| Political commentator, columnist, writer Date of Birth: Country: USA |
Molly Ivins, a renowned American journalist, political commentator, and writer, was born in in Monterey, California. She spent her childhood in Houston, Texas, where she would later become known as a native Texan.
After graduating from St. John's School, Ivins attended Scripps College and later transferred to Smith College. She spent a year at the Institute of Political Science in Paris and obtained a bachelor's degree in history in Ivins then went on to earn a master's degree in journalism from Columbia University's School of Journalism in
During her time as a student, Ivins wrote for the student newspaper, initially focusing on art and culture before gaining recognition for her political articles. After graduating from Columbia, she began working at the Minneapolis Tribune, where she became the first female police beat reporter. Her articles often addressed social issues and frequently contained a strong political bias.
In , Ivins left the Minneapolis Tribune and relocated to Austin, Texas, where she started working as a political commentator for the Texas Observer. She gained attention for her sharp criticisms of Texas politicians and also attracted national recognition for her essays published in The New York Times and The Washington Post. Notably, she wrote the obituary for Elvis Presley in The New York Times in
From , Ivins worked at the Dallas Times Herald. In , she released the bestselling book "Molly Ivins Can't Say That, Can She?", which topped The New York Times bestseller list for several weeks. Throughout her life, Ivins wrote and published around ten books. She eventually became an independent journalist, and her column was published in over periodicals.
Ivins was involved in a public incident with novelist and reporter Florence King in Although she offered apologies after being accused of plagiarism, they were delivered in a biting manner.
Ivins gained the most recognition for her attacks and savage satire on President George W. Bush. She dedicated a book titled "Shrub: The Short but Happy Political Life of George W. Bush" to him. She famously stated, "He was not a great president. Rather, he was mediocre. But he stood firm and did not make a single mistake." Ivins remained highly critical of Bush throughout his presidency.
Interestingly, in the final days of her life, Ivins launched a powerful public campaign against President Bush's Iraq policy. She called on Americans to take to the streets and bang empty pots and pans, demanding an end to the war.
It is known that Ivins battled cancer starting in The disease would recede and resurface until it ultimately claimed her life in She passed away on January 31, , in Austin, Texas, at the age of Despite their contentious relationship, President Bush spoke respectfully of Ivins after her death, stating, "She fought her illness with the same passion she wrote with." He expressed his deepest condolences and praised her journalistic talent and belief in the power of mass media.
Molly Ivins received numerous awards throughout her career, including the William Allen White Award from the University of Kansas, the Pringle Prize for Washington Journalism from Columbia University, and The Molly National Journalism Prize from the Texas Democracy Foundation, among many others. She was a respected and influential figure in American journalism.