Of all Cotnam’s abilities, her strength as a persuasive and passionate speaker spread her fame nationwide. The Woman Citizen remarked that the “T. T.” in Mrs. T. T. Cotnam stood for “Tip Top” because, “She is always being chosen to top off some brilliant speeches.”
One of her first important speeches was on February 5, 1915, when she became the first woman to address the Arkansas General Assembly. Cotnam also addressed the first National Convention of the League of Women Voters with her speech “All’s Well That Ends Well,” and she topped off the Victory Suffrage Convention in Chicago in 1920.
Recognizing her intellect and silver tongue, the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) sent her on a debate tour from 1915-1919 to advocate for women’s suffrage in 18 states, including Maine, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Florida. Cotnam found the steps of state houses and the tops of automobiles to be perfect podiums.
