She was also the first female senator never to marry.
At a news conference tonight, the female Senators saw a victory of sorts in the vote.
There were only 13 other Congresswomen then and no female senators.
She was the first married woman to serve in the Senate; all previous female senators were widows.
For a full list of female senators, visit the Senate's Web site, www.senate.gov.
She also gave a dinner for all 13 female senators in her Embassy Row house a few months back.
The 113th Congress, serving from 2013-2015, includes a record 20 female senators and 77 female representatives.
The number of female senators is frozen at nine, and governors at three.
She then served as North Carolina's first female Senator from 2003 to 2009.
Women in the Senate There are now three female Senators, more than ever before.