We're sticking with a political theme this week (appropriate for this time of year) as we highlight Senator Hattie Caraway.
Caraway was the first female to serve a full term as a United States Senator. (Rebecca Latimer Felton was the very first female Senator. She served for one day in 1922.) And what state did Hattie Caraway serve? Surprisingly enough, Arkansas!
Caraway was the first female to serve a full term as a United States Senator. (Rebecca Latimer Felton was the very first female Senator. She served for one day in 1922.) And what state did Hattie Caraway serve? Surprisingly enough, Arkansas!
Before we delve into Caraway's achievements, I want to preface this post: Senator Caraway did not support everything that a modern-day progressive would like. That makes this a little harder than writing a post for someone whom I agree with on all major points. But it's important to recognize that even though my values and Caraway's values don't match up on every point, I can still respect and honor what she's established for women in history.
And now, let's begin!
Hattie Caraway, born in Tennessee in 1878, spent most of her married life in Jonesboro, Arkansas. There, her husband, Thaddeus Caraway, held office as a U.S. representative and U.S. Senator for the Democratic party. In December 1931 during his second term, Thaddeus died. Following the custom of the time, his widow, Hattie, took over his role as senator.
Most widows held the Senator seat as a placeholder while another person (read: a man) prepared to run for the special election. But Hattie wasn't so keen to give up her seat yet. She ran in the special election in January 1932, and she won. In May 1932, she announced her plan to run for re-election, to the surprise of many. Caraway wrote her thoughts about the 1932 election in her journal:
"The time has passed when a woman should be placed in a position and kept there only while someone else is being groomed for the job. [I plan to test] my own theory of a woman running for office."
And in November 1932, Caraway won the Senate of her own accord. Running for a second term in 1938, she ran against Representative John L. McClellan, whose campaign slogan was, "Arkansas needs another man in the senate." But guess what: Hattie won and served another six-year term for Arkansas.
And in November 1932, Caraway won the Senate of her own accord. Running for a second term in 1938, she ran against Representative John L. McClellan, whose campaign slogan was, "Arkansas needs another man in the senate." But guess what: Hattie won and served another six-year term for Arkansas.
In several ways, Senator Caraway was progressive. She supported most of FDR's New Deal reforms (many supported Arkansas farmers) and was the first woman to support and vote for the Equal Rights Amendment in 1943. She worked on many assignments with the Commerce Committee and the Committee on Agriculture and Forestry. She was also the Chair of the Enrolled Bills Committee, making her the first woman to chair a committee in the Senate.
Here comes the tricky part about Senator Caraway. She joined her fellow Southern Democrats in opposing anti-lynching legislation and anti-poll tax measures. I could make excuses for her, saying it was because of the culture she grew up in—which is partially true. However, her political leanings led to the deprivation of basic rights to African-Americans and the deaths of many, and for that, this part of her legacy is tainted.
No one is perfect, and we should never gloss over someone's faults just to paint her or him in a perfect light. But we can still recognize the good they established while critiquing their faults. Arkansas Senator Hattie Caraway made U.S. history when she showed America that a woman could run for office of her own accord and win—twice.
Sources:
history.house.gov
encyclopediaofarkansas.net