Senator Margaret Chase Smith 1964 announcement to seek Republican presidential nomination

On January 27, 1964, Senator Margaret Chase Smith stood before the Women's National Press Club in Washington, D.C., and announced her candidacy for the President of the United States. Senator Smith competed in three primaries (New Hampshire, Illinois and Oregon) and became the first woman to be placed in nomination by a major political party. Senator Barry Goldwater won the Republican nomination, but Smith came in second to Goldwater by receiving 27 delegate votes at the Republican National Convention in San Francisco, California.