Margaret Chase Smith, Republican Party, 1964

Maine native Margaret Chase Smith was the first woman to represent her state in both houses of Congress. A Republican, she was nonetheless an outspoken critic of Senator Joe McCarthy and the House Un-American Activities Committee. The following are excerpts from her "Declaration of Conscience" speech of 1950:

"I think that it is high time for the United States Senate and its members to do some soul searching--for us to weigh our consciences--on the manner in which we are performing our duty to the people of America--on the manner in which we are using or abusing our individual powers and privileges."

"Those of us who shout the loudest about Americanism in making character assassinations are all too frequently those who, by our own words and acts, ignore some of the most basic principles of Americanism--

The right to criticize;

The right to hold unpopular beliefs;

The right to protest;

The right of independent thought."