Smith, Mary Louise (1914–1997)
Smith, Mary Louise (1914–1997)
American political organizer and women's-rights activist. Born Mary Louise Epperson, Oct 6, 1914, in Eddyville, Iowa; died Aug 22, 1997, in Des Moines, Iowa; graduate of University of Iowa, 1935; m. Elmer M. Smith.
Began career working for Employment Relief Administration in Iowa City; became membership chair of Iowa Council of Republican Women (1961), then vice-chair of Wright County Republican Central Committee (1962); served as national committeewoman for Iowa (1964–84); after the Watergate scandal, was appointed chair of the Republican National Committee by President Gerald Ford, the 1st woman to hold that post (1974); was also the 1st woman to organize a presidential nominating convention (1976); appointed vice chair of the US Commission on Civil Rights (1981), by Ronald Reagan; a social liberal, was a staunch advocate of the Equal Rights Amendment.