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American women making history one day at a time
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The First Woman Senator Takes Office
November 21, 1922
Rebecca got one more chance at national politics. In 1922, Georgia senator Tom Watson died. Georgia governor Thomas Hardwick had to appoint someone to fill the seat. Women had just won the right to vote, and Hardwick saw a chance to be popular with women voters.
First, he offered the seat to Watson's widow. She said no. Next, Hardwick appointed Rebecca. She could only be a Senator until the elections in October 1922, but for one day, she became the first woman in the Senate. She was also the oldest senator!
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