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Jeannette Rankin

Jeannette Rankin/tiles/collection/1/13446.xml
Jeannette Rankin/tiles/collection/1/13447.xml
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Date

ca. 1917

Dimensions

4 1/4 × 6 1/4 in. (10.8 × 15.9 cm)

Accession Number

PA2014.12.0022b

Credit Line

Collection of the U.S. House of Representatives

Object Details

In 1917, Jeannette Rankin began her historic service as a Representative from Montana. As the first woman to serve in the U.S. Congress, Rankin used the opportunity and exposure to address women’s suffrage nationally as well as her strong opposition to war. Early in her term, she went on public record for the latter. On April 5, 1917, she stated, “I want to stand by my country, but I cannot vote for war” as she cast her no vote for declaring war on Germany.

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This Hearst-Pathe News footage features the opening day of the 65th Congress (1917–1919) on April 2, 1917, as President Woodrow Wilson calls Congress into special session to ask for a declaration of war against Germany. Suffrage activists escort Representative-elect Jeannette Rankin of Montana from the Sewall-Belmont House to the nearby Capitol. Speaker of the House James Clark of Missouri and Minority Leader James Mann of Illinois pose outside the Capitol, as police corral pacifist protestors on the East Front.
Source: National Archives Records Administration

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Office of Art & Archives, Office of the Clerk: art@mail.house.gov, archives@mail.house.gov