Margaret Chase Smith

Margaret Chase Smith (December 14, 1897–May 29, 1995) was a Republican Senator from Maine, and one of the most successful politicians in Maine history. She was the first woman to be elected to both the U.S. House and the Senate. She was also the first woman to have her name placed in nomination at her party's convention (1964 Republican).

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December 14 - 1897 - May 29 - 1995 - Republican - Senator - Maine - U.S. House

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Margaret Chase attended Colby College in Waterville, Maine and was inducted into the Alpha chapter of Sigma Kappa Sorority.

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Colby College - Waterville, Maine - Sigma Kappa

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She first won a seat to the House of Representatives on June 3, 1940 to fill the vacancy caused by the death of her husband, Clyde Smith. She served in the House until January 3, 1949. She served on the House Naval Affairs committee during World War II. As co-chair of a subcommittee that investigated problems encountered by the War Department in rapidly establishing bases across the nation, she was instrumental in resolving conflicts between states, local jurisdictions and the military.

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June 3 - 1940 - Clyde Smith - January 3 - 1949 - World War II

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She had been elected to the U.S. Senate in 1948. She served in the Senate from 1949 to January 3, 1973. In her bid for a third term in 1960, the Democratic party put up Lucia Cormier, the Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives making the first time two women ran against each other for a Senate seat. By the end of her fourth term, the charm she had for so many years seemed to evaporate. She was defeated for reelection in 1972 by Democrat Bill Hathaway, the only election she ever lost in the state of Maine. (Hathaway only served one term in the Senate; he was defeated in 1978 by Republican Bill Cohen). In her last election Smith had been plagued by accusations her health was not robust for another Senate term. She had been using a motor scooter around the Senate. A Republican primary challenger taunted her for being out of touch. Smith did not have a state office operating in Maine. Also, she alienated liberals with her support for the war in Vietnam, while turning off conservatives with her votes against Nixon Supreme Court nominees Clement Haynsworth and G. Harrold Carswell.

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1949 - January 3 - 1973 - Democrat - Bill Hathaway - Bill Cohen - War - Vietnam - Nixon - Supreme Court - Clement Haynsworth - G. Harrold Carswell

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She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George H. W. Bush in 1989 in addition to the U.S. Air Force's top award, the American Spirit Award, in recognition of her contributions as a "great American patriot." She was also presented with a Doctor of Laws honorary degree from Rutgers University in addition to 93 other honorary degrees.

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Presidential Medal of Freedom - George H. W. Bush - 1989

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Senator Smith is historically prominent not only for her many firsts as a woman, but also for her early principled opposition to the tactics of Senator Joseph McCarthy. On June 1, 1950, she gave her Declaration of Conscience http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/resources/pdf/SmithDeclaration.pdf on the floor of the Senate, earning McCarthy's permanent ire and the nickname "Moscow Maggie" from his staff. Her speech, although it did not produce immediate backlash, was the beginning of the end for McCarthy. He had successfully intervened in Senate elections defeating key Democrats, but in 1954, when he attempted to challenge her seat, the Maine voters rejected the effort. She was the first (and as yet only) woman chair of the Senate Republican Conference, 1967-1972.

Related Topics:
Joseph McCarthy - June 1 - 1950 - Declaration of Conscience - Senate Republican Conference - 1967 - 1972

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