In 1925, Edith N. Rogers was the first woman elected to Congress after her husband passed away during his seventh term in the US House. She ran as a Massachusetts Republican, which demonstrates just how long it's been since she was catapulted into the history books.
Concurrently, and in unusual circumstances, Katherine Langley (R-KY) took over her husband’s seat in Congress. However, John Langley did not expire in this case. He was convicted of violating the Volstead Act and lost his seat for selling alcohol to a federal officer.
Then in 1935, Rose McConnell Long, the widow of Sen. Huey Long, was appointed to serve out her husband’s term following his assassination. An imposing political figure nicknamed “The Kingfish,” Sen. Long was a left-wing populist who also served as the Governor of Louisiana. He was undoubtedly a tough act to follow.
Others, including Margaret Chase Smith (R-ME), Cardiss Collins (D-IL), whose husband was killed in a plane crash, and Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO), each stepped into their spouses' shoes in Congress. But it doesn’t stop there – another two widows, Lois Capps (D-CA) and Mary Bono (whose husband was Sonny Bono of the famed Sonny & Cher celebrity act), rounded out the 20th Century.
In the 21st Century, three more widows – Jane Carnahan (D-MO), Doris Matsui (D-CA), and Debbie Dingell (D-MI) took over for their husbands.
Behind Every Great Man …
The US Congress is just one venue where bold, brave women have stepped up to aid or complete their husbands’ missions in life that, for one reason or another, the men were unable to fulfill. Often, such members of the female species were overlooked and sometimes deliberately hidden from their contributions to their spouse’s endeavors.
For instance, Marie Curie “struggled to be taken seriously in the male-run field of science in the 1800s,” according to an odd-titled website, History Snob. They claim, “It took her husband Pierre’s fame to get her acknowledged.” Even today, Mrs. Curie stands as a giant in science, the recipient of two Nobel Prizes in two different fields – one of only two individuals to reach such an accomplishment.
Then there’s Sonya Tolstoy, who painstakingly copied her husband’s “manuscripts by hand,” not to mention she bore him 13 children. Another woman behind the man, Mileva Maric – whose name you likely do not recognize – is said to have “proofread” her husband’s work and assisted his calculations -- but was “never properly credited” in his accomplishments.
Maric was married to none other than Albert Einstein.
Erika, Woman Warrior on a Mission
In her videotaped address, the former beauty queen said her husband spoke to her of someday possibly running for office. Perhaps that is in Mrs. Kirk’s future as well.
But for now, Erika Kirk has big shoes to fill by undertaking Charlie’s mission. Her days are likely to be long and arduous. Her nights, perhaps, lined with loneliness. She will need to juggle running a mammoth-sized organization with motherhood. But this young, beautiful woman will clearly live a life of great purpose, which she elucidated in her taped message: “No one will ever forget my husband’s name, and I will make sure of it. It will become stronger, bolder, louder, and greater than ever. My husband’s mission will not end, not even for a moment.”
