and when you look at it, you go back to 1917 with janet ranken. it's been this span of 298 women, almost 300 women up to this point. so it's a long story but it's a good one. >>> you can see this and all other american arti facts programs at our website. >>> you've been watching c-span's american history tv. we want to hear from you. follow us on twitter @cspanhistory. connect with us on facebook at facebook.com/c-span history. and check out our upcoming programs at our website, cspan.org/history. >>> and we would like to tell you about some of our other american history tv programs. join us every sunday at 4:00 p.m. eastern for reel america, featuring archival films by government, industry and educational institutions. join us as these films take you on a journey through 20th century. again, that's reel america, every sunday at 4:00 p.m. eastern here on american history tv on c-span3. >>> here is a look at some of the programs you'll find christmas day on the c-span networks. holiday festivities start at 10:00 a.m. eastern on c-span with the ligh

story of women in congress begans with janet ranken, ele elected in the house four years before women had the right to vote nationally and in a way, she is really a bridge from the suffrage movement to women attaining full political rights really a bridge from the suffrage movement to women attaining full political rights. she was active in a national women suffrage organization, helped women get the right to vote not only in montana but a couple states west of the mississippi and she runs in 1916, she is elected to one of montana's two at-large districts. part of her platform is she is a pacifist. she is sworn into the house april 2, 1917 and the house has come into special session, extraordinary session because the president that night, woodrow wilson, delivers a message to congress asking for a declaration of war against germany, the u.s. entry into world war i. and rankin, with hen that vote held is one of a group of about 50 members who votes against u.s. intervention in world war i. she served a term in the house. she was on the women's suffrage committee. she was on the public