Jeannette Rankin, First Woman in Congress (ep. 16.15)

Jeannette Rankin, First Woman in Congress (ep. 16.15)

From Her Half of History by Evergreen Podcasts

June 4, 2026 · 26 min

About this episode

This episode discusses Jeannette Rankin, the first woman elected to the U.S. Congress and her pacifist stance during both World Wars.

The House of Representatives had its first woman voting before women were even allowed to vote on a national scale. Jeannette Rankin was elected by the state of Montana in 1916 and again in 1940. She was also firm in her pacifist convictions: she was one of 40 Representatives to vote no on entering World War I and she was absolutely alone in voting no on entering World War II. Visit the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (herhalfofhistory.com) for sources, transcripts, and pictures. Sign up for the newsletter On This Day in Women's History, available on ⁠Patreon⁠ or ⁠Substack⁠. There are free options in both places. This show survives on the support of listeners like you. Support the show on my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon page⁠⁠⁠⁠ (https://www.patreon.com/user?u=83998235) for ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and polls. Or make a one-time donation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Me a Coffee⁠⁠⁠. Your support helps me keep bring the stories of past women into the present. Join ⁠⁠⁠⁠Into History⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a community of ad-free history podcasts plus bonus content. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠Evergreen Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠ to listen to more great shows. Follow me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠ as Her Half of History. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit…

Topics covered

  • women in politics
  • pacifism
  • historical figures
  • women's suffrage
  • U.S. Congress history

Keywords

  • Jeannette Rankin
  • first woman in Congress
  • Montana
  • pacifism
  • women's history
  • World War I
  • World War II

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Montana, Patreon, Substack, Evergreen Podcasts, Threads, Buy Me a Coffee

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