{"id":17821,"date":"2016-11-07T16:59:47","date_gmt":"2016-11-07T21:59:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.genealogybank.com\/?p=17821"},"modified":"2022-11-07T12:42:41","modified_gmt":"2022-11-07T17:42:41","slug":"jeannette-rankin-first-woman-elected-to-congress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.genealogybank.com\/blog\/jeannette-rankin-first-woman-elected-to-congress.html","title":{"rendered":"Jeannette Rankin – The First Woman Elected to Congress"},"content":{"rendered":"

You may be wondering,who was Jeannette Rankin and how did she influence the American political system? Below are old newspaper articles that reveal important Jeannette Rankin facts, which can help us get a better understanding of the first woman in Congress.<\/p>\n

On 7 November 1916 Congress \u2013 and the entire nation \u2013 forever changed when Jeannette Rankin of Montana became the first woman Congress member, winning a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Women at that time did not have universal suffrage; the 19th Amendment, granting all American women the right to vote, was passed by Congress in 1919 but did not become law until it was ratified on 26 August 1920.<\/p>\n

\"Photo:<\/a>
Photo: Jeannette Rankin, 1917. Credit: U.S. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Rankin, a leading suffragist, had worked hard in the successful campaign that granted women the right to vote in Montana in 1914. She ended up serving two terms in the House: 1917-1919 and again 1941-1943. A committed pacifist, Jeannette Pickering Rankin was one of 50 representatives to vote against America\u2019s entry into World War I. During her second term, she was the only member of Congress to vote against America\u2019s entry into World War II.<\/p>\n

The following news reports, notices and editorials give a range of reactions to Rankin\u2019s historic election. Some of the articles are laudatory, but others have a snide undercurrent running through them. None has got her age quite right: she was 36 when she was elected to Congress.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Boston Journal (Boston, Massachusetts), 10 November 1916, page 4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here is a transcription of this article:<\/p>\n

Woman Elected to Congress Is a Vassar Girl<\/em><\/p>\n

Congresswoman Rankin of Montana Girlish and Gentle of Mien<\/p>\n

Won Her State for Suffrage<\/p>\n

First Woman in National Legislative Body but 28 Years Old<\/p>\n

Congresswoman Jeannette Rankin, spinster, attorney at law and the first woman elected to the national Legislature, has been for the last seven years a power in the affairs at Montana, which State she probably will represent in the Lower House of Congress in the next term. Her election seems assured.<\/p>\n

Miss Rankin and her brother, J. Wellington Rankin, neither of whom is yet 30 years old, went West about 10 years ago and made their home in Montana. He is a graduate of Cornell and his brilliant sister, two years younger \u2013 she is 28 \u2013 is a graduate of Vassar and of the law school of the University of Montana at Missoula.<\/p>\n

Upon leaving the University of the Treasure State, Miss Rankin took up the practice of law in the little mountain town of Missoula, where her power as an orator and her persistent participation in politics won attention all over the West.<\/p>\n

She quickly enlisted in the suffrage movement in her own State and was chosen to represent Montana in the national committee of the organization. Through her efforts the State suffrage question was brought before two assemblies of the Montana State Legislature, where in joint assembly senators and representatives made a travesty of her appeal and laughed her out of the Senate chamber.<\/p>\n

Far from discouraged, she then commenced a campaign among voters of all parties to have the question of suffrage placed on both tickets, and in the referendum election which followed Montana was swept into the ranks of suffrage States. Miss Rankin immediately grew into a national figure in the affairs of women, and for the two past years has been conspicuous in the councils and demonstrations of the national organization.<\/p>\n

The first American congresswoman is a slender, girlish, comely gray-eyed young woman, as feminine of deportment and as gentle of mien as one could wish for in his own sister or sweetheart. On the rostrum her manner, appearance and method of forceful but quiet utterance remind one of Maude Adams, for there is nothing raucous, obtrusive or masculine about the calm confidence and captivating rationality of Jeannette Rankin\u2019s speeches or manner of public appeal.<\/p>\n

The sophisticated and political[ly] wise members of the next Congress will find no parliamentary gaucheries or unethical impertinence in the behavior of Miss Rankin in the hallowed halls of Congress. She has been a delegate to a dozen State and national conventions, she is an adept parliamentarian, a shrewd debater, a logical and eloquent conversationalist, and, withal, a woman of much dignity and rare scholarship.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Aberdeen American (Aberdeen, South Dakota), 7 November 1916, page 9<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here is a transcription of this editorial:<\/p>\n

Lady from Montana Subject of Editorial<\/em><\/p>\n

New York Sun Refers to Miss Rankin\u2019s Candidacy in Montana<\/p>\n

Under the caption, \u201cThe Lady From Montana,\u201d the New York Sun of Oct. 16 makes reference on its editorial page to the candidacy of Miss Jeannette Rankin. The Sun\u2019s editorial follows:<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is said that Miss Jeannette Rankin, Republican, described as tall and with a wealth of red hair, and as in her early thirties, is sure of election to the House of Representatives from Montana. If that proves to be the case either Jack Evans, with two children, [or] Tom Stout, with three, both Democrats, will have to go. As they were elected (at large) by pluralities of about 10,000 two years ago, all the Montana women apparently will have to vote for the lady with the Titian tresses is she is to take her seat in the House with 439 more men.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe House, of course, will not look the same, or behave just as it has in the past when the Hon. Jeannette Rankin writes M.C. after her name. Members will have to consider her presence and govern themselves accordingly. There can be no \u2018hurling the lie\u2019 anymore and, of course, no throwing of inkstands and fisticuffs. Parliamentary language will take on a finer polish. We can face Uncle Joe Cannon of Danville preening himself and furtively consulting a hand mirror. Profanity will become a lost art in the lobby. The improvement in the vernacular of members will be revolutionary. They will all speak in prose when Representative Jeannette Rankin is in their vicinity. We suppose that she will wear a becoming hat and sometimes carry a bouquet \u2013 perhaps always have a nosegay in a vase on her desk. We shall expect to see the House look like a bower of posies when she sets the fashion. She will have 439 guides to procedure and practice; yet it will require some tact on the part of the Speaker to recognize the lady from Montana when she wants the floor. She will be a problem in diverse ways, but she will provide a good deal of light, color and atmosphere to a legislative body that will be all the better for it.<\/p>\n

\u201cRepresentative Jeannette Rankin will be a popular member no doubt, and if she is joined in the House by others of her sex of equal attractions Cupid may as well be made a page with a quiver full of darts.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Anaconda Standard (Anaconda, Montana), 11 November 1916, page 6<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here is a transcription of this notice:<\/p>\n

Jeannette Rankin isn\u2019t exactly an oily politician in the popular acceptation of the term, but, if we get her correctly, she\u2019s a wise virgin, who intends never to let her stock of illuminants run so low that she can\u2019t qualify as a bright and shining light of Congress.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, North Carolina), 12 November 1916, page 4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here is a transcription of this notice:<\/p>\n

Miss Jeannette Rankin, the Republican candidate who was elected to Congress from a Montana district, is a North Carolina woman, of course, \u201csmall of stature and pretty as a peach.\u201d All North Carolina female products are of that general descriptive character.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Columbus Ledger (Columbus, Georgia), 12 November 1916, page 4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here is a transcription of this notice:<\/p>\n

Miss Jeannette Rankin goes to Congress from Montana. It makes little difference about the \u201cpetticoat,\u201d but the woman is a full-fledged G.O.P.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Aberdeen Daily News (Aberdeen, South Dakota), 13 November 1916, page 2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here is a transcription of this notice:<\/p>\n

It is said that Miss Congressman Rankin can \u201cdance like a boarding school girl.\u201d One may now look forward to a terpsichorean session in the lower and not always august body of Congress.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 13 November 1916, page 12<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here is a transcription of this editorial:<\/p>\n

First Woman in Congress<\/em><\/p>\n

Hats off to Miss Jeannette Rankin, the first woman to be elected to Congress. Montana has thus honored one of her beautiful women, although three women are chosen Presidential electors in California.<\/p>\n

It is certain that Miss Rankin is in for a good time when she reaches Washington. She is young (that is how thirty-four years are looked upon nowadays) and she has fetching auburn hair. She is a good speaker and made a rattling campaign on the stump. It is said that she is the best dancer and best pie-maker in Montana. Who could expect such a combination to lose?<\/p>\n

If Miss Rankin is not more seriously minded than there is reason to suppose, she may find some difficulty in giving exclusive attention to her Congressional duties. There are a number of eligible bachelors in Congress and they may be in danger. What an amazing complication would be brought about if the charming Representative from Montana should marry a member from another State!<\/p>\n

We can assure Miss Rankin that the \u201ceffete East\u201d will receive her with great cordiality and that she is in for all of the glory and good times that she can find an opportunity to enjoy.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/a>
Plain Dealer (Cleveland, Ohio), 13 November 1916, page 7<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here is a transcription of this column:<\/p>\n

Through the Periscope –\u00a0<\/em>By Lora Kelly<\/p>\n

The Woman Emergent<\/p>\n

Our new winter bonnets are off to Miss Jeannette Rankin, \u201cCongresswoman from Montana!\u201d We\u2019re not exactly sure of the new member\u2019s official title, but anyway, she has been duly elected to the House, the first time a woman has been accorded the right to sit in the seats of the mighty.<\/p>\n

Perhaps some inventive word shark will evolve a special name for the member-elect, because \u201ccongresswoman\u201d sounds odd, though it does have a certain dignity that cannot be denied. Perhaps they will call her a Congressette, or a Congressist; or maybe (perish the syntax) \u201cHouse Membress.\u201d<\/p>\n

At any rate she has the job, and one may be permitted a smile at the complication she is going to cause in the cut-and-dried official \u201csociety\u201d at the capital. So prevalent is the social bee at Washington that even the red-capped train porters at the Terminal can classify one\u2019s status immediately. Certain unwritten laws are rigidly adhered to.<\/p>\n

The \u201cladies\u201d of Capitol Hill have had their \u201cAt Home Day\u201d on Monday ever since Dolly Madison hung out the presidential washing in the east room of the White House. The \u201cthird house,\u201d meaning the wives and daughters of the lawmakers, abide by precedent quite as strictly as the men do.<\/p>\n

Now comes a clear-eyed little woman who one just knows will not tolerate any fol-de-rol of any sort. Washington\u2019s social machinery has had a few jolts in the Wilson administration on the subject of precedent. The President hasn\u2019t hesitated to smash that fetish whenever he happened to feel like it. And now it will gasp with dismay at the problem of \u201cwhat to do\u201d with the first feminine member of the House.<\/p>\n

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