Madeleine M. Kunin
Encyclopedia
Madeleine May Kunin is a Swiss-American diplomat and politician. She was the 77th Governor of Vermont
from 1985 until 1991, as a member of the Democratic Party
. She also served as United States Ambassador to Switzerland from 1996 to 1999. She was Vermont's first and, to date, only female governor as well as the first Jewish governor of Vermont. She was also the first Jewish woman to be elected governor of a U.S. state. Kunin is currently the James Marsh Professor-at-Large at the University of Vermont
.
to a Jewish family, and moved to the United States as a child. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts
, a master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
, and a master's degree from the University of Vermont
. Prior to seeking elective office, she worked as a journalist for The Burlington Free Press, as a tour guide at the World's Fair, and as a part time college professor. She was also involved in community activities, particularly in the area of women's rights, children, and literature.
Board of Aldermen. Later that year she was elected a Vermont State Representative, where in her first term she served as a member of the Government Operations Committee. Following her reelection in 1974 she was elected Minority Whip of the State House and appointed to the Appropriations Committee. After being elected to a third term in 1976, she was appointed Chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, the first woman to assume this position.
In 1978 she was elected to the first of two terms as the 73rd Lieutenant Governor of Vermont. Serving with Republican
Richard Snelling, Kunin primarily served as President of the State Senate and worked with citizens around the state. She produced various studies in areas such as energy and day care and made policy recommendations to the Governor and Legislature. Kunin was a frequent speaker statewide during her time as lieutenant governor.
Kunin left the lieutenant governorship in 1982 to unsuccessfully challenge Snelling for the governorship, but in 1984 she was elected to the first of three terms as governor. She is the first woman in U.S. history to be elected governor three times. As governor she focused on the environment, education, and children's issues. She appointed the first woman to the State Supreme Court
and created the family court
system. She declined to seek reelection in 1990.
She was a member of the administration of President Bill Clinton
, serving as deputy secretary of education
of the United States from 1993 until 1997, when she became the ambassador to her native Switzerland, as well as to Liechtenstein
. Prior to joining the Clinton Administration she worked in Clinton's campaign as a member of the search committee for the Vice Presidential nominee and on the transition team.
.
Kunin is the mother of four children: Julia, Peter, Adam, and Daniel (Senior Advisor to the Government of the Republic of Georgia). She divorced her husband Arthur Kunin in 1995. She married John W. Hennessey Jr
, a professor at Dartmouth College
, in 2006.
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Governor of Vermont
The Governor of Vermont is the governor of the U.S. state of Vermont. The governor is elected in even numbered years by direct voting for a term of two years; Vermont and bordering New Hampshire are the only states to hold gubernatorial elections every two years, instead of every four...
from 1985 until 1991, as a member of the Democratic Party
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...
. She also served as United States Ambassador to Switzerland from 1996 to 1999. She was Vermont's first and, to date, only female governor as well as the first Jewish governor of Vermont. She was also the first Jewish woman to be elected governor of a U.S. state. Kunin is currently the James Marsh Professor-at-Large at the University of Vermont
University of Vermont
The University of Vermont comprises seven undergraduate schools, an honors college, a graduate college, and a college of medicine. The Honors College does not offer its own degrees; students in the Honors College concurrently enroll in one of the university's seven undergraduate colleges or...
.
Biography
Kunin was born in ZürichZürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
to a Jewish family, and moved to the United States as a child. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts
University of Massachusetts
This article relates to the statewide university system. For the flagship campus often referred to as "UMass", see University of Massachusetts Amherst...
, a master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
The Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism is one of Columbia's graduate and professional schools. It offers three degree programs: Master of Science in journalism , Master of Arts in journalism and a Ph.D. in communications...
, and a master's degree from the University of Vermont
University of Vermont
The University of Vermont comprises seven undergraduate schools, an honors college, a graduate college, and a college of medicine. The Honors College does not offer its own degrees; students in the Honors College concurrently enroll in one of the university's seven undergraduate colleges or...
. Prior to seeking elective office, she worked as a journalist for The Burlington Free Press, as a tour guide at the World's Fair, and as a part time college professor. She was also involved in community activities, particularly in the area of women's rights, children, and literature.
Political career
In 1972, Kunin was defeated in her bid to join the BurlingtonBurlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
Board of Aldermen. Later that year she was elected a Vermont State Representative, where in her first term she served as a member of the Government Operations Committee. Following her reelection in 1974 she was elected Minority Whip of the State House and appointed to the Appropriations Committee. After being elected to a third term in 1976, she was appointed Chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, the first woman to assume this position.
In 1978 she was elected to the first of two terms as the 73rd Lieutenant Governor of Vermont. Serving with Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Richard Snelling, Kunin primarily served as President of the State Senate and worked with citizens around the state. She produced various studies in areas such as energy and day care and made policy recommendations to the Governor and Legislature. Kunin was a frequent speaker statewide during her time as lieutenant governor.
Kunin left the lieutenant governorship in 1982 to unsuccessfully challenge Snelling for the governorship, but in 1984 she was elected to the first of three terms as governor. She is the first woman in U.S. history to be elected governor three times. As governor she focused on the environment, education, and children's issues. She appointed the first woman to the State Supreme Court
Vermont Supreme Court
The Vermont Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority of the U.S. state of Vermont and is one of seven state courts of Vermont.The Court consists of a chief justice and four associate justices; the Court mostly hears appeals of cases that have been decided by other courts...
and created the family court
Family court
A family court is a court convened to decide matters and make orders in relation to family law, such as custody of children. In common-law jurisdictions "family courts" are statutory creations primarily dealing with equitable matters devolved from a court of inherent jurisdiction, such as a...
system. She declined to seek reelection in 1990.
She was a member of the administration of President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
, serving as deputy secretary of education
United States Deputy Secretary of Education
The Deputy Secretary of Education oversees and manages the development of policies in the United States Department of Education. The Deputy Secretary focuses primarily on K–12 education policy, such as No Child Left Behind, the High School Initiative, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education...
of the United States from 1993 until 1997, when she became the ambassador to her native Switzerland, as well as to Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein
The Principality of Liechtenstein is a doubly landlocked alpine country in Central Europe, bordered by Switzerland to the west and south and by Austria to the east. Its area is just over , and it has an estimated population of 35,000. Its capital is Vaduz. The biggest town is Schaan...
. Prior to joining the Clinton Administration she worked in Clinton's campaign as a member of the search committee for the Vice Presidential nominee and on the transition team.
Personal life
Kunin is the author of the books Pearls, Politics, and Power: How Women Can Win and Lead (2008) and Living a Political Life (1995) which chronicles her career prior to joining the U.S. Department of Education. She is a resident of Burlington, VermontBurlington, Vermont
Burlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
.
Kunin is the mother of four children: Julia, Peter, Adam, and Daniel (Senior Advisor to the Government of the Republic of Georgia). She divorced her husband Arthur Kunin in 1995. She married John W. Hennessey Jr
John W. Hennessey Jr
John W. Hennessey Jr. is an American academic and educator.He has spent most of his life in academia, as professor, dean, and provost. He is Third Century Professor Emeritus at Dartmouth College, where he served for eight years as dean of the Tuck School of Business, during at Tuck...
, a professor at Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
, in 2006.
Awards and honors
Kunin is a recipient of the International Center in New York's Award of Excellence.External links
- Jewish Women and the Feminist Revolution from the Jewish Women's Archive
- New York Times "Vows" article about Kunin's marriage (2006)
- Inventory of the Madeleine May Kunin Collection, Special Collections, University of Vermont Library
- Further Biographical Information
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