Smith, Margaret Chase, 1897-1995

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Margaret Chase Smith (b. December 14, 1897, Skowhegan, ME–d. May 29, 1995, Skowhegan, ME) was the first woman to serve in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Before politics, she had several careers, including teaching, coaching high school basketball, and journalism. After her marriage to Clyde Smith in 1930, she became involved in local politics, first with her election to the Maine Republican State Committee (1930-1936). When her husband was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1936, Smith served as his secretary and also as treasurer of the Congressional Club, a group composed of the wives of congressmen and Cabinet members.

Her husband died in 1940 and Smith won special election during the middle of his term, 1940, becoming the first woman elected to Congress from Maine. Later that year she was elected to a full two-year term in the House in her own right and re-elected to three more terms over the course of the next eight years. While in House, Smith developed a strong interest in issues concerning the military and national security, became the first and only civilian woman to sail on a U.S. Navy ship during World War II and a member of the House Armed Services Committee in 1946. She is known for wearing a single red rose that became a daily fixture of her attire throughout her career in public office.

Smith won election for Senator from Maine, 1948, and became the first woman to represent Maine in the Senate, and the first woman to serve in both houses of Congress. In 1964 she announced her candidacy for President of the United States and was the first woman to have her name be placed in nomination for the presidency at a major political party's convention. She was also the first woman to serve as chair of the Senate Republican Conference (1967-1972). She was defeated for re-election in 1972. After her congressional career, Smith taught at several colleges and universities as a visiting professor for the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation (1973–1976).

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations (Nixon Administration). 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations. 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Oval Office tape number 479 Richard Nixon Library
referencedIn Freedom House (U.S.). Freedom House archives, 1936-1997. Princeton University Library
referencedIn Cumming, Adelaide Fish Hawley, 1905-. Papers, 1922-1967 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Papers of Martha May Eliot, 1898-1975 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Records of the Women's Equity Action League, 1966-1979 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Academy of Political Science letters, 1923-1970 Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Stein and Day Publisher Records, 1963-1988 Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Solotko, Leslie Anne. Frances Payne Bolton oral history interviews, 1989. Western Reserve Historical Society, Research Library
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS [MAR. 1] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Citizens Committee for the Protection of the Environment (Ossining, N.Y.). Records, 1966-1969. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf Roberts, Dennis Joseph, 1903-1994. [Guide to the Dennis J. Roberts papers ] Providence College, Phillips Memorial Library, Phillips Memorial Library
referencedIn Florence Ellinwood Allen Papers, 1907-1965 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations (Nixon Administration). 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Sound Recordings of Meetings and Telephone Conversations. 2/16/1971 - 7/18/1973. Oval Office tape number 803 Richard Nixon Library
referencedIn Brewster, Daniel B. (Daniel Baugh), 1923-2007. Daniel B. Brewster Papers, 1950-2007 (bulk 1962-1968). University of Maryland (College Park, Md.). Libraries
referencedIn Papers, ca.1905-1989 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Harold Phelps Stokes papers, 1908-1969 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Emery, Josephine. Emery-Kinney family papers, 1864-2000. Raymond H. Fogler Library
referencedIn Records of the Central Intelligence Agency. 1894 - 2002. Moving Images Relating to Intelligence and International Relations. 1947 - 1984. Senator Margaret Chase Smith's Daily Schedule National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Neuberger, Richard L. (Richard Lewis), 1912-1960,. Neuberger Family Photographs Collection [graphic], 1893-ca. 1997, (bulk 1950-1966). Oregon Historical Society Research Library
creatorOf Emery, Roscoe C., 1886-1969. Papers, 1830-1969 (bulk 1930-1968). Raymond H. Fogler Library
referencedIn Brewster, Daniel B. (Daniel Baugh), 1923-2007. Daniel B. Brewster Papers, 1950-2007 (bulk 1962-1968). University of Maryland (College Park, Md.). Libraries
referencedIn Papers, ca. 1967 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Papers, 1948 (1950-1956) 1964 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Brewster, Daniel B. (Daniel Baugh), 1923-2007. Daniel B. Brewster Papers, 1950-2007 (bulk 1962-1968). University of Maryland (College Park, Md.). Libraries
referencedIn Morton, Thruston B. (Thruston Ballard), 1907-1982. Thruston B. Morton papers, 1933-1969, 1957-1961 (bulk dates). University of Kentucky Libraries
referencedIn Weis, Jessica McCullough, 1901-1963. Papers, 1922-1963 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Kitchelt, Florence Ledyard Cross, 1874-1961. Papers, 1885-1961 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Records of the U.S. Senate. 1789 - 2015. Dwight D. Eisenhower and Associates Newspaper Clippings, 1936 - 1954 Dwight D. Eisenhower Library
creatorOf Smith, Margaret Chase, 1897-. Miscellaneous papers. Jacksonville University, Carl S. Swisher Library
referencedIn Academy of Political Science letters, 1923-1970. Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Arthur E. Scott photograph collection George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections & Archives
referencedIn Dennis J. Roberts papers, Roberts (Dennis J.) papers, 1927-1972 Phillips Memorial Library, Special and Archival Collections
creatorOf Allen, Florence Ellinwood, 1884-1966. Papers, 1856-1967, bulk 1901-1967. Western Reserve Historical Society, Research Library
referencedIn U.S. Representative Margaret Chase Smith christens the "Pine Tree III", 1943 June 5. Camden Public Library
referencedIn Furlong, William Rea, 1881-1976. Papers, 1892-1985 (bulk 1930-1945). Library of Congress
referencedIn Papers, 1922-1963 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Lyndon Baines Johnson Archives Collection. 1931 - 1968. Congressional Correspondence Files Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
referencedIn Newman, Pauline. Papers, 1903-1982 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Anne Henrietta Martin papers, 1892-1951. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Miller, Emma Guffey, 1874-1970. Papers, 1833-1975 (bulk: 1884-1972) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Curtis Putnam Nettels papers, 1917-1981. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
creatorOf International Brotherhood of Paper Makers. Local 410 (Lincoln, Me.). Records, 1937-1965. Raymond H. Fogler Library
referencedIn Stellanova Osborn papers, 1907-1988 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Goss, Harold I. Maine elections : broadsides and ballots, 1953-1958. Maine Historical Society Library
referencedIn Edgar Ansel Mowrer and Lilian T. Mowrer Papers, 1898-1978, (bulk 1933-1975) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Linnell, Hazel E., 1905-2005. Hazel E. Linnell correspondence with Margaret Chase Smith, 1966-1969 (bulk, 1968). Maine Historical Society Library
referencedIn V. K. Wellington Koo papers, 1906-1992, bulk 1931-1966 Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Marie Manning Papers MS 385., 1901-2000, 1930-1945 Sophia Smith Collection
referencedIn Rayburn, Sam, 1882-1961, Papers, 1822, 1831, 1845, 1903-2007 Dolph Briscoe Center for American History
creatorOf Scott, Hugh, 1900-1994. Papers of Hugh Scott [manuscript], 1925-1979. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Charl Ormond Williams Papers, 1924-1959, (bulk 1935-1945) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Pickering, William H., 1910-2004. William H. Pickering Speech Collection, 1955-1975. Jet Propulsion Laboratory Library and Archives
referencedIn Citizens Committee for the Protection of the Environment Papers, 1966-1969. Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Alexander, Dolores, 1931-2008. NOW officer papers, 1960-1973 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Papers, 1935-1993 (inclusive), 1940-1968 (bulk) Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Papers, 1922-1967 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Nash, Ruth Cowan, 1901-. Papers: Series V-VII, 1935-1979 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Whitney, George Herbert, 1878-1965. Interesting interviews : photographs, 1922-1940. Maine Historical Society Library
referencedIn Bingham, Millicent Todd, 1880-1968. Millicent Todd Bingham papers, 1865-1968 (inclusive). Yale University Library
creatorOf Sandburg, Carl, 1878-1967. Letters of tribute to Carl Sandburg [manuscript], 1951-1952. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Hearst Metrotone News, Inc., Collection. 1937 - 1942. News of the Day Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1963 - 12/1967. News of the Day (Jan. 29) National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Harrell, Flynn T., 1934-. Flynn T. Harrell papers, 1948-1981 : collection of photographs and letters, chiefly of national political figures. University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries
referencedIn John E. Fogarty papers, Fogarty, (John E, ) papers, 1941-1967 Phillips Memorial Library
referencedIn Flagg, Mildred Buchanan, 1886-1980. Papers, 1876-1955 (inclusive), 1900-1955 (bulk). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Peffer, Crawford A., 1868-1961. Crawford and Ella Peffer/Redpath Chautauqua collection, 1912-1997. Maine Historical Society Library
referencedIn Fox Movietone News Collection. 1957 - 1963. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 1957 - 1963. MOVIETONE NEWS National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Hearst Metrotone News, Inc., Collection. 1937 - 1942. News of the Day Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1963 - 12/1967. News of the Day (July 11) National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Letters and documents. Hollins University, Wyndham Robertson Library
referencedIn Correspondence, 1939-1965. Andover-Harvard Theological Library
referencedIn Miller, Emma Guffey, 1874-1970. Papers: Series III-IV, 1900-1972 (inclusive) [microform]. Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn William Rea Furlong Papers, 1892-1985, (bulk 1930-1945) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Sage Colleges Archives. Honorary degree recipient for 1956, Margaret Chase Smith. The Sage Colleges Libraries
referencedIn Alexander, Dolores. Papers, 1960-1973 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Blair Moody Papers, 1928-1954, 1934-1952 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Unity Sesquicentennial Society. Records, 1954. Raymond H. Fogler Library
referencedIn Nettels, Curtis Putnam, 1898-1981. Curtis Putnam Nettels papers, 1917-1981. Cornell University Library
referencedIn Manning, Marie, d. 1945. Papers, 1909-2000 (bulk 1930s-1945). Smith College, Neilson Library
referencedIn Newman, Pauline, ca. 1890-1986. Papers, 1900-1980 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Williams, Helene Kravadze, d. 1993. Helene Kravadze Williams papers, 1932-1987. Historical Society of Washington, D.C.
creatorOf Stellanova Osborn papers, 1907-1988 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Bingham, Millicent Todd, 1880-1968. Papers, 1865-1968 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS [AUG. 31] National Archives at College Park
referencedIn G. E. Mueller Papers, 1876-1997, (bulk 1935-1995) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Batten, Pluma Burroughs Penton, 1894-. Papers, 1948-1964 (inclusive), 1950-1956 (bulk). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Byrd, Harry Flood, 1887-1966. Papers of Harry Flood Byrd [manuscript] 1911-65. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Smith, Margaret Chase, 1897-1995. Margaret Chase Smith : in her own words. Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Harvard Law School Forums Records Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
referencedIn Paramount Pictures, Inc., Collection. 1951 - 1951. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1941 - 3/1957. PARAMOUNT NEWS [SEPT. 22] National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Smith, Margaret Chase, 1897-1995. Margaret Chase Smith typed letter signed, 1944 May 12. Maine Historical Society Library
referencedIn Candidates for public office campaign materials, 1966-1976 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Papers, ca. 1967 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Ayers, Ross. Papers, 1968-1973. Texas Tech University Libraries, Academic Library
referencedIn California State University Public Affairs Office Collection, 1959-2002 California State University Historical Archives California State University, Dominguez Hills
Role Title Holding Repository

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Relation Name
associatedWith Academy of Political Science (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith Adelaide Fish Hawley Cumming person
associatedWith Alexander, Dolores. person
associatedWith Allen, Florence Ellinwood, 1884-1966. person
associatedWith Arthur E. Scott, 1917-1976 person
associatedWith Ayers, Ross. person
associatedWith Batten, Pluma Burroughs Penton, 1894- person
associatedWith Bingham, Millicent Todd, 1880-1968. person
correspondedWith Brewster, Daniel B. (Daniel Baugh), 1923-2007. person
associatedWith Byrd, Harry Flood, 1887-1966. person
associatedWith California State University. Office of the Chancellor. Public Affairs Office corporateBody
associatedWith Citizens Committee for the Protection of the Environment (Ossining, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Cumming, Adelaide Fish Hawley, 1905- person
associatedWith Dolores Alexander corporateBody
associatedWith Eliot, Martha M. (Martha May), b. 1891. person
associatedWith Emery, Roscoe C., 1886-1969. person
associatedWith Emma (Guffey) Miller, 1874-1970 person
associatedWith Flagg, Mildred Buchanan, 1886-1980. person
associatedWith Fogarty, John Edward, 1913-1967 person
correspondedWith Freedom House (U.S.) corporateBody
correspondedWith Furlong, William Rea, 1881-1976. person
associatedWith Harrell, Flynn T., 1934- person
correspondedWith Harvard Law School Forum corporateBody
associatedWith International Brotherhood of Paper Makers. Local 410 (Lincoln, Me.) corporateBody
correspondedWith Jane Barton person
associatedWith Jessica Weis, 1901-1963 person
associatedWith Kitchelt, Florence Ledyard Cross, 1874-1961. person
associatedWith Koo, V. K. Wellington, 1888-1985. person
associatedWith Lamson, Peggy. person
correspondedWith Linnell, Hazel E., 1905-2005. person
correspondedWith Manning, Marie person
correspondedWith Manning, Marie, d. 1945. person
correspondedWith Marshall, Effie Lawrence, 1873-1970 person
associatedWith Marshall, Harry Ignatius, b. 1878 person
associatedWith MARTHA MAY ELIOT, 1891-1978 person
associatedWith Martin, Anne, 1875-1951. person
associatedWith Miller, Emma Guffey, 1874-1970. person
associatedWith Moody, Blair, 1902-1954 person
associatedWith Morton, Thruston B. (Thruston Ballard), 1907-1982. person
correspondedWith Mowrer, Edgar Ansel, 1892-1977. person
correspondedWith Mowrer, Lilian T. (Lilian Thomson). Edgar Ansel Mowrer and Lilian T. Mowrer papers. 1910-1970 person
correspondedWith Mueller, G. E. (George Edwin), 1918- person
associatedWith Nash, Ruth Cowan, 1901- person
associatedWith Nettels, Curtis Putnam, 1898-1981. person
associatedWith Neuberger, Richard L. (Richard Lewis), 1912-1960, person
associatedWith Newman, Pauline. person
associatedWith Osborn, Stellanova, 1894-1988. person
associatedWith PAULINE NEWMAN, 1888-1986 person
correspondedWith Peffer, Crawford A., 1868-1961. person
associatedWith Peggy Lamson person
associatedWith Pickering, William H., 1910-2004. person
associatedWith Pluma Burroughs (Penton) Batten, 1894- person
associatedWith Rayburn, Sam, 1882-1961 person
memberOf Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- ) corporateBody
associatedWith Roberts, Dennis Joseph, 1903-1994. person
associatedWith RUTH BALDWIN (COWAN) NASH, 1901-1993 person
associatedWith Sandburg, Carl, 1878-1967. person
associatedWith Scott, Arthur E., 1917-1976. person
associatedWith Scott, Hugh, 1900-1994. person
spouseOf Smith, Clyde Harold, 1876-1940 person
associatedWith Stein and Day Publishers. corporateBody
associatedWith Stokes, Harold Phelps, 1887-1970. person
correspondedWith Unitarian Service Committee. corporateBody
memberOf United States. Congress. House corporateBody
memberOf United States. Congress. Senate corporateBody
associatedWith Unity Sesquicentennial Society. corporateBody
associatedWith Warford, Pamela Neal. person
associatedWith Weis, Jessica McCullough, 1901-1963. person
associatedWith Whitney, George Herbert, 1878-1965. person
associatedWith Williams, Charl Ormond, 1885-1969. person
correspondedWith Williams, Helene Kravadze, d. 1993. person
correspondedWith Women's Equity Action League corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Skowhegan ME US
United States 00 US
Skowhegan ME US
Subject
Marriage
Women
Women
Women legislators
Occupation
Women legislators
Activity

Person

Birth 1897-12-14

Death 1995-05-29

Americans

English

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