On this date in history the US government became more diverse in several ways. In 1911, Victor Berger became our nation's first Socialist congressman. He was elected by Wisconsin voters to the House of Representatives several times, even after Congress refused to seat him after he won election in 1918, and again after he won the special election to fill his seat. He was allowed to serve his terms when elected in the 1920s.
Several years later in 1917, Jeanette Rankin became the first woman in the House of Representatives representing Montana. She has the distinction of being the only person to vote against the declaration of war for both World War I and World War II. She was also one of the founding officers of the ACLU.
In 1929, Charles Curtis was sworn in as President Hoover's Vice-President. His mother was 3/4 American Indian, which made him nearly half Indian. This made him the first president or vice-president to have a significant non-White heritage. He was a powerful politician and a mover and shaker in the Republican Party.
In 1933, Frances Perkins became the first female member of a US cabinet when she was appointed the Secretary of Labor.
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