Four Women

Many have acknowledged Sen. Hillary Clinton's epic achievement of inspiring 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling. One could make a case for her being better qualified for the oval office than her husband was in 2000.

Decades before Sen. Clinton, 3 successful women made national political history. They were Sen. Margaret Chase Smith (R-ME), Rep. Shirley Chisholm (D-NY), and Rep. Barbara Jordan (D-TX).

In 1964, Sen. Chase Smith was the first woman to have her name placed in nomination for the U.S. Presidency at a major party's convention.
(Wikipedia)

Rep. Chisholm was the first black woman elected to Congress. In 1972, she became the first major party African-American candidate for President of the United States.
(Wikipedia)

Four years later, Rep. Jordan's keynote address to the Democratic National Convention defined eloquence for me. Her House Judiciary Committee Speech advocating the impeachment of President Richard Nixon is a lesson on a grave congressional process. Barbara Jordan was the first African-American woman to represent a southern state in the U.S. House. She was mentioned as a possible running mate to Jimmy Carter in 1976.
(Wikipedia)

Whether you agree with their politics or not, these women set a lofty standard for competence and qualifications for higher office. We can't afford to accept anything less in the upcoming election.