Background
Smith, Margaret Chase was born on December 14, 1897 in Skowhegan, Maine, United States. Daughter of George Emery Chase and Carrie Murray.
Smith, Margaret Chase was born on December 14, 1897 in Skowhegan, Maine, United States. Daughter of George Emery Chase and Carrie Murray.
Attended, Colby College. Recipient of 95 honorary degrees.
Teacher Pitts School, Skowhegan, Maine, 1916—1917. Telephone operator Maine Telephone and Telegraph Company, 1918. With Independent Reporter, Skowhegan, Maine, 1919—1927.
Office manager Cummings Woolen Mill, 1928. Member Maine Republican State Committee, 1930—1936. Secretary Congressman Clyde Smith, 1937—1940.
With House of Representatives, Maine 2nd district, 1940—1949. Senator Maine, 1949—1973. Visiting professor Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, 1973—1976.
Dedicates Margaret Chase Smith Library., Northwood University, Maine, 1982. Chair Special Committee on Rates of Compensation, 83rd Congress. Ranking Republican member Armed Services Committee, 90th-92nd Congresses, Aeronautical and Space Sciences Committee, 88th-91st Congresses.
Chair Senate Republican Conference, 1967—1972. Lieutenant colonel United States Air Force Reserve, 1950-1958.
Achievements include delivering the famous "Declaration of Conscience" speech on June 1, 1950 and Second "Declaration of Conscience" speech in 1970. First woman to be elected to both the United States House and the Senate, and the first woman from Maine to serve in either. Misses first vote in Congress in 13 years after hip surgery.
At that time, held record for consecutive roll-call votes with 2,941 in 1968. First woman to be placed in nomination for the presidency at a major party convention in 1964. Longest serving female senator in United States history.
Writer: syndicated national newspaper column Washington and You, 1949-1954.
Founder Skowhegan Business and Professional Women's Club, 1922. President Maine Federation, Business and Professional Women, 1923. Fellow: American Academy Arts and Sciences.
Member: Sigma Kappa.
Married Clyde Harold Smith, May 14, 1930 (deceased 1940).
