Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton today remembered the late Lt. Gov. Catherine Baker Knoll as a "pioneer and pathbreaker" for women in politics.
Clinton, who knew Knoll for decades and counted her among her strongest political allies, drew applause when she considered what she might be doing now.
"Probably encouraging St. Peter to let women have more of a role," said Clinton, speaking at a memorial service in the Capitol.
In life, Clinton said, "She shattered glass ceilings and wanted to see others do that as well."
Knoll, 78, died Nov. 12 after a four-month battle with neoendocrine cancer.
Clinton, standing next to Knoll's flag-draped casket, said their relationship grew during the 2008 presidential campaign. She recalled Knoll was among the first to endorse her presidential bid and remained an "outspoken, passionate" supporter.
"Even when road became steep she was there for me," Clinton told the audience of 250 people, including elected officials, family and friends. "She campaigned even when some said campaign was over...Catherine had my back."
Gov. Rendell remembered Knoll, elected as Pennsylvania's first female lieutenant governor in 2002, as an effective advocate for things she believed in particularly children, as a caring and compassionate person and a great partner.
Rendell noted that she was twice elected treasurer and during that time founded Tuition Account Program to make higher education more accessible to working class families - a model used across the nation.
What people didn't know, Rendell said, is that she often made donations to the student accounts herself.
He said Knoll, a former teacher, always welcomed school groups but what people didn't know was that she often paid for the children's lunch.
He said she often visited injured veterans returning from Iraq war at Walter Reed Hospital and brought with her a trunk filled with books and DVDs for the servicemen and women.
U.S. Rep. John Murtha, who knew Knoll for 30 years, pulled out a letter written by Knoll from the hospital two days before she died. In it, Murtha said, she congratulated him for overcoming the odds in his congressional race.
"There's something soundly sweet about winning when others say you can't...I know something about that," she wrote.
Rev. Kevin Rhoades, Bishop of Harrisburg, read a message of prayer from Pope Benedict XVI blessing Knoll and offering consolation to her family.
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What is Hillary getting out of this? She does nothing unless she is set to gain from it.— FletcherT- Kelprod and fletcherT: I hope neither one of you considers yourself human beings because you are not. You may reside in a human form but you are both the scum of the earth for these stupid unfeeling comments. Less people like the both of you will make the World a better place.— Danny55
- kelprod, you stoop to an inhuman low. Shame on you for espousing the type of negativity you would be quick to condemn if it were directed at your ideology. Are you Glenn Beck? And 4 %? Keep telling yourself that...— toph7
Comment removed.- Kelprod and FletcherT exemplify the Republican Conservative movement and mentality in this country today. They are a people of hatred and bigotry. They are unamerican, they do not believe in the US Constitution and they don't believe in democracy. What they do believe in is The Party. And only The Party. LOL, even though their Party and their President have done their best to ruin the United States. Kelprod and FletcherT are fascists and that is what the conservative movement has become. They are so sad and should be pitied. Yet another election has passed and they have lost even more seats in the US Congress. And now they have lost the White House too.— CommonSense in Philly
- Kelprod and FletcherT exemplify the Republican Conservative movement and mentality in this country today. They are a people of hatred and bigotry. They are unamerican, they do not believe in the US Constitution and they don't believe in democracy. What they do believe in is The Party. And only The Party. LOL, even though their Party and their President have done their best to ruin the United States. Kelprod and FletcherT are fascists and that is what the conservative movement has become. They are so sad and should be pitied. Yet another election has passed and they have lost even more seats in the US Congress. And now they have lost the White House too.— CommonSense in Philly
- Comment removed.
- Eh, Kelrod, with all of the things you believe in, you LOST the election BIGTIME....duh. There's a message there you keep missing. And another news flash for you: the presidency is not won by the popular vote. It's won by the electoral college. An Obama won the Electoral College vote over your Old Fool McCain BY A LANDSLIDE! You are to be pitied. So sad.— CommonSense in Philly
