Jean Carnahan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jean Carnahan
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| United States Senator from Missouri |
|
| In office January 3, 2001 – November 23, 2002 |
|
| Appointed by | Roger B. Wilson |
| Preceded by | Mel Carnahan (elect) John Ashcroft |
| Succeeded by | Jim Talent |
| First Lady of Missouri | |
| In role January 11, 1993 – October 16, 2000 |
|
| Governor | Mel Carnahan |
| Preceded by | Janet Ashcroft |
| Succeeded by | Patricia Wilson |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jean Anne Carpenter
December 20, 1933 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Died | January 30, 2024 (aged 90) St. Louis County, Missouri, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4, including Russ and Robin |
| Education | George Washington University (BA) |
Jean Anne Carnahan (born Carpenter; December 20, 1933 – January 30, 2024) was an American politician and writer. She served as the First Lady of Missouri from 1993 to 2000. Later, she became a U.S. Senator for Missouri from 2001 to 2002. She was a member of the Democratic Party. Jean Carnahan was chosen to fill the Senate seat of her husband, Mel Carnahan, after he was elected even though he had passed away. This made her the first woman to represent Missouri in the U.S. Senate.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jean Anne Carpenter was born in Washington, D.C., into a family that worked hard. She was determined to go to college. She met her future husband, Mel Carnahan, at Anacostia High School, where they sat next to each other in class.
Jean worked while attending George Washington University. She graduated in 1955 with a degree in Business and Public Administration. She was the first person in her family to graduate from both high school and college.
Jean and Mel married on June 12, 1954. Two years later, they moved to Mel's home state of Missouri. They settled in Rolla, where Mel started his law practice in 1959.
Public Service and Career
As her husband became involved in politics, Jean became his partner. She helped write his speeches and worked on all 20 of his election campaigns. She also worked on her own projects. For example, she led efforts to gather signatures for mental health and school funding in Rolla.
First Lady of Missouri
Her husband, Mel Carnahan, was elected Governor of Missouri. He served from 1993 to 2000. As First Lady, Jean was very active. She supported on-site daycare centers for working families. She also promoted childhood immunizations and centers for people who had been abused. She was a big supporter of the arts and Habitat for Humanity.
Jean also focused on restoring the Governor's mansion. She wanted to make it more welcoming to the public. She raised about $1.5 million to fix up the mansion. This included adding a new fireplace and cleaning up the basement for more space. She also added a fountain with a sculpture of three children.
During her time as First Lady, she wrote two books about Missouri's history. These included If Walls Could Talk: The Story of Missouri's First Families (1998) and Christmas at the Mansion (1999). She also wrote Will You Say a Few Words?, a collection of her speeches, in 2000. Some of the money from her books helped pay for the mansion's renovations.
Serving in the U.S. Senate
In 2000, Governor Carnahan ran for a Senate seat in Missouri. He was running against the current Republican Senator, John Ashcroft. This election was very important because it could decide which party controlled the Senate.
Sadly, three weeks before the election, Governor Carnahan died in a plane crash. Their son Randy, who was flying the plane, and Chris Sifford, a campaign advisor, also died. Because there was so little time before the election, Missouri law did not allow his name to be removed from the ballot. The acting Governor, Roger B. Wilson, announced that if Mel Carnahan won, he would appoint Jean Carnahan to the Senate seat. This meant she would effectively be the Democratic candidate.
Jean Carnahan was unsure at first if she wanted to take on this role. But she saw a huge amount of support from Missouri voters. She also wanted to continue her husband's work. So, she announced that she would accept Governor Wilson's appointment. She did not run a big campaign. She made only one advertisement and appeared on TV news just once.
In the end, Mel Carnahan won the election even after his death. He received 51% of the votes. Jean Carnahan was appointed to the Senate in 2001. However, under Missouri law, she would only serve until a special election could be held in 2002.
Her Time as Senator
When she was sworn in, Jean Carnahan became the first woman to represent Missouri in the U.S. Senate. The person her husband had defeated, John Ashcroft, was later chosen by President George W. Bush to be the United States Attorney General. Jean Carnahan had spoken positively about Ashcroft. She even opposed efforts to block his nomination. However, she ultimately voted against his nomination. Carnahan called her vote an "act of conscience." Some Republicans criticized her for this vote, even though they had been understanding due to the sad circumstances of her appointment.
Carnahan also took the lead on other important issues. She supported the joining of Trans World Airlines (TWA) and American Airlines. TWA had 12,000 employees in St. Louis. She called this a "rescue mission" and convinced other senators not to interfere. She also helped create laws to provide money and health care for airline workers who lost their jobs after the 9/11 attacks. She voted in favor of the Bush tax cuts.
On September 8, 2001, Carnahan's house in Rolla caught fire. She was not hurt and was able to get out of the house safely.
In 2002, a special election was held for the rest of the six-year Senate term. Jean Carnahan officially announced her campaign on April 28, 2002. She was considered one of the most vulnerable senators up for election that year. She was defeated in a close race by Republican Jim Talent. The difference was only about 22,000 votes.
After the Senate
After losing her Senate race, Carnahan continued to be an activist and writer. She wrote six books and many opinion articles. The title of her 2004 book, Don't Let the Fire Go Out, was a phrase used during her husband's 2000 campaign.
Later Life
Jean Carnahan passed away at a hospice facility in St. Louis County, Missouri, on January 30, 2024. She was 90 years old.
See also
In Spanish: Jean Carnahan para niños
