Paula Hawkins, the first woman to win election to the Senate without a political family connection, has died at age 82. She was a one-term senator, representing Florida from 1981 to 1987.
Paula Hawkins.
Besides being the first woman to reach the Senate without the death of a senator-husband or through some other family connection, the Republican also held the distinction of being perhaps the Senate's fastest reader, at least when it came to the annual Senate tradition of having one of its members read George Washington's Farewell Address to honor his birthday.
According to the Senate web site:
Every year since 1896, the Senate has observed Washington's Birthday by selecting one of its members, alternating parties, to read the 7,641-word statement in legislative session. Delivery generally takes about 45 minutes. In 1985, Florida Senator Paula Hawkins tore through the text in a record-setting 39 minutes, while in 1962, West Virginia Senator Jennings Randolph, savoring each word, consumed 68 minutes.
At the conclusion of each reading, the appointed senator inscribes his or her name and brief remarks in a black, leather-bound book maintained by the Secretary of the Senate.
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