MARGARET CHASE SMITH 1897 1995 POLITICIAN SMITH MARGARET CHASE 1897 1995 U.S GOV'T LEGISLATIVE POLITICAL PARTIES COLD WAR U.S GOVERNMENT AND CONSTITUTION ELECTIONS AND POLITICS MARGARET SMITH MARGARET CHASE SMITH WAS BORN IN SKOWHEGAN MAINE IN 1897 SHE WAS A MEMBER OF THE REPUBLICAN STATE COMMITTEE FOR MAINE FROM 1930 TO 1936 IN 1940 CHASE SUCCEEDED TO HER HUSBAND'S SEAT IN THE U.S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AFTER HIS DEATH EIGHT YEARS LATER SHE WAS ELECTED TO THE U.S SENATE MAKING SMITH THE FIRST WOMAN TO BE ELECTED TO BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS SHE WAS RE ELECTED TO THE SENATE IN 1954 1960 AND 1966 SMITH WAS ONE OF THE FIRST REPUBLICANS TO CONDEMN THE ACTIONS OF ANTICOMMUNIST SENATOR JOSEPH MCCARTHY SHE WAS ALSO THE AUTHOR OF THE BOOK GALLANT WOMEN WHICH EXAMINED THE TRADITION OF INDEPENDENT WOMEN IN AMERICAN PUBLIC LIFE IN 1989 SHE RECEIVED THE PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM
