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   A powerful woman behind the scenes, gracious and charming in the public eye, she was a progressive operative in political and social circles. From 1901 to 1905 she was the equivalent of female president of the United States, President General of the Daughters of the American Revolution, headquartered in Washington, D.C. One of the best known women in the United States at the time, she was on the National Board of the giant General Federation of Women's Clubs. Club women of her day assumed leadership roles long before professional women would be able to be leaders in many venues. Nellie Fairbanks helped to pave the way for women to be revered as leaders. She believed that women should be able to hold public office although she died before they were even allowed to vote in national elections.