On March 23, ...... 1568 (440 years ago today), the Peace of Longjumeau, which ended Second French Religious War, was concluded. France's teenaged King Charles IX and his Queen Regent mother, the Florence-born Catherine de Medici (right), both Roman Catholics, signed the pact, which made promises of religious freedom for the Protestant Huguenots. The agreement was short-lived: the Third Religious War began a scant 6 months later.
... 1977, Lucy Wilson Benson became the 1st woman to serve as Under Secretary of State. When appointed Under Secretary of State for Security Assistance, Science, and Technology, a post she held until January 5, 1980, Benson (left) was the top-ranking woman in the U.S. State Department. From 1968-74, Benson had been President of the League of Women Voters.
