Timeline
| 1961 | President John F. Kennedy establishes a Presidential Commission on the Status of Women (chaired by Eleanor Roosevelt) | 
A writer and assistant commentator with the National Broadcasting Company (1944-1946), Bedell was women's editor at station KIT (1948-1957). She served as member of the Washington State Legislature (1952-1958) and was later elected from Washington to the U.S. House of Representatives (1959-1971). She was appointed by President Nixon to the United States International Trade Commission (1971-1981) and was appointed special consultatn to the president on the 50 States Project (1982). After leaving government service, Bedell was the president of her own firm, Bedell Associates. "Voteswagon" sendoff, September 25, 1968. left to right: Mary Brooks, Julie and Tricia Nixon, Catherine and Melinda Bedell |
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| 1962 | President John F. Kennedy stipulates that all women and men in the federal government must receive equal consideration for employment | ||
| 1963 | Presidential Commission report, American Women. President John F. Kennedy creates an Interdepartmental Committee on the Status of Women. Executive Order 11126 establishes the Citizen's Advisory Council on the Status of Women
Congress passes Equal Pay Act Feminine Mystique (Betty Friedan) published |
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| 1964 | Civil Rights Act passed. Title VII forbids job discrimination on the basis of sex | ||
Margaret Chase Smith runs for president. Receives 27 votes at the Republican National Convention |
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| 1965 | Patsy Takemoto Mink, Democrat from Hawaii, became the first woman of Asian Pacific descent in the House of Representatives | ||
| 1966 | National Organization for Women established | ||
| 1967 | Executive Order 11375 -- prohibits sex discrimination by federal contractors or subcontractors | ||
| National Organization for Women adopts a "Bill of Rights for Women" | |||
| 1968 | Shirley Chisholm, New York Democrat, becomes the first African-American women to serve in Congress | ||
| Women's Equity Action League Formed -- Alternative to NOW, urges "responsible rebellion". 12/01 | |||
| 1969 | Nixon inaugurated (01/20) | ||
| Executive Order 11478 requires Affirmative Action programs in federal employment 08/08 | |||
| "A Matter of Simple Justice" report by Task Force on Women's Rights and Responsibilities transmitted to the President 12/15. Released publicly the following year. | |||
| 1970 | NOW organizes "Women's Strike for Equality" Rallies and demonstrations in more than 90 cities, 40 states. 8/26 | ||
| 1971 | Equal Rights Amendment passes House (10/2/1971) Phyllis Schlafly forms new anti-ERA organization, StopERA | ||
| PA amends State Constitution to include ERA | |||
| 1972 | Senate approves the ERA. Ratified by 22 states by end of year. | ||
| Education Amendment of 1971 (Title IX) Forbids sex discrimination in Higher Education | |||
| Ms. magazine launched (Gloria Steinem) | |||
| National Women's Political Caucus formed in Washington D.C. | |||
| 1973 | Women's Equality Day passed by Congress, signed by President | ||
| 1974 | Women's Campaign Fund formed | ||
| 1975 | Carla Anderson Hills named Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Affiars. 3rd woman in a cabinet-level position. | ||
Former U.S. representative from Maryland (1985-1995), The Honorable Helen Delich Bentley entered government service in the Nixon administration as chair of the Federal Maritime Commission. Prior to this appointment, she was maritime editor for the Baltimore Sun, producer of local television news programs in Baltimore and Philadelphia, and author of over 800 profiles of trade and shipping businesses. After leaving government service, she established an international trade and business consulting practice.
