Dana Perino facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dana Perino
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Perino in 2016
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| Member of the Broadcasting Board of Governors | |
| In office June 30, 2010 – December 31, 2012 |
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| 26th White House Press Secretary | |
| In office September 14, 2007 – January 20, 2009 |
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| President | George W. Bush |
| Deputy | Tony Fratto |
| Preceded by | Tony Snow |
| Succeeded by | Robert Gibbs |
| White House Deputy Press Secretary | |
| In office January 20, 2005 – September 14, 2007 |
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| President | George W. Bush |
| Press Secretary | Scott McClellan Tony Snow |
| Preceded by | Scott McClellan |
| Succeeded by | Tony Fratto |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Dana Marie Perino
May 9, 1972 Evanston, Wyoming, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Peter McMahon
(m. 1998) |
| Education | Colorado State University Pueblo (BA) University of Illinois Springfield (MA) |
Dana Marie Perino, born on May 9, 1972, is an American political expert and writer. She is best known for being the 26th White House Press Secretary for President George W. Bush. She held this important job from September 2007 to January 2009.
Perino was the second woman to ever be the White House Press Secretary. After her time in the White House, she became a well-known face on Fox News. She is a co-host of the popular talk show The Five and also co-anchors America's Newsroom.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Dana Perino was born in Evanston, Wyoming, on May 9, 1972. She grew up in Denver, Colorado. She went to Ponderosa High School in Parker.
She later attended Colorado State University Pueblo. There, she earned a degree in mass communications. She also studied political science and Spanish. During college, she was part of the debate team. She also worked at the campus TV station and a local radio station.
Perino then went on to get her master's degree from the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS). While at UIS, she worked as a reporter for a local TV station. She covered news from the Illinois Capitol.
Early Career in Washington D.C.
After finishing her studies, Perino moved to Washington, D.C.. She worked for a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Scott McInnis. She then spent almost four years as a press secretary for another Congressman, Dan Schaefer. He was in charge of a committee that focused on energy.
In 1998, Perino and her husband, Peter McMahon, moved to Great Britain for a short time. In 2001, she returned to Washington, D.C. She got a job as a spokesperson for the Department of Justice. She worked there for two years.
After that, Perino joined the White House staff. She worked for the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). In this role, she helped plan how to share information with the public and the media.
Becoming White House Press Secretary
The White House Press Secretary is a very important job. This person speaks for the President and the White House. They answer questions from reporters every day.
Dana Perino first joined the White House staff in 2002. She worked as an associate director of communications. From 2005 to 2007, she served as the White House Deputy Press Secretary. This meant she helped the main Press Secretary.
In 2007, the Press Secretary at the time, Tony Snow, had to leave his job for health reasons. President George W. Bush then announced that Dana Perino would take over. She became the White House Press Secretary on September 14, 2007. She held this role until President Bush's term ended in January 2009.
In December 2008, something unusual happened during a press conference in Baghdad. A journalist threw two shoes at President Bush. The President managed to dodge both shoes. During the commotion, Dana Perino's eye was accidentally injured by a microphone stand.
After the White House
After leaving the White House, Dana Perino became a political expert on Fox News. She is a regular co-host on the popular talk show The Five. She also co-anchors America's Newsroom with Bill Hemmer.
In 2009, President Barack Obama asked her to join the Broadcasting Board of Governors. This group oversees international broadcasting by the U.S. government. She was approved for this role in 2010.
Perino has also taught a class about political communication at George Washington University. She has also hosted podcasts, including Perino on Politics. In 2023, she helped moderate a big debate for presidential candidates on Fox Business. She asked the candidates a unique question, which led to some interesting reactions.
Other Appearances
In May 2012, Dana Perino appeared on the TV game show Jeopardy!. She was part of their "Power Players" week.
Personal Life
Dana Perino met her husband, Peter McMahon, in 1997. They got married in 1998.
She has lived in Bay Head, New Jersey. Perino is also known for her love of dogs. She had a Vizsla dog named Jasper, who passed away in 2021. A few months later, she and her husband got another Vizsla named Percy.
In May 2023, her old college, CSU Pueblo, gave her an honorary doctorate degree.
See also
- New Yorkers in journalism
