Who was Margaret Chase Smith?

Margaret Chase Smith (1897–1995) was an influential American politician, the first woman to serve in both houses of Congress. After teaching and working in business, she married politician Clyde H. Smith in 1930 and stepped into politics after his death, winning a special election to the House of Representatives in 1940. During her time in the House, she focused on military affairs and women's role in the armed forces, playing a key role in the passage of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act of 1948. In 1948, Smith was elected to the Senate. Although a staunch anticommunist, she was the first Republican senator to condemn Senator Joseph R. McCarthy’s anticommunist witch-hunts. She served in the Senate for longer than any other woman. Smith received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1989.

What political offices did Margaret Chase Smith hold?

Margaret Chase Smith was a popular and influential American public official who served in both houses of Congress. She held the following political offices: * From 1930 to 1936, she was a member of the state Republican committee. * In 1936, she worked as her husband's secretary after he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. * In 1940, she was chosen in a special election to complete her husband's term in the U.S. House of Representatives. * She was elected to a full term in the U.S. House of Representatives in September 1940 and was returned to her seat three more times. * In 1948, she was elected to the U.S. Senate, winning by a record plurality in Maine. Reelected in 1954, 1960, and 1966, Smith served in the Senate longer than any other woman.

What made her service in the U.S. Senate special or historic?

Margaret Chase Smith's service in the U.S. Senate was special and historic for several reasons. She was the first woman to serve in both houses of Congress. Smith was also the first woman to seek a major party's presidential nomination in 1964. As a senator, Smith was known for her independence and integrity. Although a staunch anticommunist, she was the first Republican senator to condemn Senator Joseph R. McCarthy’s anticommunist witch-hunts, delivering a memorable “Declaration of Conscience” on the Senate floor in 1950. Smith served in the Senate longer than any other woman at the time.

What was Margaret Chase Smith’s 'Declaration of Conscience'?

In 1950, Margaret Chase Smith, a Republican senator, delivered her " Declaration of Conscience " on the Senate floor, becoming the first Republican senator to openly condemn Senator Joseph R. McCarthy’s anti-communist witch-hunts. Although Smith was a staunch anti-communist, she felt it necessary to speak out against McCarthy's tactics, which she believed were damaging American values and freedoms. Smith's declaration was a courageous act that challenged the prevailing political climate of fear and suspicion during the Red Scare.

How did Margaret Chase Smith influence opportunities for women in government?

Margaret Chase Smith significantly influenced opportunities for women in government through her groundbreaking career and advocacy. She was the first woman to serve in both houses of Congress. During her time in the House of Representatives, Smith focused on the status of women in the armed forces, playing a vital role in the passage of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act of 1948, which ensured women received equal pay, rank, and privileges in the military. Smith paved the way for future generations, such as Shirley Chisholm , and inspired more women to seek leadership roles.

Margaret Chase Smith

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Née:: Margaret Madeline Chase

Born:: Dec. 14, 1897, Skowhegan, Maine, U.S.

Died:: May 29, 1995, Skowhegan (aged 97)

Title / Office:: United States Senate (1949-1973), United States

Political Affiliation:: Republican Party

Margaret Chase Smith

United States senator

Also known as: Margaret Madeline Chase

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Britannica Editors

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Top Questions

Who was Margaret Chase Smith?
Margaret Chase Smith (1897–1995) was an influential American politician, the first woman to serve in both houses of Congress.

After teaching and working in business, she married politician Clyde H. Smith in 1930 and stepped into politics after his death, winning a special election to the House of Representatives in 1940. During her time in the House, she focused on military affairs and women's role in the armed forces, playing a key role in the passage of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act of 1948.

In 1948, Smith was elected to the Senate. Although a staunch anticommunist, she was the first Republican senator to condemn Senator Joseph R. McCarthy’s anticommunist witch-hunts. She served in the Senate for longer than any other woman. Smith received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1989.
1 Britannica Source
1. Margaret Chase Smith
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What political offices did Margaret Chase Smith hold?
Margaret Chase Smith was a popular and influential American public official who served in both houses of Congress.

She held the following political offices:
* From 1930 to 1936, she was a member of the state Republican committee.
* In 1936, she worked as her husband's secretary after he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
* In 1940, she was chosen in a special election to complete her husband's term in the U.S. House of Representatives.
* She was elected to a full term in the U.S. House of Representatives in September 1940 and was returned to her seat three more times.
* In 1948, she was elected to the U.S. Senate, winning by a record plurality in Maine. Reelected in 1954, 1960, and 1966, Smith served in the Senate longer than any other woman.
1 Britannica Source
1. Margaret Chase Smith
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What made her service in the U.S. Senate special or historic?
Margaret Chase Smith's service in the U.S. Senate was special and historic for several reasons. She was the first woman to serve in both houses of Congress. Smith was also the first woman to seek a major party's presidential nomination in 1964.

As a senator, Smith was known for her independence and integrity. Although a staunch anticommunist, she was the first Republican senator to condemn Senator Joseph R. McCarthy’s anticommunist witch-hunts, delivering a memorable “Declaration of Conscience” on the Senate floor in 1950. Smith served in the Senate longer than any other woman at the time.
2 Britannica Sources
1. Women Leaders: Notable Female Politicians in History: Those Who Paved the Way
2. Margaret Chase Smith
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How did Margaret Chase Smith contribute to American politics?
Margaret Chase Smith was an influential American politician, becoming the first woman to serve in both houses of Congress. After her husband's death, she successfully ran for his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, displaying independent judgment early in her career.

During her time in the House, Smith focused on military affairs and women's status, playing a key role in the passage of the Women's Armed Services Integration Act of 1948, which ensured equal pay and rank for women. Elected to the Senate in 1948, she became known for her integrity and outspokenness. Despite being a staunch anticommunist, she bravely denounced Senator Joseph McCarthy's witch-hunts in her "Declaration of Conscience" in 1950. Smith served in the Senate for longer than any other woman and was considered for the vice presidency in 1952.
1 Britannica Source
1. Margaret Chase Smith
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What was Margaret Chase Smith’s 'Declaration of Conscience'?
In 1950, Margaret Chase Smith, a Republican senator, delivered her "Declaration of Conscience" on the Senate floor, becoming the first Republican senator to openly condemn Senator Joseph R. McCarthy’s anti-communist witch-hunts. Although Smith was a staunch anti-communist, she felt it necessary to speak out against McCarthy's tactics, which she believed were damaging American values and freedoms. Smith's declaration was a courageous act that challenged the prevailing political climate of fear and suspicion during the Red Scare.
2 Britannica Sources
1. Margaret Chase Smith
2. Did Joseph McCarthy cause the Red Scare of the 1950s?
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
How did Margaret Chase Smith influence opportunities for women in government?
Margaret Chase Smith significantly influenced opportunities for women in government through her groundbreaking career and advocacy. She was the first woman to serve in both houses of Congress. During her time in the House of Representatives, Smith focused on the status of women in the armed forces, playing a vital role in the passage of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act of 1948, which ensured women received equal pay, rank, and privileges in the military. Smith paved the way for future generations, such as Shirley Chisholm, and inspired more women to seek leadership roles.
2 Britannica Sources
1. Women Leaders: Notable Female Politicians in History: Those Who Paved the Way
2. Margaret Chase Smith
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Margaret Chase Smith (born Dec. 14, 1897, Skowhegan, Maine, U.S.—died May 29, 1995, Skowhegan) was an American popular and influential public official who became the first woman to serve in both U.S. houses of Congress.

Margaret Chase attended high school in her native Skowhegan, Maine, graduating in 1916. She then taught school briefly, held a series of other jobs, and served as president of the Maine Federation of Business and Professional Women’s Clubs from 1926 to 1928. In 1930 she married Clyde H. Smith, a local political figure and co-owner of the Skowhegan Independent Reporter, for which she had earlier worked. From 1930 to 1936 she was a member of the state Republican committee, and after her husband’s election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1936 she worked as his secretary. When he suffered a heart attack in 1940, he urged her to run in his stead in the election that year. He died in April, and two months later she was chosen in a special election to complete his term. Almost immediately she displayed the independent judgment that became characteristic of her political career by breaking with her Republican colleagues to vote in September in favor of the Selective Service Act. In that month she was elected to a full term, and she was returned to her seat three more times.

During her eight years in the House of Representatives, Smith served on the Naval Affairs Committee and later on the Armed Services Committee and concerned herself particularly with the status of women in the armed forces. She played a major role in the passage of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act of June 1948, which gave women equal pay, rank, and privileges. In 1948 she ran successfully for a seat in the Senate, winning it by a record plurality in Maine. She quickly established herself as an outspoken legislator of high integrity and considerable influence.

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Smith was generally liberal on domestic issues, often backing New Deal legislation proposed by Democratic President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and she was a strong supporter of national defense and security. Although a staunch anticommunist, she was nevertheless the first Republican senator to condemn Senator Joseph R. McCarthy’s anticommunist witch-hunts, delivering a memorable “Declaration of Conscience” on the Senate floor in 1950. Her opinion that President John F. Kennedy should use nuclear weapons against the Soviet Union prompted Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev to dub her “the devil in disguise of a woman.”

Reelected by large majorities in 1954, 1960, and 1966, Smith served in the Senate longer than any other woman. She was considered as a vice presidential candidate in 1952 and received several votes for the presidential nomination at the 1964 Republican National Convention. Her defeat for reelection to the Senate in 1972 by William D. Hathaway turned mainly on the question of her age and health; she had campaigned little.

Among the many honors Smith received were several citations as woman of the year, the Newsweek magazine press poll rating as Most Valuable Senator for 1960, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1989.

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The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Mindy Johnston.

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