The Lady of the House

Exactly 100 years ago, in March of 1917, the first woman ever elected to the United States Congress had made her way to Washington D.C. (they started the new terms in March in those days).  That woman, was Jeannette Rankin from Big Sky Country,  …the Treasure State …Montana.  

Today (March 8th) is International Women’s Day, celebrating the achievements and positive impact women have had on society all around the world.  Here in Montana, I think sending the first woman to the U.S. House of Representatives is a legacy we should all be proud of.

15 years ago on our beloved Montana Public Radio, I heard Walter Cronkite tell the inside story of Jeannette Rankin and the Congressional vote to enter WWII.  It was the day after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, when tensions were at their height.  President Roosevelt gave an impassioned speech urging congress to approve a declaration of war against Japan.  The “This day will live in infamy” speech.  Indeed the entire country was on edge.  Both the House and the Senate were expected to vote unanimously for war.  And how could you not vote for war when our country had just been bombed, killing thousands and creating even more chaos and upheaval around the world?    

Jeannette Rankin was a life-long pacifist however, and had already been one of a small minority to vote against entering WWI.  

As Cronkite explained, the radio broadcast of the House of Representatives was not even supposed to happen that day.  They were allowed to broadcast Roosevelt’s Speech, but were then expected to leave the chambers.  However, the House immediately began their voting procedures, the broadcast continued, and we all heard the proceedings of congress for the first time in American history.  During the broadcast you can hear the House leadership suppress Ms. Rankin from making any comments whatsoever as she tried to get recognized before the vote took place.  Hearing those moments as recorded live that day, really grabbed me personally, and not because I would have voted against the war – in fact, I am certain that I too would have voted for the war – but the courage it took to stand up against an avalanche of judgment, criticism and expectation was remarkable, and in my opinion, admirable.   Speaking your mind after all, is at the very core of what democracy is supposed to be.   

Once the voting proceeded, Jeannette did indeed vote no – and became the only member of the entire U.S Congress to oppose entering WWII.  In fact, she had to hole up in a phone booth afterwards until police could escort her out of the building.  As I’ve said, this is not a vote I would have made, and especially in the context of December 8th, 1941, not a vote most Americans would have made.  Jeannette knew her vote was a drop in the ocean and would have no bearing whatsoever on the outcome. 

But it was the concept of peace she was standing up for, and her courage created a new ocean of unrelenting fortitude that we can all be inspired by regardless of our own beliefs. 

Jeannette Rankin was appropriately known as “Lady of the House”.  I’ve composed a relatively simple piece of music to underscore her story, to capture the feeling of representing Montana, the journey she embarked on, the tensions she endured, and finally, the vote heard ‘round the world.