Margaret Chase Smith

HER POLITICAL LIFE

BY: BROOKE HAYDEN

 

  • In 1922 Margaret thought that Skowhegan should have a business and professional women's club. In 1923 she started this organization. She was elected president of the Maine Federation of Business and Professional Club in 1926.
  • In 1941 she made the decision to sign the Selective Service in Training Act. She sponsored a bill that would improve the status for women in the military.
  • In 1948 she took a big step in political life and ran for Senate. "Don't trade a record for a promise." That was her slogan. After all the debating she got over 71% of all the votes. She was the first woman to be elected for Senate and invited to the House of Representatives.
  • She was a member of the House of Representatives on January 6, 1941. She was in Congress from 1940 to 1948. She became re elected to the U.S. Senate in 1954, 1960, and 1966. In 1972 she was defeated by representative William D. Hathaway. She was even nominated for president.
Early life