Senator margaret chase smith on june 1, 1950, less than four months after senator joe mccarthy s wheeling speech, on february 9, 1950. It follows the full text transcript of margaret chase smith s declaration of conscience, delivered at washington d. Margaret chase smith, american popular and influential public official who became the first woman to serve in both u. Her goal was to be a united states senator, not a woman senator, and she succeeded by overcoming gender, not by championing it. She gave a historymaking declaration of conscience speech against mccarthyism. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and. In 1950, the cold war 19471991 between the united states and the united soviet socialist republic was escalating, and communism was a source of fear throughout the united states. Margaret chase smith was the first woman elected to both houses of congress.
Smalltown maine writes to senator margaret chase smith about the vietnam war, 19671971. During world war ii, she was the only civilian woman to go to sea in a navy ship in wartime. President, i would like to speak briefly and simply about a. Smith is positively gabby, chirping away about the high points of her. The senator who stood up to joseph mccarthy when no one else would margaret chase smith was the first woman to serve both the house and.
Smith, known as the conscience of the senate, gained a reputation for courage and independence when she became the first person in congress to condemn the anticommunist witch hunt led by senator joseph mccarthy of wisconsin. It is a national feeling of fear and frustration that could result in national suicide and the end of everything that we americans hold dear. It follows the full text transcript of margaret chase smiths declaration of conscience, delivered at washington d. Remarks to the senate in support of a declaration of conscience. List of books and articles about margaret chase smith.
Mccarthys charges of communists in government was made by margaret chase smith of maine in her declaration of conscience speech in june 1950. She came from a poor family, only had a high school education, yet she went on to become one of the most influential women of the twentieth century. Senator margaret chase smith, the socalled quiet woman from maine, is neither tonguetied nor coy. Senator margaret chase smiths declaration of conscience. Senator margaret chase smith and the communist menace, 19481972. Senator margaret chase smith made her declaration of conscience speech on june 1, 1950, shortly after having been removed from the senate permanent subcommittee on investigations at the height of the mccarthy era.
Her entry into politics came through the career of clyde smith, the man she married in 1930. In it, she made a strong call for every americans rights to criticize, hold unpopular beliefs, protest, and to independent thought. President, i would like to speak briefly and simply about a serious national condition. Senator margaret chase smith was the first senator to stand up to joseph mccarthy. Margaret chase smiths speech a declaration of conscience. Declaration of conscience by margaret chase smith goodreads. Clyde was elected to the united states house of representatives in 1936. White ap smiths career in the senate took shape amid the.
Margaret chase smith declaration of conscience american. Margaret madeline chase smith december 14, 1897 may 29, 1995 was a united states politician. On june 1, 1950, smith delivered a fifteenminute speech on the senate floor, known as the. Her father, george emery chase, was the town barber and her mother was the former carrie murray.
A day in the life of senator margaret chase smith as she considered whether to run for president. Senate in 1950, senator margaret chase smith became one of. The right way is not always the popular and easy way. How margaret chase smith stood up to joseph mccarthy and.
She was the first woman to serve in both houses of the united states congress, and the first woman to represent maine in either. In it, she criticized national leadership and called for the country, the united. In it, she criticised national leadership and called for the united states, the senate, and. Margaret chase smith declaration of conscience june 1, 1950 i would like to speak briefly and simply about a serious national condition. She then taught school briefly, held a series of other jobs, and served. The senator who stood up to joseph mccarthy when no one. Mar 11, 2020 the hero of joe dipietros new comic drama is margaret chase smith, a u. Her speech took place during the cold war when tensions were high between the democratic united states and the communist soviet union. Margaret chase smiths declaration of conscience address. For more than three decades, margaret chase smith served as a role model for women aspiring to national politics. Its hard to categorize my feelings about this collection of speeches and writings from margaret chase smith, the first female senator.
Declaration of conscience by senator margaret chase smith and statement of seven senators, june 1, 1950, congressional record, 82nd congress. A few senators applauded smith s speech, but the vast majority silenced their comments and opinions, fearing mccarthys wrath. Clyde was elected to the united states house of representatives. Remarks to the senate in support of a declaration of. When margaret chase smith decided to run for president in 1964, it was with apparent reluctance. There were times when i muscled through by keeping a running. Margaret chase smith was born in skowhegan, maine, on december 14, 1897. Declaration of conscience smith wikisource, the free. Senate in 1950, senator margaret chase smith became one of the first to reject publicly the extremism of senator joseph mccarthy and thereby established herself as a symbol of common sense and independent thinking. As senator margaret chase smith of maine boarded the senate subway, she encountered the junior senator from wisconsin, joe mccarthy margaret, you look very serious, he said. In it, she made a strong call for every americans rights to criticize, hold unpopular beliefs, protest, and to independent thought read the entire statement below. During this time she became the first woman to serve in the senate as a republican, the. A few senators applauded smiths speech, but the vast majority silenced their comments and opinions, fearing mccarthys wrath. Senate, smith cultivated a career as an independent and courageous legislator.
Senator margaret chase smithdecaration of conscience. Harriet harris as margaret chase smith in conscience. Senator joseph mccarthy, left, and senator margaret chase smith on the capitol steps, in washington, in 1949. Her principles dictated that she not miss time on the job as a senator, nor would she accept donations for her campaign. Us senate swearingin ceremony, lr arthur vandenberg, lester hunt, margaret chase smith, robert hendrickson, and andrew schoeppel 1950.
Margaret chase smith was the most influential woman in the history of american politics. Margaret chase smiths 1950 declaration of conscience. Since departing the senate, ive written a book entitled fighting for common. Susan collins joins list of republicans who wont vote for. Despite her compelling speech of 1950, declaration of conscience, the legacy of margaret chase smith is too often overlooked in history books. Margaret chase smith united states senator britannica. As senator margaret chase smith of maine boarded the senate subway, she encountered the junior senator from wisconsin, joe mccarthy. Senator margaret chase smith s a declaration of conscience was the first speech by a politician to criticize and challenge mccarthy. Declaration of conscience delivered 1 june 1950 mr. American experience margaret chase smith season 32. May 16, 2011 margaret chase smith declaration of conscience june 1, 1950 i would like to speak briefly and simply about a serious national condition. Her name was margaret chase smith, a mainer from small skowhegan. Senator margaret chase smith on june 1, 1950, less than four months after senator joe mccarthys. Go here for more about margaret chase smiths declaration of conscience photo above.
Her work as a member of the aeronautical and space sciences committee led the head of nasa to say, if it were not for. Declaration of conscience by margaret chase smith june 1, 1950. It is ironical that we senators can in debate in the senate directly or indirectly, by any form of words, impute to any american who is not a senator. In a speech she later called a declaration of conscience, smith charged. A maine republican senator who accused mccarthy of destroying american values in her declaration of conscience to the senate, speaking about his deplorable actions and his campaign to destroy basic american principles. She was the first woman to enter the senate without being appointed to the position. A stance against the exploitation of fear margaret chase smith served as a representative to maine in congress from 1940 until 1973. Republicans declaration of conscience on mccarthyism 6. Margaret chase smith, a future fourterm republican u. There were times when i muscled through by keeping a running tally in my head of how many pages were left. The senator who stood up to joseph mccarthy when no one else.
Senator smith bravely denounced mccarthyism at a time when others feared speaking out would ruin their careers. Dec 12, 20 on june 1, 1950 as a freshman giving her first major speech on the floor no less, margaret chase smith began one of the most famous speeches in american history, the declaration of conscience. Her name was margaret chase smith, a mainer from small. When people keep telling you that you cant do a thing, you kind of like to try it. On june 1, 1950 as a freshman giving her first major speech on the floor no less, margaret chase smith began one of the most famous speeches in american history, the. Declaration of conscience margaret chase smith 1950. Few citizens today will recall the name of margaret chase smith, though she was as indispensable a. Sep, 2018 the senator who stood up to joseph mccarthy when no one else would margaret chase smith was the first woman to serve both the house and the senate and always defended her values, even when it. To margaret chase smith, the right way is not always the popular and easy way. Margaret chase smith quotes author of declaration of. A life of senator margaret chase smith rutgers series on women and politics janann sherman. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. Margaret chase smith, born in a small maine town before women in the u. Declaration of conscience paperback january 1, 1972 by margaret chase smith author see all 4 formats and editions hide other formats and editions.
Given at the height of the cold wars red scare, smiths famous speech. Her speech was endorsed by six other liberaltomoderate republicans. A life of senator margaret chase smith by janann sherman rutgers university press, 2000. These political cartoons depict the impact of her speech. Senator margaret chase smiths a declaration of conscience was the first speech by a politician to criticize and challenge mccarthy. President trumans policy of containment and the anticommunist crusade taking place in the united states created an atmosphere of fear among. It wasnt much of a sound bite by 2016 standards way too many syllables. The article focuses on senator margaret chase smiths speech she gave on the senate floor on june 1, 1950.
Smith delivered a declaration of conscience against the selfish. Senator margaret chase smith and six republican senators speak out against joseph mccarthys attack on individual freedom declaration of conscience, june 1, 1950 mr. Jan 7, 20 on june 1, 1950 senator margaret chase smith gave her declaration of conscience speech in an attempt to bring reason to the debate about mccarthyism. Standing for right when it is unpopular is a true test of moral character. In 1964 senator margaret chase smith made an announcement. But when a republican senator, margaret chase smith of maine, stood up to joseph mccarthy in 1950, attacking him for. Standing for right when it is unpopular is a true test of moral character margaret chase smith quotes. It is a condition that comes from the lack of effective leadership. Senate in 1950, senator margaret chase smith became one of the first to reject publicly the extremism of senator joseph mccarthy and thereby. Margaret chase smith a maine republican senator who accused mccarthy of destroying american values in her declaration of conscience to the senate, speaking about his deplorable actions and his campaign to destroy basic american principles. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. In 1950, the cold war 19471991 between the united states and the united soviet socialist republic was escalating, and communism was. Born margaret madeline chase, december 14, 1897, in skowhegan, somerset county, maine.
For more than three decades, margaret chase smith served as a role model for. Margaret chase smith hate, character, presidential 1950 declaration of conscience address to the senate,1 jun, denouncing accusations by senator joseph r mccarthy. Senator from maine and presidential nominee, delivered her declaration of conscience speech in response to the practices relating to mccarthyism that she felt were pervading the united states government. I would like to speak briefly and simply about a serious national condition. List of books and articles about margaret chase smith online. When chase smith passed around her declaration of conscience letter, six other senators signed it, including us senator charles tobey of new hampshire. See more ideas about political cartoons, cartoon and history. Declaration of conscience smith, margaret chase on. In it, she criticized national leadership and called for the country, the united states senate, and the republican party to reexamine. Republicans declaration of conscience on mccarthyism 61. On june 1st, 1950, senator margaret chase smith 18971895 delivered her declaration of conscience speech from the senate floor. On june 1, 1950, maine senator margaret chase smith delivered a speech that she called a declaration of conscience.
Margaret chase smiths declaration of conscience bartleby. In june 1950, smith delivered the declaration of conscience to the senate denouncing. Delivers declaration of conscience speech on the senate floor. A life of senator margaret chase smith rutgers series. She slandered him for working through congressional immunity to reduce the government to a forum of. Flakes speech, in its tone and topic, calls to mind a famous forerunner given in the same chamber on june 1, 1950. Senate in 1950, senator margaret chase smith became. The hero of joe dipietros new comic drama is margaret chase smith, a u. A member of the republican party, she served as a u.
Margaret chase smiths speech a declaration of conscience begins on p. Margaret chase attended high school in her native skowhegan, maine, graduating in 1916. Margaret chase smith quotes author of declaration of conscience. Fur aufsehen sorgte ihre opposition zur politik des senators joseph mccarthy mccarthyara. Margaret chase smiths 1950 declaration of conscience senate speech. Go here for more about margaret chase smith s declaration of conscience. Senator margaret chase smith on june 1, 1950, less than four months after senator joe mccarthys wheeling speech, on february 9, 1950. March 24, 1972 senator margaret chase smith, the socalled quiet woman from maine, is neither tonguetied nor coy. While most people were afraid to speak out against senator mccarthy, margaret chase smith was not. The declaration of conscience was a speech made by u. Given at the height of the cold wars red scare, smith s famous speech criticized the disregard for basic american freedoms. President trumans policy of containment and the anticommunist crusade taking place in the united states created an atmosphere of fear among americans. Jan 7, 20 senator margaret chase smith, declaration of conscience and mccarthyism.
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