Margaret Chase Smith

Date of Birth: December 14, 1897

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Date of Death: May 29, 1995

Biography

Margaret Chase Smith was a pioneering American politician who broke numerous barriers for women in U.S. politics. Born in Skowhegan, Maine, she began her career as a schoolteacher and later worked as a newspaperwoman and business executive. Her life took a significant turn when she married Clyde Smith, a politician, and followed him to Washington, D.C. When Clyde Smith passed away in 1940, Margaret was elected to fill his seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, becoming the first woman to serve in both houses of Congress. Smith served as a U.S. Representative from 1940 to 1949 before being elected to the U.S. Senate, where she served from 1949 to 1973. She was known for her courageous stand against McCarthyism, delivering her famous “Declaration of Conscience” speech in 1950. Throughout her career, she championed military preparedness, space exploration, and women’s rights. Margaret Chase Smith passed away in 1995, but her legacy continues to inspire women in politics today.

5 Interesting Facts about Margaret Chase Smith

1. Margaret Chase Smith was the first woman to serve in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.

2. She delivered her famous “Declaration of Conscience” speech on June 1, 1950, condemning the tactics of Senator Joseph McCarthy.

3. Smith was the first woman to have her name placed in nomination for the presidency at a major party’s convention in 1964.

4. She served as a U.S. Senator for 24 years, making her the longest-serving female senator at the time of her retirement.

5. Margaret Chase Smith was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1989 by President George H.W. Bush.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Margaret Chase Smith

1. “The right way is not always the popular and easy way. Standing for right when it is unpopular is a true test of moral character.”

2. “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.”

3. “I always try to think before I talk. And I try to be logical. And I try to be fair.”

4. “Freedom unexercised may become freedom forfeited.”

5. “One of the basic causes for all the trouble in the world today is that people talk too much and think too little. They act impulsively without reasoning.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Margaret Chase Smith’s highest net worth is not well-documented, but as a career politician, her earnings were primarily from her public service roles, rather than private wealth accumulation.