Mary Louise Smith (October 6, 1914 – August 22, 1997), a U.S. political organizer and women's rights activist, was the second woman to become chair of a major political party in the United States (the first was Jean Westwood).
Born Mary Louise Epperson in Eddyville, Iowa, she married medical student Elmer M. Smith while both were studying at the University of Iowa. She graduated in 1935 with a degree in social work administration and worked for the Iowa Employment Relief Administration in Iowa City.
After moving to Eagle Grove she became active in civic life and Republican Party politics. She became membership chair of the Iowa Council of Republican Women in 1961 and was elected vice-chairwoman of the Wright County Republican Central Committee the following year. She was elected national committeewoman for Iowa in 1964, a post she held for the next twenty years.
In 1979, the Supersisters trading card set was produced and distributed; one of the cards featured Smith's name and picture.[1]
She campaigned for George H. W. Bush in the 1980 primaries, but supported Ronald Reagan both in the 1980 and 1984 general elections. Reagan appointed her vice-chairwoman of the United States Commission on Civil Rights in 1981, but declined to re-appoint her in 1984. Smith was a social liberal, while the party and the electorate was shifting to the right. In 1991, President George H.W. Bush appointed her to the board of directors of the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP). Influenced by her husband's experiences as a medic during the Vietnam War, Smith had become active in movements to establish a national peace institute, and she served with USIP until her death.[2]
Smith was active in such organizations as the Republican Mainstream Committee, Iowa Women's Political Caucus, and Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa. She was a staunch advocate of the Equal Rights Amendment. In 1995, Iowa State University established the Mary Louise Smith Chair in Women and Politics in her honor,[3][4] and numerous other awards and recognitions are named for her throughout the state.
Smith died of lung cancer in Des Moines at the age of 82. A widow, she was survived by three children.
Further readingedit
O'Dea, Suzanne. Madame Chairman: Mary Louise Smith and the Republican Revival After Watergate (University of Missouri Press; 2012) 216 pages; scholarly biography
Referencesedit
^Wulf, Steve (2015-03-23). "Supersisters: Original Roster". Espn.go.com. Retrieved 2015-06-04.
^O'Dea, Suzanne (2012). Madam Chairman : Mary Louise Smith and the Republican Revival after Watergate. Columbia [Mo.]: University of Missouri Press. ISBN978-0826272942. OCLC 815382805.
^"Kassebaum Baker returns to ISU". Iowa State University. March 20, 1997. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
^"#MeToo and the ongoing push for equality focus of Mary Louise Smith Chair lecture". Iowa State University. March 25, 2019.
mary, louise, smith, politician, mary, louise, smith, october, 1914, august, 1997, political, organizer, women, rights, activist, second, woman, become, chair, major, political, party, united, states, first, jean, westwood, mary, louise, smithchair, republican. Mary Louise Smith October 6 1914 August 22 1997 a U S political organizer and women s rights activist was the second woman to become chair of a major political party in the United States the first was Jean Westwood Mary Louise SmithChair of the Republican National CommitteeIn office September 16 1974 January 15 1977Preceded byGeorge H W BushSucceeded byBill BrockPersonal detailsBornMary Louise Epperson 1914 10 06 October 6 1914Eddyville Iowa U S DiedAugust 22 1997 1997 08 22 aged 82 Des Moines Iowa U S Political partyRepublicanEducationUniversity of Iowa BA Contents 1 Life and career 2 Further reading 3 References 4 External linksLife and career edit nbsp Smith with President Richard Nixon and George H W Bush in 1974 nbsp Smith with President Gerald Ford in 1974Born Mary Louise Epperson in Eddyville Iowa she married medical student Elmer M Smith while both were studying at the University of Iowa She graduated in 1935 with a degree in social work administration and worked for the Iowa Employment Relief Administration in Iowa City After moving to Eagle Grove she became active in civic life and Republican Party politics She became membership chair of the Iowa Council of Republican Women in 1961 and was elected vice chairwoman of the Wright County Republican Central Committee the following year She was elected national committeewoman for Iowa in 1964 a post she held for the next twenty years In 1974 during the wake of the Watergate scandal President Gerald Ford named her the first female chair of the Republican National Committee She held that post until 1977 and in that role became the first woman of her party and second woman of a major party to organize a presidential nominating convention the 1976 Republican National Convention in Kansas City In 1977 she was inducted in the Iowa Women s Hall of Fame In 1978 she served as Co Manager of the Committee for Governor Ray in the successful fourth re election campaign of Iowa Governor Robert D Ray In 1979 the Supersisters trading card set was produced and distributed one of the cards featured Smith s name and picture 1 She campaigned for George H W Bush in the 1980 primaries but supported Ronald Reagan both in the 1980 and 1984 general elections Reagan appointed her vice chairwoman of the United States Commission on Civil Rights in 1981 but declined to re appoint her in 1984 Smith was a social liberal while the party and the electorate was shifting to the right In 1991 President George H W Bush appointed her to the board of directors of the U S Institute of Peace USIP Influenced by her husband s experiences as a medic during the Vietnam War Smith had become active in movements to establish a national peace institute and she served with USIP until her death 2 Smith was active in such organizations as the Republican Mainstream Committee Iowa Women s Political Caucus and Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa She was a staunch advocate of the Equal Rights Amendment In 1995 Iowa State University established the Mary Louise Smith Chair in Women and Politics in her honor 3 4 and numerous other awards and recognitions are named for her throughout the state Smith died of lung cancer in Des Moines at the age of 82 A widow she was survived by three children Further reading editO Dea Suzanne Madame Chairman Mary Louise Smith and the Republican Revival After Watergate University of Missouri Press 2012 216 pages scholarly biographyReferences edit Wulf Steve 2015 03 23 Supersisters Original Roster Espn go com Retrieved 2015 06 04 O Dea Suzanne 2012 Madam Chairman Mary Louise Smith and the Republican Revival after Watergate Columbia Mo University of Missouri Press ISBN 978 0826272942 OCLC 815382805 Kassebaum Baker returns to ISU Iowa State University March 20 1997 Retrieved May 9 2023 MeToo and the ongoing push for equality focus of Mary Louise Smith Chair lecture Iowa State University March 25 2019 External links editISU Mary Louise Smith Chair in Women and Politics Mary Louise Smith Papers at the Iowa Women s Archives University of Iowa Appearances on C SPANParty political officesPreceded byGeorge H W Bush Chair of the Republican National Committee1974 1977 Succeeded byBill Brock Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mary Louise Smith politician amp oldid 1164378864, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
