U.S. Elections Women in Politics U.S. Department of State Bureau of International Information Programs

A Woman’s Place In the late 18th century, Western any laws in which we have no voice In 1932, Hattie Caraway, initial- governments were run by white or representation.” ly appointed to fill her late hus- men who probably couldn’t imagine Abigail Adams became the first band’s seat, became the first woman women running for any elected of- lady when her husband succeeded elected to the Senate in her own fice, let alone the presidency. George Washington as president right, representing Arkansas. Nick- in 1797. Between Abigail Adams’ letter and the 2008 campaign of Hillary Rodham Clinton, the first political- ly viable female candidate for presi- dent, generations of American wom- en overcame stereotypes and broke down barriers to elected office. In 1887, Susanna Madora Salt- er was elected mayor of Argonia, Kansas, becoming the first female U.S. mayor only weeks after Kansas women earned voting rights. Some men had nominated the 27-year-old Salter as a joke, but the joke was on them when she won the election. named “silent Hattie” for the rarity Abigail Adams was ahead of her Women in Congress of her public speeches, Caraway time in her advocacy for inclusion. Jeannette Rankin, a Republican took her responsibilities seriously “Remember the ladies,” she wrote to of Montana, took her seat in the and built a reputation for integrity. her husband, the revolutionary U.S. House of Representatives on Margaret Chase Smith repre- leader John Adams, in March 1776, April 2, 1916, as the first woman sented Maine first in the U.S. House when he was a delegate to the Con- elected to Congress – even before of Representatives and then in the tinental Congress. She urged that the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920 U.S. Senate — the first woman to Congress consider the rights of gave all American women the right serve in both chambers of Con- women as it laid the foundations for to vote in elections. gress. In 1964, Republican Smith American independence. Rankin maintained that women’s became the first woman considered “Remember, all men would be talents and expertise were needed to for the presidential nomination at a tyrants if they could,” she wrote. build better societies. “Men and national convention; she lost to “If particular care and attention is women are like right and left hands; Barry Goldwater. not paid to the ladies, we are deter- it doesn’t make sense not to use mined to foment a rebellion, and Top: Hillary Clinton campaigned for the both,” she said. Democratic presidential nomination in will not hold ourselves bound by 2008. Left: Abigail Adams urged women’s rights in 1776. Right: Jeannette Rankin became the first congresswoman. Images: Top, ©AP Images; Left, National Gallery of Art; Right, Library of Congress U.S. Elections Women in Politics

National Candidates When President George W. Bush “Think how much progress Shirley Chisholm of New York delivered his State of the Union ad- we’ve already made,” Clinton told — the first black woman elected to dress in January 2007, the first fe- her supporters. “… [F]rom now on Congress and a champion of minor- male speaker of the U.S. House of it will be unremarkable for a wom- ity rights — campaigned for the Representatives, Nancy Pelosi from an to win primary state victories, Democratic presidential nomina- San Francisco, sat behind him on unremarkable to have a woman in a tion in 1972. Chisholm struggled to the dais. (The speaker is next in line close race to be our nominee, unre- be taken seriously; newscaster Wal- of succession to the presidency af- markable to think that a woman ter Cronkite announced her candi- ter the vice president.) can be the president of the United dacy by saying “a new hat — rath- President Bush called Pelosi’s States.” er, a bonnet — was tossed into the ascension to the post of speaker Democratic presidential race to- “historic for our country. And as day.” Chisholm lost the nomination the father of young women … I to George McGovern. think it’s important.” In 1984, Geraldine Ferraro In 2008, Sarah Palin became the Republican Party’s first female Top: Suffragettes march for women’s campaigned as the Democratic right to vote in 1912. Second row, left candidate for vice president. In ac- nominee for vice president. to right: Argonia, Kansas, Mayor In June 2008, former first lady Susanna Madora Salter; U.S. Senator cepting the nomination, the New Hattie Caraway; U.S. Senator Margaret York representative said, “By Hillary Rodham Clinton, a U.S. Chase Smith; U.S. Representative choosing a woman to run for our senator from New York, ended her Shirley Chisholm, Representative historic bid for the U.S. presidency. Geraldine Ferraro; U.S. Speaker of the nation’s second highest office, you House Nancy Pelosi. sent a powerful signal to all Amer- The 18 million primary votes she icans. There are no doors we can- had won by June were not going to not unlock. We will place no limits be enough to secure the Democratic on achievement.” nomination.

Images: Top, ©AP Images. Second row, left to right, Salter House Museum, U.S. Congress, ©AP Images for last three in row. U.S. Department of State Bureau of International Information Programs