Frances Willard is elected president of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union.
On October 16, 1879, Frances Willard was elected national president of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. This election took place at the WCTU convention in Indianapolis, an appointment that she would hold until her death in 1898.
Under her presidency, the WCTU thrived, expanding its mission from strictly temperance to include advocacy for women's suffrage, labor laws, and other social reforms. Willard's leadership style and innovative approach, termed the "Do Everything Policy," broadened the scope and impact of the WCTU during her tenure.