Great strides have been taken, but it’s too early to stop.

Harriett Woods, the first female Lt. Gov. of Missouri, stressed that point Thursday night, when she spoke in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union. Woods told a crowd of about 150 people about her career history in politics and gave advice to future potential leaders.

Woods, who said she had a difficult run for the U.S. Senate, said her candidacy was rejected by her state’s party leaders, who thought she would not be an effective fund-raiser.

“I was so stunned, that all I could say was `good-bye,'” Woods said. “We couldn’t get any other Democrats – they were all supporting the party.”

After her defeat, Woods said she didn’t give up.

“A lot of people who lose use that to come back and win,” she said.

Woods ran for U.S. Senate in Missouri, served as state senator and was elected lieutenant governor, becoming the first woman in Missouri elected to statewide office. Later, she became the president of the National Women’s Political Caucus. She noted the media coverage surrounding her bid for Senate, a rare event in the early ’80s.

Woods’ campaign for Senate was a big deal in the media, but after she lost, the coverage ended.

“You’re famous only when they think you’re winning,” she said.

As lieutenant governor in Missouri, where the seat is decided in a separate election, Woods served with John Ashcroft before he became attorney general.

Ashcroft asked Woods not to serve in his stead while he was out of state, a constitutional role of the office, Woods said.

“After four years, I decided not to run for lieutenant governor again,” she said.

Woods said changes have been made in the political arena.

“In 1992, we had a record number of women run and a record number of donations,” she said, noting that there are 60 women in the House and 13 in the U.S. Senate.

“We can’t claim voter prejudice when three states have all women senators – California, Washington and Maine,” she said.

She stressed the need for younger women in politics.

“It’s not enough to make yourself a place in the system – you have to change the system,” Woods said.

Audience reaction was favorable.

“I found it very motivating, said Pat Miller, director of the Lectures Program. “She found victory in defeat.”