Judy Agnew facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Judy Agnew
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Agnew in 1971
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| Second Lady of the United States | |
| In role January 20, 1969 – October 10, 1973 |
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| Vice President | Spiro Agnew |
| Preceded by | Muriel Humphrey |
| Succeeded by | Betty Ford |
| First Lady of Maryland | |
| In role January 25, 1967 – January 7, 1969 |
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| Governor | Spiro Agnew |
| Preceded by | Helen Gibson |
| Succeeded by | Barbara Mandel |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Elinor Isabel Judefind
April 23, 1921 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Died | June 20, 2012 (aged 91) Rancho Mirage, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4 |
Elinor Isabel Agnew (born Judefind; April 23, 1921 – June 20, 2012) was known as Judy Agnew. She served as the second lady of the United States from 1969 to 1973. She was married to Spiro Agnew, who was the 39th Vice President of the United States. Before becoming Vice President, he was the Governor of Maryland. Judy Agnew often tried to avoid talking about politics. She preferred to focus on her roles as a wife and mother. However, some of her comments about the women's liberation movement were reported by the news.
Contents
Who Was Judy Agnew?
Her Early Life and Family
Elinor Isabel Judefind was born in Baltimore, Maryland. Her parents were William Lee Judefind, a chemist, and Ruth Elinor Schafer. Her family had French-German roots. Her grandfather was a Methodist minister.
Judy Agnew once shared in an interview that her father believed college was not necessary for women. So, instead of going to college, she worked as a filing clerk. While working at the Maryland Casualty Company, she met Spiro Agnew. They had actually gone to the same high school before. After meeting again, they went on a first date to a movie and then had chocolate milkshakes. They got engaged four months later.
Marriage and Family Life
Judy married Spiro Agnew on May 27, 1942, in Baltimore. He had just finished Army Officer Candidate School two days earlier. They had four children together: Pamela Lee, James Rand, Susan Scott, and Elinor Kimberly.
While living in Annapolis, Maryland, with her husband and children, Judy Agnew was very active in her community. She was the president of her local PTA. She also volunteered as an assistant Girl Scout troop leader. She was also a board member of the women's group for the Kiwanis Club. When she spoke to reporters, she used what she called a "Baltimorese" accent. She became known for serving drinks in glass peanut butter jars, though she once tried to say this wasn't true.
As First Lady of Maryland
Judy Agnew served as the First Lady of Maryland from January 1967 to January 1969. This was when her husband, Spiro Agnew, was the state's governor.
Her Time as Second Lady
When Richard Nixon chose her husband to be his running mate for Vice President, Judy Agnew was reportedly surprised. She even asked, "can you get out of it?" When reporters asked her about her husband's new role, she often joked that she was "trying to keep the ashtrays clean."
In 1969, Judy Agnew hosted a dinner at the White House for 75 female reporters. Her husband played the piano for the guests before the meal began.
What is a Second Lady?
The Second Lady of the United States is the wife of the Vice President. It is a public role, and the Second Lady often supports the Vice President's work and takes part in public events.
Judy Agnew's Views
Judy Agnew generally preferred to avoid political discussions with the press. In 1967, she told The Evening Sun newspaper that she would make "brief remarks" at events but was "not a speech maker." In 1970, she told Parade magazine, "I stay out of the political end of it. When people ask what I majored in, I proudly tell them 'I majored in marriage.'"
However, Judy Agnew did share some of her political views. In 1971, she was quoted saying that feminists were "silly" and that she felt she was already liberated. McCall's magazine later published a letter from a reader who disagreed with Agnew's comments. Judy Agnew also told The New York Times that she had "no use" for hippies, even though she admitted she didn't know any.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1973, Spiro Agnew resigned from his position as Vice President of the United States. On the day her husband resigned, Judy Agnew became emotional at a luncheon with her guests.
Spiro Agnew passed away on September 16, 1996, at the age of 77. Judy Agnew lived for almost 16 more years. She died on June 20, 2012, in Rancho Mirage, California, at the age of 91. She was buried next to her husband Spiro at the Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens.
