Cr y in the Dark(1988; also known asEvil Angels), she
depicted an Australian mother unjustly accused of
killing her child. In these roles, Streep brought to
the screen women of courage, intelligence, and de-
termination. Even when playing a destitute drunk in
Ironweed(1987) or the tragic Holocaust survivor in
Sophie’s Choice(1982), Streep conveyed a core of per-
sonal integrity in the most humiliating of circum-
stances.
Streep won an Academy Award for her perfor-
mance inSophie’s Choiceand was nominated for an-
other five during the decade, an unprecedented
achievement. Her acting was honored at Cannes,
by the New York Film Critics Council, and at the
Golden Globe Awards. Additionally, she won the
People’s Choice award for Favorite Dramatic Mo-
tion Picture Actress five years out of six between
1984 and 1989.
Impact Meryl Streep raised the bar of expectation
for American film performance with her technical
skill, careful preparation, and creativity. Despite win-
ning only one of the six Academy Awards for which
she was nominated in the 1980’s, Streep became syn-
onymous with Oscar-caliber dramatic performances
during the decade.
Further Reading
Cardullo, Bert, et al., eds.Playing to the Camera: Film
Actors Discuss Their Craft.New York: Yale Univer-
sity Press, 1998.
Maychick, Diana.Mer yl Streep: The Reluctant Superstar.
New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1984.
Carolyn Anderson
See also Academy Awards; Film in the United
States; Feminism; Theater; Women in the workforce.
Sununu, John H.
Identification Governor of New Hampshire from
1983 to 1989 and White House chief of staff
from 1989 to 1991
Born July 2, 1939; Havana, Cuba
Sununu’s political success in New Hampshire and his work
for George H. W. Bush in the 1988 presidential campaign
resulted in his appointment as White House chief of staff, a
position he used to advance the causes of the Republican
right wing.
Although John H. Sununu was a successful business-
man and the president of JHS Engineering Com-
pany and Thermal Research (1963-1983), it was his
political rather than financial career that was most
important during the 1980’s. In 1980, he ran unsuc-
cessfully for a U.S. Senate seat from New Hampshire,
losing the primary election to Warren Rudman. Af-
ter his defeat, he became Rudman’s campaign man-
ager in the general election. Two years later, Sununu
bested Hugh Gladden in a gubernatorial election
and went on to serve three terms as governor of New
Hampshire.
While governor, Sununu opposed raising taxes,
brought new businesses to New Hampshire, and sup-
ported the controversial Seabrook nuclear power
plant. He gained national prominence by serving as
the chair of the Coalition of Northeastern Gover-
nors, chair of the Republican Governors Associa-
tion, and chair of the National Governors Associa-
tion. He was a member of the Council for National
Policy from 1984 to 1985 and again in 1988. During
the 1988 presidential campaign, he was a key player,
helping George H. W. Bush win the key early New
Hampshire primary to become the Republican nom-
inee. Sununu also lead attacks on Michael Dukakis,
the Democratic presidential nominee.
President George H. W. Bush rewarded Sununu
for his help by naming him White House chief of
staff in 1989, a post that he held until 1991. When
Robert Teeter was considered for an appointment as
counselor to the president, a position that would
have rivaled Sununu’s in importance, Sununu
squelched the appointment and became the presi-
dent’s closest political adviser. He spent about 40
percent of his working day with the president and
also served as the president’s legislative liaison with
Congress. A staunch ally of the more conservative
wing of the Republican Party, Sununu used his influ-
ence with the moderate Republican Bush to down-
play the importance of the environment, deny ac-
cess to the disabled, oppose the Clean Air Act, and
stop funding for abortions.Impact Sununu was described by detractors as the
president’s lightning rod; others described him as
the president’s “pit bull” and the “bad cop” to the
president’s “good cop.” Possessed of a sizable ego,
an extremely high IQ, and an abrasive personality,
he enjoyed taking on the media. That behavior did
not make him popular with more moderate Republi-926 Sununu, John H. The Eighties in America