Madam President: Five Women Who Paved the Way

When the first woman president moves into the White House, in addition to thanking her campaign workers, family, friends and the voters, she’ll thank the many women throughout history who paved the way. As lawyers, judges, senators, congresswomen, diplomats, governors, and more, women have changed the face of American politics over the past century, making it easier for the women of the future. Among these historic women are five who have run for the presidency: Margaret Chase Smith in 1964, Shirley Chisholm in 1972, Patricia Schroeder in 1988, Elizabeth Dole in 2000, and Hillary Clinton in 2008.