Lenore Romney
Encyclopedia
Lenore LaFount Romney was the former First Lady of Michigan
and later a candidate for the U.S. Senate in 1970 from Michigan. Her husband, George Romney
was the former Governor of Michigan
, presidential candidate in 1968 and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Romney's youngest son, Mitt Romney
was the former Governor of Massachusetts
as well as U.S. presidential candidate in 2008 and again in 2012.
to Harold Arundel LaFount (1880-1952) and Alma Luella Robison (1882-1938).
In her junior year, Lenore LaFount and senior George Romney
became high school sweethearts; she was from a more well-assimilated Mormon family.
After Calvin Coolidge
appointed her father to serve on the Federal Radio Commission
, LaFount moved to Washington with her family, followed by Romney. LaFount, who was an aspiring actress, had the opportunity to sign a $50,000, three-year contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
studios, but Romney convinced her to return to Washington where he worked for Alcoa and the Aluminum Wares Association as a lobbyist. Lenore LaFound married George Romney on July 2, 1931 in Salt Lake City, Utah
. They had four children, Lynn, Jane, G. Scott Romney
, and politician Mitt Romney
, who was elected Governor of Massachusetts
in 2002.
In Washington, Lenore's cultural refinement and hosting skills helped him in business, and the couple met the Hoovers, the Roosevelts, and other prominent Washington figures.
The couple later moved to Michigan
, where George Romney worked as a nationally visible automobile executive. In 1954, Romney was named Chairman and CEO of the American Motors Corporation.
When her husband was elected Governor of Michigan
in November 1962, Lenore became the state's first lady
. After the 1968 presidential election, George Romney was named the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the administration of President Richard Nixon
and the Romney family returned to Washington.
Mrs. Romney was an unsuccessful candidate for U. S. Senate in 1970. By early 1970, Nixon decided he wanted George Romney out of his administration. Nixon, who hated having to fire people and was, as Ehrlichman later described, "notoriously inadept" at it, instead hatched a plot to get Romney to run in the 1970 U.S. Senate race in Michigan. Lenore Romney ended up running instead. After winning a tight nominating contest against Robert Huber, a conservative state senator from Oakland County, Lenore Romney lost the general election to popular Incumbent
Democrat
Senator Philip A. Hart, who won re-election handily with 67% of the vote.
Lenore Romney died in Michigan
and is interred in Fairview Cemetery in Brighton, Michigan
, in the same grave as her husband.
First Lady
First Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime...
and later a candidate for the U.S. Senate in 1970 from Michigan. Her husband, George Romney
George Romney
George Romney may refer to:*George Romney , English portrait painter*George W. Romney , executive & CEO of American Motors Corporation, Governor of Michigan, U.S. presidential candidate, father of Mitt & G. Scott Romney*George S. Romney , president of the institution now known as Brigham Young...
was the former Governor of Michigan
Governor of Michigan
The Governor of Michigan is the chief executive of the U.S. State of Michigan. The current Governor is Rick Snyder, a member of the Republican Party.-Gubernatorial elections and term of office:...
, presidential candidate in 1968 and Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Romney's youngest son, Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney
Willard Mitt Romney is an American businessman and politician. He was the 70th Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 and is a candidate for the 2012 Republican Party presidential nomination.The son of George W...
was the former Governor of Massachusetts
Governor of Massachusetts
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the executive magistrate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States. The current governor is Democrat Deval Patrick.-Constitutional role:...
as well as U.S. presidential candidate in 2008 and again in 2012.
Life and career
Romney was born in Logan, UtahLogan, Utah
-Layout of the City:Logan's city grid originates from its Main and Center Street block, with Main Street running north and south, and Center east and west. Each block north, east, south, or west of the origin accumulates in additions of 100 , though some streets have non-numeric names...
to Harold Arundel LaFount (1880-1952) and Alma Luella Robison (1882-1938).
In her junior year, Lenore LaFount and senior George Romney
George Romney
George Romney may refer to:*George Romney , English portrait painter*George W. Romney , executive & CEO of American Motors Corporation, Governor of Michigan, U.S. presidential candidate, father of Mitt & G. Scott Romney*George S. Romney , president of the institution now known as Brigham Young...
became high school sweethearts; she was from a more well-assimilated Mormon family.
After Calvin Coolidge
Calvin Coolidge
John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. was the 30th President of the United States . A Republican lawyer from Vermont, Coolidge worked his way up the ladder of Massachusetts state politics, eventually becoming governor of that state...
appointed her father to serve on the Federal Radio Commission
Federal Radio Commission
The Federal Radio Commission was a government body that regulated radio use in the United States from its creation in 1926 until its replacement by the Federal Communications Commission in 1934...
, LaFount moved to Washington with her family, followed by Romney. LaFount, who was an aspiring actress, had the opportunity to sign a $50,000, three-year contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
studios, but Romney convinced her to return to Washington where he worked for Alcoa and the Aluminum Wares Association as a lobbyist. Lenore LaFound married George Romney on July 2, 1931 in Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
. They had four children, Lynn, Jane, G. Scott Romney
G. Scott Romney
George Scott Romney is an American Republican politician and lawyer in the state of Michigan. He formerly sat on the Michigan State University Board of Trustees. A member of the Pratt-Romney family—a well-known political family in Michigan—he is the son of former Michigan Governor...
, and politician Mitt Romney
Mitt Romney
Willard Mitt Romney is an American businessman and politician. He was the 70th Governor of Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007 and is a candidate for the 2012 Republican Party presidential nomination.The son of George W...
, who was elected Governor of Massachusetts
Governor of Massachusetts
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the executive magistrate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, United States. The current governor is Democrat Deval Patrick.-Constitutional role:...
in 2002.
In Washington, Lenore's cultural refinement and hosting skills helped him in business, and the couple met the Hoovers, the Roosevelts, and other prominent Washington figures.
The couple later moved to Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, where George Romney worked as a nationally visible automobile executive. In 1954, Romney was named Chairman and CEO of the American Motors Corporation.
When her husband was elected Governor of Michigan
Governor of Michigan
The Governor of Michigan is the chief executive of the U.S. State of Michigan. The current Governor is Rick Snyder, a member of the Republican Party.-Gubernatorial elections and term of office:...
in November 1962, Lenore became the state's first lady
First Lady
First Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime...
. After the 1968 presidential election, George Romney was named the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the administration of President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
and the Romney family returned to Washington.
Mrs. Romney was an unsuccessful candidate for U. S. Senate in 1970. By early 1970, Nixon decided he wanted George Romney out of his administration. Nixon, who hated having to fire people and was, as Ehrlichman later described, "notoriously inadept" at it, instead hatched a plot to get Romney to run in the 1970 U.S. Senate race in Michigan. Lenore Romney ended up running instead. After winning a tight nominating contest against Robert Huber, a conservative state senator from Oakland County, Lenore Romney lost the general election to popular Incumbent
Incumbent
The incumbent, in politics, is the existing holder of a political office. This term is usually used in reference to elections, in which races can often be defined as being between an incumbent and non-incumbent. For example, in the 2004 United States presidential election, George W...
Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Senator Philip A. Hart, who won re-election handily with 67% of the vote.
Lenore Romney died in Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
and is interred in Fairview Cemetery in Brighton, Michigan
Brighton, Michigan
Brighton is a principal satellite city of Metro Detroit located in the southeast portion of Livingston County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 7,444. Brighton forms part of the South Lyon-Howell-Brighton Urban Area...
, in the same grave as her husband.