An Evening with Norah O’Donnell in conversation with Deborah Norville
WE THE WOMEN
The Hidden Heroes Who Shaped America
A vivid portrait of the unsung American women from 1776 to today who changed the course of history in their fight for freedom and helped shape a more perfect union
Over a decades-long, distinguished career, award-winning journalist Norah O’Donnell has made it her mission to shed light on untold women’s stories. Now, in honor of America’s 250th birthday, O’Donnell focuses that passion on sharing the stories of American heroines who helped change the course of history.
ABOUT THE BOOK
WE THE WOMEN presents a new and extraordinary retelling of American history through the eyes of women, introducing us to inspiring patriots who demanded that the country live up to the promises made 250 years ago in the Declaration of Independence: that “all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among those are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” The pressing question from women since the signing of the document has been: Why don’t those unalienable rights apply to us?
Through extensive research and interviews, as well as old photos and historic documents, O’Donnell curates a compelling portrait of these fierce fighters for freedom. From Mary Katharine Goddard, who printed the first signed Declaration of Independence, to the Forten family women, considered the “Black Founders” of Philadelphia who were active in the abolition and suffrage movements, to the first women who served in the Armed Forces even before they had the right to vote, O’Donnell brings these extraordinary women together for the first time, and in doing so, writes the American story anew.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Norah O’Donnell is a multiple Emmy Award–winning journalist with nearly three decades of experience covering the biggest stories in the world and conducting impactful, news-making interviews. She is CBS News’s senior correspondent, focused on big interviews and projects for the network, and spent more than five years as the anchor and managing editor of CBS Evening News, the oldest and most revered evening news broadcast in America. O’Donnell anchors CBS News election specials and is a 60 Minutes contributing correspondent. She is married to Geoff Tracy, known as Chef Geoff, and is the mother of three children.
ABOUT THE MODERATOR
Deborah Norville is a fixture on the American media landscape. In May 2025, the two-time Emmy Award winner ended her unprecedented 30-plus-year run as anchor of Inside Edition, the nation’s top-rated and most-honored syndicated newsmagazine. She transitioned to a new role in September 2025 as host of the game show The Perfect Line.
Norville is the author of several books, including the New York Times bestseller Thank You Power: Making the Science of Gratitude Work for You, followed by The Power of Respect, which explores the measurable benefits of respectful behavior. She has received lifetime achievement awards from the Daytime Emmys and the Broadcasters Foundation of America and is an inductee of the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame.
She joined Inside Edition from CBS News and previously served as a co-host of NBC’s Today and NBC News at Sunrise. Her career also includes roles at MSNBC, ABC Radio and WMAQ-TV in Chicago. Norville began her television career at WAGA-TV in Atlanta while still a student at the University of Georgia, where she graduated summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA.
She is married and the mother of three adult children. More information is available via her website www.DeborahNorville.com
WITH THE SUPPORT OF 
