Changes

==Political career==

==Political career==

===U.S. Senate===

===U.S. Senate===

Smith was a liberal-leaning Northeastern Republican (or "[[Rockefeller Republican]]"). She was notably honest, independent and courageous. Her concern for national defense during the [[Cold War]] led to service on the House Naval Affairs Committee and later several subcommittees of the Senate Armed Services Committee.  

Although her late husband was considered a [[conservative]],<ref>FascinatingPolitics (October 18, 2020). [https://fascinatingpolitics.com/2020/10/18/the-true-senate-female-firsts-hattie-caraway-margaret-chase-smith-and-maurine-neuberger/ The True Senate Female Firsts: Hattie Caraway, Margaret Chase Smith, and Maurine Neuberger]. ''Mad Politics: The Bizarre, Fascinating, and Unknown of American Political History''. Retrieved August 20, 2021.</ref> Smith was a liberal-leaning Northeastern Republican (or "[[Rockefeller Republican]]"). She was notably honest, independent and courageous. Her concern for national defense during the [[Cold War]] led to service on the House Naval Affairs Committee and later several subcommittees of the Senate Armed Services Committee.  

Smith led the fight for granting women regular status in the armed services during 1944-48. After passage by the Senate in 1947, a bill providing for regular status for women encountered opposition in the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee from several members who would agree only to reserve status for women. Through adroit political maneuvering, Smith forced the issue to the floor, thereby demonstrating that regular status had strong support in the House and ultimately insuring the passage of the Women's Armed Services Integration Act of 1948.<ref>See Sherman (1990)</ref>  

Smith led the fight for granting women regular status in the armed services during 1944-48. After passage by the Senate in 1947, a bill providing for regular status for women encountered opposition in the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee from several members who would agree only to reserve status for women. Through adroit political maneuvering, Smith forced the issue to the floor, thereby demonstrating that regular status had strong support in the House and ultimately insuring the passage of the Women's Armed Services Integration Act of 1948.<ref>See Sherman (1990)</ref>