Stanford, Neal. “High G.” The Christian Science Monitor, Friday, October 3, 1962.
“Let the Girls, Bless ’Em, Loose in Space!” Washington Daily News, August 8, 1962.
“Why Not Put a Lady in Space?” New York World-Telegram & Sun, August 7, 1962. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. Scrapbook Series. Box 20. Eisenhower Presidential Library.
“Space Suffragette.” Daily Oklahoman, July 27, 1962.
“Woman Flier Claims She ‘Won’t Give Up.’” Los Angeles Times, July 19, 1962.
“Of Sex & Spacenicks.” New York Daily News, July 18, 1962.
“Lady Fliers Ask to be Astronauts, too; Plead for Co-Eds in Space.” Wall Street Journal, Wednesday, July 18, 1962.
Letter, Vivienne Mudd to Jacqueline Cochran. July 19, 1962. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 140. Eisenhower Presidential Library.
“Why Not Women in Outer Space?” S.F. News Call Bulletin, July 24, 1962.
“2 Astronauts ‘Scrub’ Bid of Women Pilots.” Chicago Tribune, July 19 1962.
“Glenn Would Yield Space in Space.” Washington Post, July 19, 1962.
“Now Women Try to Invade Last Male Frontier—Space.” Miami Herald, Cobb, Jerrie folders. NASA Archives.
“The Question Should There Be Women Astronauts? Where Asked Boston Airport.” Boston Herald, Monday, August 27, 1962.
Moore, Bill. “Still Struggling to Get a Chance at Space.” Kansas City Star, September 28, 1962.
Telegram, Jerrie Cobb to the White House. July 20, 1962. John F. Kennedy Library.
Letter, James Webb to Jerrie Cobb. August 3, 1962. John F. Kennedy Library.
Letter, Jerrie Cobb to James Webb. August 7, 1962. Cobb, Jerrie folder. NASA Archives.
Letter, Jacqueline Cochran to Robert Ruark. August 24, 1962. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 140. Eisenhower Presidential Library.
Letter, Jacqueline Cochran to Phyllis Battelle. July 27, 1962. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 140. Eisenhower Presidential Library.
“Interesting Questions for some one to ask Miss Cobb” (FBO). Undated. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 138. Eisenhower Presidential Library.
Letter, Jacqueline Cochran to Randy Lovelace. July 26, 1962. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 140. Eisenhower Presidential Library.
Letter, Randy Lovelace to Jacqueline Cochran. July 16, 1962. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 140. Eisenhower Presidential Library.
Letter, Jacqueline Cochran to Bernice Steadman. August 1, 1962. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 140. Eisenhower Presidential Library.
Steadman, Tethered Mercury: A Pilot’s Memoir the Right Stuff…but the Wrong Sex.
Letter, Bernice Steadman to Jacqueline Cochran. August 12, 1962. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 140. Eisenhower Presidential Library.
Letter, Myrtle Thompson Cagle to Jacqueline Cochran. August 8, 1962. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 140. Eisenhower Presidential Library.
Letter, Jan Dietrich to Jacqueline Cochran. August 12, 1962. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 140. Eisenhower Presidential Library.
Letter, Marion Dietrich to Jacqueline Cochran. August 7, 1962. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 140. Eisenhower Presidential Library.
Letter, Irene Leverton to Jacqueline Cochran. August 8, 1962. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 140. Eisenhower Presidential Library.
Letter, Jean Hixson to Jacqueline Cochran. October 25, 1962. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 140. Eisenhower Presidential Library.
Letter, Rhea Hurrle to Jacqueline Cochran. October 26, 1962. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 140. Eisenhower Presidential Library.
Letter, Jerrie Cobb to FLATS. August 22, 1962. Courtesy of the International Women’s Air and Space Museum.
Telegram, Jerrie Cobb to John F. Kennedy. August 13, 1962. John F. Kennedy Library.
Letter, James Webb to Jerrie Cobb. August 20, 1962. Cobb, Jerrie #2. NASA Archives.
Letter, Jerrie Cobb to James Webb. October 25, 1962. Cobb, Jerrie #2. NASA Archives.
“9 New Astronauts Named to Train for Moon Flights.” New York Times, September 18, 1962.
“Elliott McKay See, Jr.” Arlington Cemetery, accessed August 12, 2019. http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/emsee.htm.
“Biography of Neil Armstrong.” NASA, accessed August 12, 2019. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/about/bios/neilabio.html.
Klesius, Mike. “Neil Armstrong’s X-15 flight over Pasadena.” Air & Space Magazine, May 20, 2009. Accessed August 12, 2019. https://www.airspacemag.com/daily-planet/neil-armstrongs-x-15-flight-over-pasadena-59458462/.
Cobb and Rieker, Woman into Space: The Jerrie Cobb Story.
“Women in Space.” Speech given by Miss Jerrie Cobb. Zonta Club of Cleveland. November 28, 1962. Jacqueline Cochran Papers, Speech Series. Box 9. Eisenhower Library.
“Expenses of Medical Checks at Lovelace Clinic.” Undated (1961). Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 140. Eisenhower Presidential Library.
“Speech Given by Miss Jacqueline Cochran; The Job to Be Done.” November 28, 1962. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. Speech Series. Box 9. Eisenhower Presidential Library.
Letter, Jacqueline Cochran to James Webb. January 14, 1963. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 140. Eisenhower Presidential Library.
Letter, James Webb to Jacqueline Cochran. February 13, 1963. Cochran, Jacqueline folder. NASA Archives.
Letter, Hugh Dryden to Jacqueline Cochran. January 22, 1963. Cochran, Jacqueline folder. NASA Archives.
Letter, James Webb to George Miller. March 4, 1963. Cochran, Jacqueline folder. NASA Archives.
“The Job to be Done, Extension of Remarks of Hon. George P. Miller.” April 4, 1963. Congressional Record A2058. Cochran, Jacqueline folder. NASA Archives.
Letter, Jerrie Cobb to John F. Kennedy, March 13, 1963. John F. Kennedy Library.
Letter, James Webb to Jerrie Cobb. April 5, 1963. Cobb, Jerrie #1. NASA Archives.
“Appointment Affidavits.” Jacqueline Cochran as NASA Consultant. June 11, 1963. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 227. Eisenhower Presidential Library.
Note to Mr. Webb from R. P. Young. June 10, 1963. Cochran, Jacqueline folder. NASA Archives.
Burgess, Colin and Rex Hall. The First Soviet Cosmonaut Team. UK: Springer-Praxis, 2009.
“Why Valentina and Not Our Gal?” Berkshire Eagle, June 21, 1963.
“Women Pilots Angry at Webb.” Washington Post, June 20, 1963.
“Was Spacewoman’s Flight Necessary?” Richmond Time-Dispatch, June 18, 1963.
Letter, Jacqueline Cochran to James Webb. July 2, 1963. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 140. Eisenhower Presidential Library.
“Myrtle Thompson Cagle: It Should Have Been Me.” Raleigh NC News & Observer, July 9, 1963.
Memorandum, E. C. Welsh to the Vice President Subject: Military vs. Non-Military Space Activities. January 19, 1963. White House Famous Names, Service Set Box 6. The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library.
Memorandum for the Vice President. July 29, 1963. White House Famous Names, Service Set Box 6. The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library.
Memorandum for the Vice President. April 9, 1963. White House Famous Names, Service Set Box 6. The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library.
“Address at 18th U.N. General Assembly, 20 September 1963.” John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum online, accessed September 14, 2018. https://www.jfklibrary.org/Asset-Viewer/Archives/JFKPOF-046-041.aspx.
Woods, LBJ: Architect of American Ambition.
&
nbsp; Selverstone, Marc J. “John F. Kennedy: The American Franchise.” UVA Miller Center, accessed August 12, 2019. https://millercenter.org/president/kennedy/the-american-franchise.
Tenenhaus, Sam. “Kennedy’s Death, a Turning Point for a Nation Already Torn,” New York Times, November 21, 2013, accessed August 19, 2019. https://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/22/us/in-kennedys-death-a-turning-point-for-a-nation-already-torn.html.
Letter, Jerrie Cobb to Lyndon Johnson. February 10, 1964. Cobb, Jerrie #1. NASA Archives.
Letter, Lyndon Johnson to Jerrie Cobb. March 17, 1964. Cobb, Jerrie #1. NASA Archives.
Cobb, Solo Pilot.
Cochran and Brinley, Jacqueline Cochran: The Autobiography of the Greatest Woman Pilot in Aviation History.
Letter, Hugh Dryden to Clinton P. Anderson. Mar 2, 1964. Cobb. Jerrie #1. NASA Archives.
“Newsbureau, Lockheed-California Company. New World Speed Record Set By Jacqueline Cochran.” May 18, 1964. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. Speed Records Series. Box 10. Eisenhower Presidential Library.
“Newsbureau, Lockheed-California Company.” Undated. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. Speed Records Series. Box 10. Eisenhower Presidential Library.
“Newsbureau, Lockheed-California Company.” May 2, 1963. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. Speed Records Series. Box 9. Eisenhower Presidential Library.
“Jacqueline Cochran (USA).” Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, accessed August 12, 2019. https://www.fai.org/record/jacqueline-cochran-usa-13041.
“1 June 1964.” This Day in Aviation, accessed August 12, 2019. https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/1-june-1964/.
Epilogue
Koepcke, Juliane. When I Fell From the Sky. Accessed August 12, 2019. https://books.google.com/books?id=JV4zDAAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=Koepcke,+Juliane+(2011).+When+I+Fell+From+the+Sky&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiD65O9vNXjAhUEQKwKHRmgBFIQ6AEIKjAA#v=onepage&q&f=false.
Letter, Floyd Odlum to Jimmy Dolittle. June 16, 1972. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 219. Eisenhower Presidential Library.
Letter, Jimmy Doolittle to Jacqueline Cochran. June 1, 1972. Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 219. Eisenhower Presidential Library.
“Sooner Aviatrix Honored by Nixon.” Daily Oklahoman, Friday, September 21, 1973.
Haitch, Richard. “Follow-Up on the News; Foiled Astronaut.” New York Times, June 26, 1983. Accessed, August 12, 2019. https://www.nytimes.com/1983/06/26/nyregion/follow-up-on-the-news-foiled-astronaut.html.
“Biographical sketch.” (June 1972) Jacqueline Cochran: Papers, 1932–1975. General Files Series. Box 219. Eisenhower Presidential Library.
“Cobb, Geraldyn ‘Jerrie’ M.” National Aviation Hall of Fame, accessed August 12, 2019. https://www.nationalaviation.org/our-enshrinees/cobb-geraldyn-jerrie-m/.
Jessen, NBC Dateline (Jim Cross Productions). Women/Mercury Astronauts. NASA Archives.
Dunn, Marcia. “NASA Pioneer Asks for Her Shot at Space.” Washington Post, July 13, 1998. Accessed August 12, 2019. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1998/07/13/nasa-pioneer-asks-for-her-shot-at-space/fc9f402e-eee9-44fa-adc2-fb4e179256e2/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.6baef3af2463.
Cochran and Brinley, Jacqueline Cochran: The Autobiography of the Greatest Woman Pilot in Aviation History.
Ayers and Dees, Superwoman: Jacqueline Cochran, Family Memoirs about the Famous Pilot, Patriot, Wife & Business Woman.
Clarke, David. Wall Street Gothic: The Unlikely Rise and Tragic Fall of Financier Floyd B. Odlum. 2018.
Wright, Robert A. “Floyd Odlum and the Work Ethic.” New York Times, January 28, 1973. Accessed August 19, 2019. https://www.nytimes.com/1973/01/28/archives/floyd-odlum-and-the-work-ethic-floyd-odlum-and-the-work-ethic.html.
McQuiston, John T. “Floyd B. Odlum, Financier, 84, Dies.” New York Times, June 18, 1976. https://www.nytimes.com/1976/06/18/archives/floyd-b-odlum-financier-84-dies.html.
29Jerrie Cobb’s memoirs, Woman into Space and Solo Pilot, were essential sources for this book in order to use her own words to give the reader a sense of who she was, both as a woman and a pilot. Her excitement, heartache, fight, and sadness could only come from her.
Q&A with Amy Shira Teitel
1. Fighting for Space is a truly riveting, epic read. Who knew how much LBJ’s state of mind played a part in America’s space program. And the complexity of the cast of characters—from the passionate pilots like Jerrie and Jackie to scientists like Randy—who played such important roles in space history.
How did you first become interested in their story? And what drew you to choose to share this story in particular?
This story is one that’s been around in various incarnations for years, and on the surface it’s pretty simple: a group of young women led by the intrepid Jerrie Cobb are denied their chance to break a glass ceiling. It’s sexism, plain and simple. These retellings always feature a Disneyesque villain named Jackie Cochran who, much like Maleficent, swoops down to thwart the younger rival before retreating to her castle in the woods to confer with her pet raven.
The thing is, when you start really digging into the story, you find those retellings are wrong. It’s not a feminist epic. If anything, it’s a realistic feminist story with flaws and infighting on both sides. People have this idea that a feminist story has to be all women against all men, but this shows the reality is human opinion vs. human opinion.
I went through an evolution with this story. I started, like so many people reading about it for the first time, enthralled by Jerrie’s fight. But when I started reading about Jackie, she morphed from villain to voice of reason in her approach to women in space in the early 1960s. My feelings very quickly changed. Jackie, as we know, was the only one with relevant experience when it came to women in space—she was both the leader of the WASPs and a female test pilot. It didn’t make sense to me that she was always presented as this one-dimensional villain when she’s about the most complex and wonderful figure I’d ever come across.
In a sea of wrong versions of this story, I finally realized that a dual biography approach highlighting Jackie and Jerrie would be both interesting and necessary. I think it’s hugely important we take these stories as human stories with all the messy opinions and perspectives thrown in. So few things are ever cut-and-dry!
2. You’re a spaceflight historian—what exactly does that entail? And when did you become interested in learning about space?
Space is a childhood fascination for me. When I was seven, I did a second-grade project on Venus and I thought it was the coolest thing ever. Venus is close to Earth in size, but it rotates backward and is as hot as an oven on the surface (which to my childhood mind meant it was Earth inside out)…but you can see it every night without a telescope! I mean, that’s about the coolest thing possible.
I started collecting space books, and one of them, which I still have, had a two-page spread on the Moon featuring a drawing of two cartoon astronauts in front of a lunar module. I was floored. I couldn’t believe that people had actually walked on the Moon! And that I had never heard of it! I started learning everything I could about the Apollo program, and the more I learned the more questions I had. That’s the thing with space: the more you know the bigger the questions and answers become.
For me, my career has basically been satisfying my childhood curiosity and trying to impart that curiosity to others. Even people who wouldn’t call themselves “space people” are a little fascinated by what’s beyond our planet. Whether it’s life on distant moons or seeing Pluto for the first time, there’s something for everyone. I love giving people a moment of awe about something they didn’t even know they were interested in.
3. You’ve actually worked with NASA yourself, right? In what capacity? Did it feel like a childhood dream come true?
It was! I was an embedded journalist with New Horizons mission to Pluto team in 2015, so basically I helped translate the amazing things the science team un
covered into plain English so the world could be as excited as we were. My main contribution was a nearly daily video series for the month of encounter called “Pluto in a Minute.” It was exactly what it sounds like: one thing I thought everyone needed to know about Pluto presented in about a minute.
I effectively let my curiosity guide me. For example, we issued so many press releases saying it took nine years to get to Pluto, but I wanted to know what path we took to get there. I got to sit down with Yanping Guo, who actually designed the trajectory, and learn all about it, then distilled it down so nonscientists could understand how amazing it was that this little spacecraft actually got all the way to Pluto.
Hands down the best moment was being in the team meeting when we got the first close-up image of Pluto. It was about five-thirty in the morning and some people had been up all night…and this huge, clear shot of the planet came up on the screens. It was amazing for me. I could only imagine how it would feel for the scientists whose whole careers have been spent on this tiny, distant world! It was an incredible moment.
4. What’s been your experience writing as a woman in space and science more generally? How was this book different?
Being a woman in science can be challenging, and being a young woman in the already small world of space history even more so. Science is male-dominated, as is history. Much in the same way the women in this book have to go the extra mile to prove themselves capable of doing the same things men do, women, not just myself, are always having to prove that we deserve to be on the panels next to men and have earned those keynote speaker spots. It’s like there’s this expectation that women can’t do the same work as men, or that young women are somehow less capable than older men simply because they haven’t been in a field as long. I’ve had men go out of their way to prove me wrong, only to end up putting their feet in their own mouths.
Then there’s the aspect of “look.” Every woman has a unique style, and how a woman feels like her best and most powerful self is extremely personal. Personally, I color my hair, wear makeup, and always give talks in heels so I come across taller than my five-foot-nothing frame. But just like when Barry Gray tells Jackie she doesn’t look like a pilot, I have people telling me that I don’t look like a historian. Or, better yet, that they would take me more seriously if I didn’t dress up or wear makeup. Knowing that you’re being discounted before you even talk about the work you’ve devoted years to is both heartbreaking and maddening.
Fighting for Space Page 43
