NOVEMBER 7

On this date in 1916, 100 years ago today, Jeannette Rankin became the first woman elected to the U.S. Congress.  Ms. Rankin was elected to the House of Representatives by the State of Montana. She was just 36 years old.

Ms. Rankin served her two years in the House as an at-large representative.  In 1918, she ran for a senate seat but lost.  In 1940, at the age of 60, she again ran for congress and was elected.  Notably, after the attack we suffered on Pearl Harbor, she cast the only dissenting vote in congress against declaring war on Japan.

Ms. Rankin was a lifelong advocate for women's rights and causes of both feminists and pacifists.  She was a Republican.  Her statue stands in the National Statuary Hall of the Capitol, Washington, D.C.

Will tomorrow bring another first for women in government?  God save us.

 O_O