I’m not. It was the 1960s. Times were very different then.

HW: So, how did you end up in law school? 

WEDDINGTON: I  moved to Austin and went to work as a clerk typist in the Texas Legislature. The more I watched what was going on there, the more I thought, “I can do that.” So, I applied for law school. There were 125 students in my class. Only five were women. One of  the five was U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison.
 
HW: Was it difficult to land that first job after law school?
 
WEDDINGTON: It was difficult for a lot of women back then. At the time, law firms weren’t willing to pay travel expenses to and from interviews, as they did for the men. Law partners didn’t view the expenditures as wise investments. They just assumed all women lawyers would get married, have children and quit. 

HW: So, what did you do?

WEDDINGTON: I went to the Placement Office at the law school and complained about it. The Dean was told, and he agreed “it wasn’t fair.” So, he started making calls to the law firms.

HW: What happened next?

WEDDINGTON: I was interviewed by a law firm in Dallas, and the travel expenses were paid. I wasn’t offered a job, however. The partner said he wasn’t sure the wives were ready for a female attorney in their midst.Thirteen years later, while I was working in the Carter Administration, that same partner was considered for an appointment as a federal judge. I was one of those asked to make recommendations for or against his appointment. 

HW: May I assume that man did not get the appointment?

WEDDINGTON: Yes, but not for the reason you might think. He never called and asked me to help him. Instead, he had one of his  assistants call for him. If he had called me himself, I would have given him the nod.

HW: A few years after the Roe v. Wade case was settled, you were elected to the Texas House of Representatives, the first woman ever elected to represent Austin. You served two terms, and I understand you had an administrative assistant of note.

WEDDINGTON: Yes, I did. An amazing young woman named Ann Richards. The same Ann Richards who later became our governor.

HW: The two of you were founding members of the Foundation for Women’s Resources. Would you tell our readers about that organization?

WEDDINGTON: I’m very proud of my involvement with the Foundation for Women’s Resources - as one of the first board members  and helping with the creation of Leadership Texas and Leadership America. The founding members of the Foundation felt more women were needed at all levels of Texas life, both in business and politics. We wanted women to be able to meet more people and get a statewide perspective on things. The Foundation’s key programs                  accomplish that.

HW: You have been such a great leader and now you speak often on the subject of leadership. How do you define leadership?

WEDDINGTON: Always the same. Leadership is having the willingness and ability to leave your thumbprint. That often means stepping out, speaking up and taking risks. 

HW: You will be retiring from your adjunct professor duties at The University of Texas in Austin at the end of this school year. What’s next for Sarah Weddington?

WEDDINGTON: I believe life is best lived  when looking forward, but it’s best understood by looking backward. I think that’s why the rearview mirror in an automobile is smaller than the windshield. It’s what’s ahead that is most important; I know there will be new chapters in my life. I’d like to write a book on leadership, travel and speak more.

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