Hattie Caraway unofficially presided over the Senate on May 9, 1932.
On May 9, 1932, Hattie Caraway, in a groundbreaking move, presided over the U.S. Senate in an unofficial capacity. Filling in for Vice President Charles Curtis, her presiding marked the first time a woman assumed this role, even if not formally acknowledged at the time. Her brief presidence demonstrated her emerging leadership and the shifting dynamics in U.S. politics, pushing the boundaries for future official recognitions of female politicians.