Margaret Hilda Thatcher Essay examples -- essays research papers

Margaret Hilda Thatcher     Margaret Hilda Thatchers overwhelming sense of self-confidence andambition ruled her lifetime from the time she was a gnomish child in Grantham, thoughher Oxford classs and during her early years in politics. It led her to becomethe first female rash Minister of Great Britain, and similarly helped through herdifficult political years as "Attila the Hun".     Britains first female Prime Minister was born on October 13, 1925 in asmall way of life over a grocers shop in Grandham, England. Margaret Hilda was thesecond daughter of Alfred and Beatrice Roberts. She often stated that she wasbrought up very strictlyI owe everything in my life to two things a good home, and a good education.My home was ordinary, but good in the sense that my parents were passionatelyinterested in the future of my child and myself. At the same time, they gaveus a good education - non only in school, but at home as well (Gardine r, 1975,p.13).As a child, thrift and practicality were instilled in Margaretscharacter. The Methodist church played an active part in the lives of theRoberts. She attended good schools as a child and dog-tired her years studying withthe intent of attending Oxford. Margaret arrived at Oxford in the autumn of1943. During her years here, Margaret worked in a canteen for the war effort,continued her interest in music by joining various choirs and joined the OxfordUniversity Conservative Association where she became very active in itspolitical activities.     After Oxford, Margaret became the youngest female candidate of theDartford Association. She was on the side engaged to Denis Thatcher at thistime, and they married in December 1951. Twins were born the following year.During this period, she studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1954. In thesame year she was a candidate for the Oysington Conservative Association.     Margaret won in a Tor y landslide at Finchley, a suburb of London in 1959.Her parliamentary career had begun. A stroke of good luck gave her theopportunity of presenting her first bill almost immediately. This bill was toallow the press to attend the meetings of the local councils. The bill waseventually passed and it greatly enhanced her reputation. In 1964 she was partof the opposition... ... "ideology isempirical and instinctive, but not the product of great study or reflection, andit amounts to a rather simple (though not unsophisticated) radicallibertarianism"(Mayer, 1979, p.11). Mayer goes on to say that she is hardly amother-figure for a nation. Though she is caring and considerate with closeassociates, she does not project warmth or humor. The unexclusive sees her as astrict nanny, not a loving mommy. She is tough minded and has great stamina anda tenacious spirit. Thatcher has stated that she has never doubted her vestigial convictions.     Margaret Thatcher grew up in an era when women were not normallysuccessful as politicians or as business women. Even so, she managed totransform her sex from a indebtedness to a major political asset. She may havebeen unpopular at times due to her approach to life and politics, but a "softer"female Prime Minister might not have been as effective. Recognition was earnedthrough her overwhelming sense of ambition and dedication to the job "Thatcher,Milk abductor muscle" was bestowed the title Baroness and there-by received therecognition that she had craved all her life.