NATPOP of Clinton: “The first time in our nation’s history that a woman will be a major party’s nominee.” VO: It’s only have been a couple of generations that women have emerged as a force at political conventions. NATPOP of Hillary: We reached a milestone. VO: I’m Carolyn Ryan, a senior editor for Polit—ics at The New York Times VO: Women’s prominence began to emerge in 1940. The convention was pretty raucous. President Roosevelt needed somebody who could essentially speak to the delegates and quiet them down and Eleanor Roosevelt turned out to be that person. VO: Late 60s early 70s is when women’s liberation is taking hold in the country. VO: Anne Armstrong, who was a co-chair of the RNC, became the first female Keynote speaker at a major party convention. VO: Pat Nixon gives a speech, and her very presence and the reception that she received was significant at the time. NATPOP of Pat Nixon, former First Lady: It’s the most wonderful welcome I’ve ever had. NATPOP of speaker at DNC: “The honorable Shirley Chisholm” VO: The First African-American congresswoman, was also the first female Democratic Party candidate for president to be campaign at a convention. Shirley Chisholm said, she believed that her gender was a bigger impediment to her political success than her race. NATPOP: Shirley Chisholm: “United States Constitution says that anyone that is 35 years of age and a natural born citizen can run for Presidency” VO: When Geraldine Ferraro takes the stage, she just says her name, and that feels like a statement for women. NATPOP of Geraldine Ferraro, former Democratic vice presidential candidate: “If you work hard and play by the rules you can earn your share of America’s blessings” VO: This is a period in which Democrats seem to begin to seize on the idea that there is a gender gap in American politics. NATPOP of Ann Richards, Former governor of Texas: After all, Ginger Rogers did everything that Fred Astaire did, she just did it backwards and in high heels. Texas Governor Ann Richards became the second female Keynote speaker at the Democratic convention, twelve years after Barbara Jordan. VO: It’s really interesting: despite the fact that Ann Richards so inspired the crowd, she’s the last keynote speaker at the Democratic National Convention to be a woman. NATPOP of Richards two women in 160 years is about par for the course. VO In 1996, spouses for both candidates of both parties, Elizabeth Dole and Hillary Clinton, addressed the convention delegates for the first time. But I think it was a frustration for some women in politics that women were appearing mainly as character witnesses who could testify to their husbands’ good values. NAT Bill Clinton: I’d like to say a few word about Hillary. Clinton is speaking and his wife Hillary is running for Senate in New York, but most of his speech is not about his spouse, and he’s framing her in a somewhat limited way. NATPOP Bill Clinton: She’s been a great First Lady. She’s always been there for our family. NATPOP of Sarah Palin, Former Republican vice presidential candidate, intro at 3.17: “I will be honored to accept your nomination for Vice President of the United States” VO: In 2008, the democratic party was engaged in a very contentious primary, between a woman and an African American, and I think Sarah Palin was trying to put forward a message about her party, saying that we believe in equality. NATPOP of Palin at 11.17: “This is America, and every woman can walk through every door of opportunity.” VO: Nikki Haley represented a new generation of Republican leaders, in what party members hoped would be a more diverse Republican Party. NATPOP of Gov. Nikki R. Haley, Republican of South Carolina , in 2012 in Tampa, Fla Aug 28 at 0.15: “Only in America we can be successful as we can be and nothing would stand on our way” Music break NATPOP My father will change labor laws that were put in place when women were not a significant portion of the workplace. What Ivanka Trump did was very unusual. She not only spoke as a candidate’s’ daughter who knows and loves him, but she also sought to convince female voters that Donald Trump is comfortable with strong and successful women like her. NATPOP: As a president, my father will fight for equal pay and equal work, and I will fight for it, too, alongside of him. VO: The question is, what will political conventions look like in the future, Will women be even more visible? Will it be unacceptable to have a ticket that doesn’t include a woman? That’s what I wonder about. END