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04/06/2006: "Does a Name Matter Anymore? And Can Perky People Really Be in Journalism?"

While I'm delighted to see women finally get into the real seats of power in larger numbers, I have to wonder how women with names like Katie and Hillary get there. I've always believed that names carry certain connotations with them. And there are names of power like William and George for men and Elizabeth and Katherine for women, just to name a few.

You never hear of powerful men names Ralph or Darrel. At least I never have. Oh well there's Ralph Lauren but in his world a moniker doesn't mean the same thing as in the world most of us know. And, of course, there are exceptions to everything. I'm just generalizing here.

I still visualize a cheerleader when I hear the name Hillary. And cheerleaders simply are not the powerful type. And Katie Couric comes across as, not a journalist but a perky bubble head. How I hate perky!

I know that's not fair. She probably has much more depth and talent than I give her credit for. She has done some serious stuff. But it's just hard to take her seriously.

All of the women in journalism I've known have been serious, tough broads. Most had husky voices and people stood at attention when they came into a room. They commanded respect. The same with the other powerful women I've known such as the late Governor Joan Finney of Kansas. Joan is another power name by the way.

Joan was an tall elegant and stylish woman who commanded respect just by her presence. I remember going into a steak house one evening with Joan and some other women in politics. Joan wasn't governor yet. She was the state treasurer.

I was running low on cash as I had forgotten to get some at the ATM machine and in those days restaurants didn't take checks or plastic like they do now.

I told the other women I'd forgotten to get my cash. "Don't worry about it. We've got the state treasurer with us. We can pay the bill," one of the women teased. Let the record show that we did not have to dip into the Kansas state treasury to pay for my meal.

These women were and are no-nonsense strong women.

I'm not sure I can ever take Katie Couric seriously as a news woman. She's just too fluffy and it's got nothing to do with her name.

CBS is hurting in the ratings. They think perky Katie will bolster those ratings. How the hell a perky woman named Katie can fill the shoes of no nonsense men like Edward R. Murrow or Walter Cronkite is beyond me. But since so few people watch network news I guess it won't matter. And perhaps, just perhaps, that's not what CBS wants at all.

People seem to be drawn to fluff today. Perhaps it's because the world is so terrifying. We could be blown up in an instant. Birds are dangerous. Food is dangerous. Life is dangerous. So perhaps a girly name and a bit of fluff in seats of power is just what the doctor ordered.

As far as the name Hillary is concerned I must say that the person Hillary that comes to mind when most of us hear it is a no-nonsense broad. She's tough and no one can doubt her power. One sort of overlooks her cheerleader name. In fact, she may make the name Hillary a power name just by the fact it's hers. You might say she overcame her name.

I'd still prefer an Elizabeth or Joan or Katherine. But one of the most trusted people in America and certainly one of the richest is named Oprah. It may not be the name that matters at all. It may be how far you get with the name you've got.

As J. D. Salinger said, "My first name is Esmé. I don't think I shall tell you my full name, for the moment. I have a title and you may just be impressed by titles. Americans are, you know."