Armstrong, Anne L. (1927–)

American politician. Born Anne Legendre in New Orleans, Louisiana, Dec 27, 1927; dau. of Armant (coffee importer) and Olive (Martindale) Legendre; attended Foxcroft School in Middleburg, VA, valedictorian of 1945 graduating class; graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Vassar College, 1949; m. Tobin Armstrong (rancher), April 12, 1950; children: John, Katharine, Sarita, and twin boys, Tobin Jr. and James.

Served as Republican national committee-woman for Texas (1968–73); was the 1st woman to be national co-chair of the Republican Party (1971–73); became a champion of women in the Republican Party, lending her support to the Equal Rights Amendment; was 1st woman in either party to deliver the keynote speech at a major national convention (1972); because of a growing dismay among women's groups at Nixon's failure to name women to high-ranking posts, was appointed counselor to the president, with full Cabinet status (1972); established the Office of Women's Programs in the White House, which tripled the number of women in government policy-making positions; acted as liaison with Hispanic Americans; was a member of the Council of Wage and Price Stability, Domestic Council, and Commission on the Organization of Government for the Conduct of Foreign Policy; served as a delegate to UN food conference in Rome (1974); named US ambassador to Great Britain (1975); was chair of the Advisory Board Center for Strategic and International Studies and chair of the president's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board; also served as a member of the board of overseers of the Hoover Institute (1978–90) and co-chaired the Reagan-Bush presidential campaign (1980). Named to the Texas Women's Hall of Fame (1986) and awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1987).

See also Women in World History.