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Dear Abby
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Abby is a syndicated advice column started in 1956 by Pauline Esther Friedman Phillips and currently written by her daughter, Jeanne Phillips. Abigail Van Buren has been the pen name used by both writers for the column. According to its publishers, the column is known for its "uncommon common sense and youthful perspective" and is read by more people than any other newspaper column worldwide.[1]
Pauline Esther Friedman (born on 4 July 1918) was an identical twin born to Russian Jewish emigrants. Her sister, Esther Pauline Friedman Lederer, 17 minutes older, wrote the Ann Landers column.
Pauline and Esther grew up in Sioux City, Iowa. Pauline went by the nickname "Popo", while Esther's nickname was "Eppie". They were very close and even had a joint wedding ceremony in 1939 at the age of 21.[citation needed]
As competing columnists, however, the sisters did not have a happy relationship. They were not on speaking terms just a few years before Esther (Ann) died. It is said that they reconciled before her death, but Pauline (Abby) was already suffering from Alzheimer's disease by then.[citation needed]
Pauline remains married to her husband of over 65 years, Morton Phillips; it is unclear whether she understands that her sister Esther has died.[citation needed]
A measure of the Abby's national fame and of being synonymous with requests for help was illustrated the day after the 1964 U.S. Presidential election, a landslide victory for Lyndon Johnson. Nationally syndicated editorial cartoonist Bill Mauldin penned an illustration of the defeated candidate Barry Goldwater beginning to write a letter. The cartoon's caption: "Dear Abby..."
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