in the late 1960s and the early 1970s koivisto was active in the feminist organization "yhdistys 9", and worked as a columnist for the news magazine "suomen kuvalehti" 1968–1972. she became a member of the finnish parliament in the 1972 election, but withdrew from parliament after one season and ran for the city council of helsinki in 1976. during her husband's presidential term, koivisto was more focused on social issues and charity work than on her ceremonial position of the first lady.