Happy Birthday Mrs Thatcher

Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness of Kesteven and Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1979 to 1990, was born on 13 October 1925.

Following are some items by, and about,  Mrs Thatcher.

A widely quoted story by Peggy Noonan in the Wall Street Journal about Baroness Thatcher has not been able to be verified and is conceded by Ms Noonan to probably be apocryphal:

The story as I was told it is that in the early years of her prime ministership, Margaret Thatcher held a meeting with her aides and staff, all of whom were dominated by her, even awed. When it was over she invited her Cabinet chiefs to join her at dinner in a nearby restaurant. They went, arrayed themselves around the table, jockeyed for her attention. A young waiter came and asked if they’d like to hear the specials. Mrs. Thatcher said, “I will have beef.”

Yes, said the waiter. “And the vegetables?”

“They will have beef too.”

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119464195121588274.html

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Quotes from Margaret Thatacher:

“If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman.”

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“Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. It's not a day when you lounge around doing nothing; it's when you've had everything to do, and you've done it.”

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“What is success? I think it is a mixture of having a flair for the thing that you are doing; knowing that it is not enough, that you have got to have hard work and a certain sense of purpose.”

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"To those waiting with bated breath for that favourite media catchphrase, the U-turn, I have only this to say, ‘You turn if you want; the lady’s not for turning.' "

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And a Margaret Thatcher joke to finish:

Mrs Thatcher died, and knocked at the gate of Heaven. St. Peter said, "Sorry, wrong floor; please go downstairs."

About half an hour later, there was the most terrific knocking at Heaven's gate.

St. Peter looked out, to see Satan himself, complete with horns and a tail, and a frantic expression on his face.

"I demand political asylum!" he exclaimed.

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