Margaret Chase Smith

Margaret Chase Smith
Name	Margaret Chase Smith
Caption	Smith in 1960
State	Maine
Term start	January 3, 1949
Term end	January 3, 1973
Predecessor	Wallace H. White Jr.
Successor	William Hathaway
State1	Maine
District1	2nd
Term start1	June 3, 1940
Term end1	January 3, 1949
Predecessor1	Clyde H. Smith
Successor1	Charles P. Nelson
Party	Republican
Birth date	14 December 1897
Birth place	Skowhegan, Maine
Death date	29 May 1995
Death place	Skowhegan, Maine
Restingplace	Skowhegan
Alma mater	Skowhegan High School
Spouse	Clyde H. Smith, 1930, 1940
Occupation	Teacher, business executive

Margaret Chase Smith was an American politician who made history as the first woman to serve in both chambers of the United States Congress. A member of the Republican Party from Maine, she served in the House of Representatives from 1940 to 1949 and in the Senate from 1949 to 1973, establishing a reputation for independence and integrity. Her political career was defined by a steadfast commitment to national security, military preparedness, and a courageous stand against the tactics of McCarthyism with her landmark "Declaration of Conscience" speech.

Early life and education

Margaret Madeline Chase was born in Skowhegan, Maine, to George Emery Chase and Carrie Matilda Murray. She attended local public schools, graduating from Skowhegan High School in 1916, after which she worked briefly as a teacher, a telephone operator, and an office manager for a local telephone company. Her entry into public life began with business and civic organizations, including the Skowhegan Chamber of Commerce and the Maine Federation of Business and Professional Women's Clubs, where she honed her leadership skills. These early experiences in her hometown provided a foundation in community engagement that would later inform her political approach.

Early political career

Smith's political career was launched through her marriage to Clyde H. Smith, a prominent Republican Congressman from Maine's 2nd congressional district. She served as his office manager and political confidante in Washington, D.C.. Following his death in 1940, she won a special election to succeed him, becoming the first woman elected to Congress from Maine. During her tenure in the House, she served on the Naval Affairs Committee and was a strong advocate for the Navy, playing a key role in the creation of the WAVES and championing the Women's Armed Services Integration Act. Her work earned her a seat on the powerful House Armed Services Committee.

U.S. Senate career

In 1948, Smith successfully ran for the Senate, defeating both the incumbent Wallace H. White Jr. in the primary and her Democratic opponent in the general election. She quickly gained a seat on the influential Senate Armed Services Committee and the Appropriations Committee, where she became a leading voice on defense and foreign policy. A staunch supporter of a strong national defense during the Cold War, she was an early advocate for the NATO alliance and consistently backed a robust military budget. She also served on the Aeronautical and Space Sciences Committee, supporting the nascent NASA and the Space Race.

Declaration of Conscience

On June 1, 1950, Smith delivered her historic "Declaration of Conscience" speech on the floor of the Senate, a courageous rebuke of the fear-mongering tactics employed by her fellow Republican, Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin. While condemning Communism, she denounced the "selfish political exploitation of fear, bigotry, ignorance, and intolerance" and called for a restoration of basic American principles like the right to criticize and hold independent thought. Although only six other senators, including Wayne Morse and George Aiken, initially signed the declaration, the speech cemented her national reputation for moral courage and independence from party orthodoxy, drawing praise from figures like Eleanor Roosevelt and editorial boards across the country.

Later political career and retirement

Smith continued her independent streak in the Senate, becoming the first woman to have her name placed in nomination for the presidency at a major party convention by the Republican National Convention in 1964. She voted in favor of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, breaking with many in her party. A supporter of the Vietnam War under Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard Nixon, she eventually called for a re-evaluation of the policy. After serving four full terms, she was defeated in the 1972 election by Democrat William Hathaway. She retired to Skowhegan, Maine, where she remained active in public affairs, lecturing and writing.

Legacy and honors

Margaret Chase Smith is remembered as a trailblazer who broke gender barriers with quiet determination and principled leadership. Her "Declaration of Conscience" is considered a landmark of American political courage. Among her many honors, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President George H. W. Bush in 1989. She was the first woman to receive the Distinguished Service Award from the U.S. Air Force and had the USS *Margaret Chase Smith*, a Benjamin Franklin-class submarine, named for her. Her papers are housed at the Margaret Chase Smith Library in Skowhegan, Maine, which serves as a center for political education.

Category:American politicians Category:United States senators from Maine Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from Maine