Rankin, Jeannette (1880–1973)

Jeannette Rankin was the first woman to serve in the U.S. Congress. She spent her life in unwavering dedication to pacifism and social reforms. She never married, but enjoyed a long and distinguished career, maintaining an exhausting work and travel schedule that few have matched before or since. Although she is perhaps best known for her lone dissenting vote against World War II, she was also a staunch advocate of women's, children's, and labor issues.

She was the first child of John and Olive Pickering, and raised in Grant Creek, Montana. Her father was an industrious builder and rancher and away much of the time. Her mother placed on Jeannette much of the responsibility of the other six children at a young age. This seems to ...