Politics: First Woman To ...
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Right This Way, Madame President
The presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton has raised the role of women in politics back into the spotlight. While there hasn't been a woman to hold the highest office in the United States before, women have held the top position in other countries. We're still hearing about "the first woman to" in this area, but there are fewer and fewer opportunities for that phrase. Yeah!
This lens is part of a series celebrating the achievements of women in various fields, including sports, politics, science, business and more.
"There will never be a new world order until women are a part of it."
- Alice Paul
Politics: American Women
U.S. Presidential Candidates- 1872 - Victoria Claflin Woodhull becomes the first woman presidential candidate in the United States when she is nominated by the National Radical Reformers. In 1871, the flamboyant "free love" advocate, journalist and investment counselor Woodhull declared herself a candidate for president. Her platform included an eight-hour work day, graduated income tax, and new divorce law. Since women could not yet vote, her campaign did not get far.
- 1964 - Margaret Chase Smith of Maine becomes the first woman nominated for president of the United States by a major political party at the Republican National Convention in San Francisco.
- 1984 - Geraldine Ferraro is the first woman to run for vice-president on a major party ticket. Sarah Palin becomes the first on the Republican ticket in 2008.
- 2012 - ?
Appointed Positions
- Serve in U.S. Cabinet - 1933 - Frances Perkins is appointed secretary of labor by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, making her the first woman member of a presidential cabinet.
- Supreme Court - 1981- Sandra Day O'Connor is appointed by President Reagan to the Supreme Court, making her its first woman justice.
- Surgeon General - 1990 - Dr. Antonia Novello is sworn in as U.S. Surgeon General, becoming the first woman (and first Hispanic) to hold that job.
- Head of military branch - 1993 - Sheila Widnall becomes the first secretary of a branch of the U.S. military when she is appointed to head the Air Force.
- Attorney General - 1993 - Janet Reno becomes the first woman U.S. attorney general.
Elected Positions
- Serve in U.S. Congress - 1916 - Jeannette Rankin of Montana is the first woman to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
- Speaker of House - 2007 - Nancy Pelosi becomes the first woman Speaker of the House of Representatives.
- State governor - 1925 - Nellie Tayloe Ross becomes the first woman to serve as governor of a state, in Wyoming. In the fall of 1924 she was elected to succeed her deceased husband, William Bradford Ross. (Miriam Amanda "Ma" Ferguson is inaugurated governor of Texas days later.)
More on Madame President
Politics: Who Should It Be?
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Politics: Outside the U.S.
While the rights of women are suspect in much of the world, women have held the highest position in the land in several countries long before the U.S. every had a viable candidate for president.
- 1919 - Nancy Astor, American-born wife of Waldorf Astor, became the first woman in British history to be elected to and take a seat in Parliament. She took his seat in the House of Commons when he moved to the House of Lords.
- 1929 - Margaret Bondfield became the first woman to serve in the British Cabinet, taking the position of Minister of Labour.
- 1969 - Golda Meir becomes the first female prime minister of Israel.
- 1979 - Margaret Thatcher becomes the first female prime minister of Britain.
- 1988 - Benazir Bhutto becomes the first woman prime minister of Pakistan and the first woman to serve as leader in the modern Muslim world.
- 1990 - Mary Robinson becomes the first woman elected president of Ireland.
- 2006 - Michelle Bachelet becomes the first woman president of Chile.
- 2006 - Angela Merkel becomes the first woman chancellor of Germany
Women Political Leaders Around the World
"The day will come when men will recognize woman as his peer, not only at the fireside, but in councils of the nation. Then, and not until then, will there be the perfect comradeship, the ideal union between the sexes that shall result in the highest development of the race."
-Susan B. Anthony
Politics: Women in the News
- Angry lawmakers challenge lineup at hearing: 'Where are the women?'
- By Martina Stewart, CNN Political Producer Rep. Maloney: "When I look at this panel, I don't see one single woman ... " Washington (CNN) -- A pair of female Democratic lawmakers had a simple question Thursday about a controversial hearing on Capitol ...
- Rick Santorum backer suggests Bayer aspirin as a birth control method for women
- Foster Friess, the primary supporter of a pro-Santorum super political action committee, suggested on MSNBC that women use Bayer aspirin as a contraceptive. ?This contraceptive thing, my gosh, it's so expensive,? he told host Andrea Mitchell.
- Passions Flare as House Debates Birth Control Rule
- WASHINGTON ? President Obama's compromise plan to require free insurance coverage of contraceptives for women touched off a tumultuous debate on Thursday in which members of Congress mixed political theater with soul-searching over potential threats ...
Politics: Read More About Women's Role In World Politics
"Women have more to prove than men when it comes to politics."
- Julie Nixon Eisenhower
Let's Hear It For the Girls!
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Obey_The_Goddess
Mar 31, 2011 @ 8:24 am | delete
- A truly outstanding lens!
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Webcodes
Nov 4, 2008 @ 2:59 pm | delete
- Fabulous tribute to women and politics 5*. An interesting read.
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SweetSouthernWoman
Oct 13, 2008 @ 3:23 pm | delete
- I really enjoyed this lens. I have been hopping through all of you first woman pages and I just wanted to compliment you on your excellent work.
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ClothesJunkie Mar 5, 2008 @ 10:40 am | delete
- Great lens! Five stars definitely. I'm glad to see the accomplishments of women being featured!
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lisadh
Jan 14, 2008 @ 12:25 am | delete
- Love the "First Woman" series! 5* I'm now your fan. Thanks for stopping by my Women Presidents and Prime Ministers lens.
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SusanVillasLewis
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