Vera Cahalan Bushfield’s brief US Senate service in the autumn of 1948 never brought her to the Capitol, where the 80th Congress (1947–1949) had recessed for the general elections. Instead, she stayed in her native South Dakota tending to constituent services after being appointed to the final weeks of the term of her late husband.
As one of America’s early consumer advocates, Leonor K. Sullivan authored many of the protective laws that Americans have come to take for granted.
US Representative Kathryn Granahan succeeded her late husband and followed his example as a liberal New Dealer who supported workers’ rights, welfare legislation, and civil rights.
With her husband, Maurine B. Neuberger was part of a “mediagenic power couple” that together reformed the Oregon Democratic Party and emerged onto the national scene.
Congresswoman Katherine Gudger Langley’s husband resigned his House seat after being convicted of violating Prohibition laws. Katherine Langley then defeated her husband’s successor and won election to the House in a “vindication campaign” designed to exonerate her disgraced spouse.
Catherine S. Long married into Louisiana’s legendary political family and spent nearly four decades immersed in state and national politics as a politician’s wife. When her influential husband died suddenly in 1985, Democratic Party leaders believed Cathy Long was a logical choice to succeed him, having served as his campaign surrogate and close advisor.
Succeeding her husband, Florence P. Kahn used charisma and humor to carve out her own political accomplishments as a California Representative.
Hattie Wyatt Caraway served for 14 years in the U.S. Senate and established a number of “firsts,” including her 1932 feat of winning election to the upper chamber of Congress in her own right.
Celebrated Mexican actress
Frances Parkinson Keyes was a prolific journalist, editor, memoirist, and biographer, but was most well known as a bestselling novelist.