She spoke out in favor of women running for political office and encouraged her husband to nominate a woman to the Supreme Court , saying " woman power is unbeatable ; I 've seen it all across this country " . She was the first of the American First Ladies to publicly support the Equal Rights Amendment , though her views on abortion were mixed . Following the Court 's 1973 '' Roe vs. Wade '' decision , Pat stated she was pro-choice . However , in 1972 , she said , " I 'm really not for abortion . I think it 's a personal thing . I mean abortion on demand — wholesale . " In 1972 , she became the first Republican First Lady to address a national convention . Her efforts in the 1972 reelection campaign — traveling across the country and speaking on behalf of her husband — were copied by future candidates ' spouses
national convention
1972 Republican National Convention
Pat Nixon