I was just wondering…how many women, so far, have had the authority to order the use of nuclear weapons? I’m thinking mainly heads of state here, but I guess heads of Defense Ministries could count, as well. The only two women I could think of, right off the bat, were Golda Meir and Margaret Thatcher. Is there anyone else?
Ranchoth
Indira Gandhi, prime minister of India (1966-77; 1980-84). India detonated its first nuclear weapon in 1974.
Although Pakistan’s first test wasn’t until 1998, it’s posible that they had the capability well before that time, making Benazir Bhutto (1988-1990 and 1993-1996) a contender.
Here is a list of female presidents and prime ministers in the 20th century. Meir, Thatcher and Indira Gandhi are definite; Bhutto is pretty definite - according to the Federation of American Scientists, Pakistan almost certainly had the bomb by the late 1980s.
The only one I might add is Edith Cresson, Prime Minister of France 1991-92; however, since the President is the French head of state, I am unsure if she as Prime Minister had the ability to launch a nuclear strike.
That still leaves defence secretaries (and possibly generals, heads of armed forces, etc.), but these seem to be even more overwhelmingly male than presidents and prime ministers. Here is a list of female defence ministers. The only figures in nuclear powers are again Gandhi and Bhutto, plus current French Defence Secretary Michele Alliot-Marie. Also, Shiela E. Widnell was US Secretary of the Air Force from 1996-97.
How about Corazon Aquino (sp?) of the Phillippines?
Do they/Did they have the bomb when she was running the place?
No the Phillippines is not a member of the “bomb” club