Despite losing her first (and only) election, Shirley was not put off by political life. In 1969, she was appointed as representative to the 24th United Nationals General Assembly by President Nixon (another close friend whom she met during her time with the Republican party in California). In 1974, she was appointed as the US ambassador to Ghana by President Ford and named the first female chief of protocol in 1976. As chief of protocol, she was in charge of organizing President Carter's inauguration and inaugural ball. In 1989, she was appointed as the ambassador to Czechoslovakia by President George H.W. Bush. She served as the ambassador to the European country until 1992, right before the country was split into two separate nations. In addition to her political appointments, Shirley also served on the board of several large organizations and corporations, including The Walt Disney Company, the National Wildlife Federation, Bank of America, and the United States Commission for UNESCO.
