Ladies First
by Jan Chong, Todd Etter (original concept)
Answer: SALARY INEQUALITY
How to Solve
This puzzle consists of 16 phrases that have been independently transformed. Applying the transformation backwards reveals the original set of phrases, each of which is a feat or achievement.
Transformed Phrase | Original Phrase | Transformations |
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ELEQTD O TE SENOE | ELECTED TO THE SENATE |
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BOMMANDEYG SHZG RPACZG RHUTTLZG | COMMANDED THE SPACE SHUTTLE |
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DLLARKED HLLNDIVIDRAL NLLLYMMIC FLLLLD LLLEAAL | EARNED INDIVIDUAL OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL |
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WNKMPLETED WEDE WMKSTON WXWRATHON | COMPLETED THE BOSTON MARATHON |
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NOVI EHVI IRVITZKEG CRVIHITECTURT IRVIZT | WON THE PRITZKER ARCHITECTURE PRIZE |
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TRODINDUCTE TRODT TRODWORL TRODFOOTBAL TRODHAL TRODO TRODFAM | INDUCTED TO WORLD FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME |
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SIEDVR AF LEARZANIB OS CTREJSON | SERVED AS LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS |
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XROMOTEDNE BONE JRIGADIERNE OENERALNE | PROMOTED TO BRIGADIER GENERAL |
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ANAGEINDR HINER NTERNATIONAINLR ONETARINYR UNINDR | MANAGED THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND |
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CLETEF TQ THG EASBALN LAN OH EAO | ELECTED TO THE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME |
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AOWPPPTED TU TNN UKMUNI SKBUTA CTNJABT | APPOINTED TO THE UNITED STATES CABINET |
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VOFGHT YN JHP HEGOLUTIONARY MAC | FOUGHT IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR |
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WOON TOONX AWWAQD FOOR BEESS DIIRDCTION OFF A MUUSHCAL | WON TONY AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL |
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RECCAUIVCE CONNAURESSIONYE MEDDAUE ME HONNAUE | RECEIVED CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR |
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EERLSSTEDY IRY TLEY URIDEDY SXADESY NEVIY | ENLISTED IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY |
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GOMPETEE GEE GRESIDENTIEE GLECTIEE | COMPETED IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION |
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Solvers need to then lookup which lady in history first accomplished these achievements. Applying the transformation rules to the last name of each of these women gets you the last name of another first lady - the maiden names of 16 presidential first ladies, each containing an extra letter.
Achievement | First Lady | First Lady Transformed |
---|---|---|
ELECTED TO THE SENATE | Harriet CARAWAY | Edith CAROW(Y) Roosevelt |
COMMANDED THE SPACE SHUTTLE | Eileen COLLINS | Edith BOLLI(N)NG Galt Wilson |
EARNED OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL | Charlotte COOPER | Elizabeth BL(L)OOMER Ford |
COMPLETED THE BOSTON MARATHON | Bobbi GIBB | Lucy Ware W(R)EBB Hayes |
WON THE PRITZKER ARCHITECTURE PRIZE | Zaha HADID | Nancy DAVI(I)S Reagan |
INDUCTED TO WORLD FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME | Mia HAMM | Hillary (T)RODHAM Clinton |
SERVED AS LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS | Carla HAYDEN | Lou H(Q)ENRY Hoover |
PROMOTED TO BRIGADIER GENERAL | Anna Mae HAYS | Dolley PAY(S)NE Todd Madison |
MANAGED THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND | Christine LAGARDE | Julia (A)GARDINER Tyler |
ELECTED TO THE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME | Effa MANLEY | Harriet LANE(A) |
APPOINTED TO THE UNITED STATES CABINET | Frances PERKINS | Abigail POW(L)ERS Fillmore |
FOUGHT IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR | Deborah SAMSON | Ellen (I)AXSON Wilson |
WON TONY AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL | Julie TAYMOR | Claudia TA(A)YLOR Johnson |
RECEIVED CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR | Mary WALKER | Elizabeth Virginia WALLA(U)CE Truman |
ENLISTED IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY | Loretta Perfectus WALSH | Laura WELCH(Y) Bush |
COMPETED IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION | Victoria WOODHULL | Grace Anna GOODHUE(E) Coolidge |
Ordering each First Lady by their chronological terms and reading off the extra letter gives the answer: SALARY INEQUALITY.