1998 Iowa Women's Hall of Fame Honoree: Lynn Germain Cutler
"The example Ms. Cutler gives to young women—being a leader, an advocate for others, a public servant, a nationally recognized political commentator, a mother--is an inspiration to all..."
— Senator Tom Harkin, 1998
Lynn Germain Cutler of Washington, D.C. is a nationwide leader in politics, promoting the causes of women and children as well as encouraging women to become involved in politics. Born in Illinois in 1938 and longtime Waterloo resident, Cutler got her start in advocating for those causes as a teacher in Cedar Falls. Soon thereafter, she became involved in Iowa politics by becoming the first woman to chair the Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors and, in 1980 and 1982, she ran as the Democratic nominee for the United States Congress from her district. She has held several political appointments, including 12 years as the vice chair of the National Democratic Party, vice chair of the U.S. Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations, and U.S. delegate to the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women. She is involved in the National Women's Political Caucus, EMILY's List, and the International Women's Forum. Cutler has also been active in the Jewish community. Currently she serves in the White House as deputy assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs, where her duties are as White House liaison to countries, cities, tribal governments, and women-elected officials. She was inducted into the Iowa Women's Hall of Fame in 1998.