WASHINGTON, D. C. – Toledo Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur, 76, will make history when the 118th Congress convenes on January 3. She’ll become the longest-serving woman in congressional history, breaking a record previously held by former U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski, a Maryland Democrat.
When Kaptur joined Congress nearly 40 years ago, “Return of the Jedi” was the top grossing film, Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” was the top record album, and Sally Ride became the first American woman in space. There were roughly two dozen women in Congress at that time. Kaptur estimates there are now five times that number.
“Women first began serving in Congress in 1917, when Montana elected Jeannette Rankin. Kaptur – who wrote a 1996 book called “Women of Congress, A Twentieth-Century Odyssey” – says many of the first women elected to Congress got the job by succeeding a deceased husband. Starting in Congress when they were older limited the amount of time those women could realistically serve, says Kaptur. The longest-serving male Congress member – former Michigan Democrat John Dingell, Jr., was first elected to Congress at age 29 and held office for more than 59 years.
Source: Ohio’s Marcy Kaptur will soon be the longest-serving woman, ever, in Congress – cleveland.com
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