The room in the Mariott Hotel in Des Moines was filled with Republicans and Democrats Tuesday night who were there to serve the same purpose: to honor a woman who is important to politics and will soon be more so to Iowa State.

ISU officials and several other Iowans listened to former President George Bush speak in honor of Mary Louise Smith. The audience also heard the announcement that U.S. Sen. Nancy Kassebaum will be the first endowed chair that is named in Smith’s honor.

Smith was the first woman to organize and call to order the national convention of a major U.S. political party. She is also the founding member of the Iowa Womens’ Political Caucus.

At 7 p.m. in the Ballroom of the Marriott Hotel, many greetings were given by ISU and Iowa officials in honor of Smith including warm words from ISU President Martin Jischke, Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean Elizabeth Hoffman, Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, and former Gov. Robert Ray. Following the dinner, Kassebaum was announced to the crowd as the first endowed chair.

A Republican from Kansas, Kassebaum has been a U.S. senator since 1978, and recently announced her plans to retire.

When Kassebaum holds the position at ISU, she will be involved in educational activities associated with the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics and will be on campus periodically during the 1996-97 academic year.

Following her introduction, Smith said she was excited to be honored, and she described her longtime friendship with Bush.

“George Bush became an important part of my career,” Smith said. “[I have] memories permanently etched in my mind,” which include the time of the Reagan and Bush administration as well as the “sadness of 1992.”

“The warmth in the relationship with George Bush and Barbara has made [all of those memories pleasant],” she said.

Smith is excited about being a part of ISU.

“The promotion of women in politics is something that has [been emphasized and encouraged at ISU],” she said.

“It is a really remarkable thing they have done, she said, “politically as well as socially and economically.

“My new relationship with Iowa State University has been an immensely gratifying experience,” she said, and also stated that she hopes to become better acquainted with the university and its “remarkable and talented staff.”

Smith also gave a special thanks to all those who contributed to the endowed project.

Bush told the crowd of how he was thrilled to be standing up for “an esteemed friend for [whom] I have great respect.”

“I was very touched when [asked] to come up here for the event. The university is going to be the rich one,” he said.

“She taught me to be politically correct,” he said. “I love her dearly and Barbara loves her dearly and it’s a joy to meet [many of her friends from Iowa].”

The Mary Louise Smith endowed chair, he said, is a wonderful thing for ISU.

“It represents what she has done,” Bush said, and he said he hopes the endowed chair position will last forever and “be held in high esteem.”

About 450 to 500 people were present for the fund-raiser. More than $50,000 was raised at the event which will be added to the needed funding of $1 million. An amount of $600,000 was previously contributed for the creation of the position by donors Marvin and Rose Lee Pomerantz, John and Joan Axel, and Sharon and Richard Rodine.