Political Quotes

On the recordJanuary 27, 2014
Mr. President, 50 years ago today, on January 27, 1964, Senator Margaret Chase Smith of Maine announced her candidacy for President of the United States. The following July, at the Republican National Convention in San Francisco, the great lady from Maine became the first woman in history to ever have her name entered into nomination by a major party for our Nation's highest office. I rise to commemorate this remarkable leader and this significant milestone in our history. At the time of her announcement, Senator Smith was in her 24th year in Congress and was an established groundbreaker. She was the first woman elected to both the House and the Senate and the first to serve on the Armed Services Committee. She was the woman who gave other women the opportunity to pursue careers in the military. Due to her early and energetic support for the space program, she has been called the woman who put a man on the Moon. Her courageous ``Declaration of Conscience'' delivered in the Senate on June 1, 1950, turned the tide against McCarthyism and reminded all Americans of our Nation's core values of free expression and independent thought. Senator Smith made her Presidential announcement in a speech at the Women's National Press Club in Washington. Yes, Mr. President, there was a separate press club for women in those days.…
Said by
Susan Collins
Republican · Maine

Share & report

More from Susan Collins

Jun 25, 2025

These are not only the right thing to do for humanitarian reasons, but they are incredible instruments of soft power.

newsweek.com
Jul 1, 2025

The Medicaid program has been an important health care safety net for nearly 60 years that has helped people in difficult financial circumstances, including people with disabilities, children, seniors, and low-income families.

usatoday.com
Aug 29, 2025

Any effort to rescind appropriated funds without congressional approval is a clear violation of the law.

nbcnews.com
Mar 14, 2025

Madam President, I am pleased to introduce this bill with Senators Van Hollen, Murray, Alsobrooks, Warner, and Kaine. It has been endorsed by President Trump and also by the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Tom Cole. This…

govinfo.gov

Other voices in this conversation