Madame President: A History of the Women Who Ran before Hillary

By

Kimberly A. Hamlin

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Condoleezza Rice.

Condoleezza Rice

Condoleezza Rice was fourth in line for the presidency during her tenure as Secretary of State (2005-2009).

Madeleine Albright.

Madeleine Albright

Madeleine Albright was fourth in line for the presidency during her tenure as Secretary of State (1997-2001).

Representative Nancy Pelosi.

Nancy Pelosi

Representative Nancy Pelosi was second in line for the presidency from 2007-2011 (after the vice president) when she served as the first, and to date the only, female speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Belva Ann Lockwood.

Belva Ann Lockwood

Belva Ann Lockwood, the first woman lawyer to practice before the Supreme Court, ran for president on the Equal Rights Party ticket in 1884 and again 1888.

Jeannette Rankin.

Jeannette Rankin

Jeannette Rankin of Montana became the first woman elected to Congress in 1916.

Frances Perkins.

Frances Perkins

Frances Perkins became the first female cabinet secretary in 1933 and led the Department of Labor.

Sonia Johnson.

Sonia Johnson

Sonia Johnson ran for president on the Citizens Party ticket in 1984.

Lenora Fulani.

Lenora Fulani

Lenora Fulani ran on the New Alliance Party ticket in 1988 and 1992.

Elizabeth Dole.

Elizabeth Dole

Elizabeth Dole ran for president in 2000 in the Republican primary.

Carol Moseley Braun.

Carol Moseley Braun

Carol Moseley Braun ran for president in 2004 in the Democratic primary.

Michele Bachmann.

Michele Bachmann

Michele Bachmann ran for president in 2012 in the Republican primary.

Shirley Chisholm.

Shirley Chisholm

Brooklyn Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm ran for President in 1972.

Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Hillary Rodham Clinton

On June 7, 2016 Hillary Rodham Clinton became the first woman to secure the Democratic or Republican nomination for president.

Victoria Clafin Woodhull.

Victoria Clafin Woodhull

Victoria Clafin Woodhull ran as a feminist reform candidate in 1872.

Margaret Chase Smith.

Margaret Chase Smith

Margaret Chase Smith of Maine sought the Republican nomination in 1964 and held a seat in Congress for almost three decades.

Patsy Mink.

Patsy Mink

Hawaii Representative Patsy Mink ran for president in 1972.

Frances 'Sissy' Farenthold.

Frances “Sissy” Farenthold

Frances “Sissy” Farenthold received convention votes for the vice presidency in 1972.

Ellen McCormack.

Ellen McCormack

Ellen McCormack ran as an anti-abortion candidate in 1976 and 1980.

Geraldine Ferraro.

Geraldine Ferraro

Geraldine Ferraro ran as Democrat Walter Mondale’s vice president in 1984.

Sarah Palin.

Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin ran as Republican John McCain’s vice president in 2008.

Joan Allen.

Joan Allen

Joan Allen played a Senator who is nominated to fill the office of vice president after he is assassinated in the 2000 Rod Lurie film, “The Contender.”

Geena Davis.

Geena Davis

Geena Davis played the role of vice president and then president in the 2005-2006 ABC show, “Commander in Chief.”

Julia Louis Dreyfus.

Julia Louis Dreyfus

Julia Louis Dreyfus plays vice president in and then president in the hit HBO series “Veep” that debuted in 2012.

Alfre Woodard.

Alfre Woodard

Alfre Woodard starred as the first African American female president on the 2014-2015 NBC series, “State of Affairs.”

Tonie Nathan.

Tonie Nathan

Tonie Nathan received convention votes for the vice presidency in 1972.

Carly Fiorina.

Carly Fiorina

Carly Fiorina ran for president in 2016 in the Republican primary.

Harper’s Weekly cartoon in 1872 depicting Victoria Clafin Woodhull.

1872 Harper’s Weekly cartoon depicting Victoria Clafin Woodhull

Harper’s Weekly cartoon in 1872 depicting Victoria Clafin Woodhull with caption reading “Get thee Behind Me, (Mrs.) Satan!”

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