Although only two women precede Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton as Secretary of State, scattered through American history are women in official diplomatic service. Ruth Bryan Owen stands out for a number of reasons, including the fact that she was elected to Congress before women could vote. (Typical, eh? A woman could serve her fellow citizens but not participate in electing her representatives.) Another woman diplomat, of rather different political views than Owen, was Clare Boothe Luce (as Owen was the first woman congressional representative from Florida, Luce was the first woman to represent Connecticut in the House; both served as ambassadors after their stints in Congress). One of Luce's greatest legacies: The Clare Boothe Luce Program. In her bequest (almost her entire estate),' she sought “to encourage women to enter, study, graduate, and teach” in science, mathematics and engineering.'
Despite the careers of women like Owen and Luce are impressive, the Department of State does not have a particularly woman-filled history.
Who were the first women in the Foreign Service?
Lucile Atcherson passed the Diplomatic Service examination in 1922 with the third-highest score, and was appointed a secretary in the Diplomatic Service on December 5, 1922. She was assigned as Third Secretary of the Legation in Berne, Switzerland, on April 11, 1925. She resigned September 19, 1927 in order to get married. Pattie H. Field was the first woman to enter the Foreign Service after passage of the Rogers Act. She was sworn in on April 20, 1925, served as a Vice Consul at Amsterdam, and resigned on June 27, 1929 to accept a job with the National Broadcasting Company.
Who was the first woman to be chief of a U.S. diplomatic mission?
Ruth Bryan Owen, daughter of William Jennings Bryan, was appointed Minister to Denmark on April 13, 1933. She presented her credentials on May 29, 1933 and served until June 27, 1936.
Who was the first woman to hold the rank of Ambassador?
Eugenie Moore Anderson was appointed Ambassador to Denmark on October 20, 1949. She presented her credentials on December 22, 1949, and served until January 19, 1953.
Who was the first woman Foreign Service Officer to become an Ambassador?
Frances E. Willis was appointed Ambassador to Switzerland on July 20, 1953, and presented her credentials on October 9. She served until May 5, 1957. She later served as Ambassador to Norway (1957-1961) and Ambassador to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) (1961-1964). Willis was the third woman Foreign Service Officer, being appointed on August 29, 1927. She was appointed Career Ambassador on March 20, 1962.
Who was the first woman to become an Assistant Secretary of State?
Carol C. Laise was appointed Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs on September 20, 1973. She served until March 27, 1975. She then served as Director General of the Foreign Service from April 11, 1975 to December 26, 1977.
Who was the first woman to head one of the regional bureaus?
Rozanne L. Ridgway was appointed Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs on July 18, 1985. She served until June 30, 1989. She had also been the first woman to serve as Counselor of the Department of State (March 18, 1980-February 24, 1981).
Who was the first woman Under Secretary of State?
Lucy Wilson Benson was appointed Under Secretary of State for Security Assistance, Science, and Technology on March 23, 1977 and served until January 5, 1980. At the time of her appointment, she was the highest-ranking woman in the Department.
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