Millicent Fenwick’s Doonesbury Connection

Republican Millicent Fenwick represented New Jersey's 5th Congressional district from 1975 until 1983. She lost a race for the US Senate to Democrat Frank Lautenberg in 1982 after making an issue of Fenwick's age, 72, during the campaign.

Ironically,  30 years later Lautenberg, at the age of 88, is the oldest member of Congress.

Besides her political accomplishments, she is often considered Gary Trudeau's inspiration for the character of Lacey Davenport in Doonesbury. Trudeau has said the character was not based on anyone in particular.