Margaret+Chase+Smith


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=Senator Margaret Chase Smith (ME)=

Margaret Chase Smith is best known as the first woman Representative and Senator in the United States, but she also played a huge role during McCarthyism and the second Red Scare. Along with six other senators, Wayne Morse, Irving Ives, Charles Tobey, Edward Thye, George Aiken, and Robert Hendrickson, she attacked McCarthy's repulsive campaign against suspected communists!



Margaret Chase Smith was born in Skowhegan, Maine on December 14, 1897. Margaret's husband, Clyde Smith, was also involved in politics. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 1936. When Clyde died in 1940, Margaret was determined to pursue his love of politics. She took her husband's place in the House in 1940, and after four terms, was elected to the Senate in 1948. She became the first woman elected to both houses of government.

On June 1, 1950, Senator Margaret Chase Smith became the first senator to [|publicly denounce] the appalling practices of Wisconsin senator Joseph McCarthy. (Click here to see what she said.) Many were amazed to see that Senator from Maine headed the fight against McCarthyism. Many were also amazed that that senator was a woman. Her speech against McCarthyism was called //Declaration of Conscience//. McCarthy did not take this lightly and fired back by throwing her off one paticular sub-committe and attempting to have her election lost come november. But Senator Smith had the last word in saying, “My creed is that public service must be more than doing a job efficiently and honestly. It must be a complete dedication to the people and to the nation with full recognition that every human being is entitled to courtesy and consideration, that constructive criticism is not only to be expected but sought, that smears are not only to be expected but fought, that honor is to be earned but not bought.”

In 1964, Senator Smith ran in several Presidential primaries. That year she became the first woman to ever have her name placed in nomination for two political parties. In 1972, Senator Smith lost reelection, therefore, ending here combined 36 years in national politics. She retired to Skowhegan, and founded the Margaret Chase Smith Library. Margaret Chase Smith died on May 29, 1995 - Memorial Day.

McCarthyism Home Page Ms. Rice's Home Page

Bibliography:
"Margaret Chase Smith." Biography. 1999. N/A. 05/16.07

"McCarthyism." Wikipedia. Harrison Middle School, Yarmouth, Maine. May 9, 2007. www.wikipedia.org