Jeannette Rankin (1880 - 1973)
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Jeannette Rankin was a Montana Republican and the first woman elected to the U.S. Congress. She was one of 49 congressional representatives who voted against U.S. entry into World War I. In 1941, she was the only congressional representative to vote against U.S. entry into World War II after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. After her time in Congress, Rankin continued to advocate for antiwar policies. In 1968, she led 5,000 people in protest of the Vietnam War at the US Capitol. She was a strong proponent of world peace earning her the nickname, “the original dove in Congress.”
Rankin grew up on a ranch in Grant Creek outside of Missoula. She graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in Biology in 1902 and was one of Professor Elrod’s students. For more information please visit the United States Senate and the National Park Service. Read transcripts about Rankin from some of her contemporaries here: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/jeannetterankin/ |