Lindy Boggs facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lindy Boggs
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| 5th United States Ambassador to the Holy See | |
| In office December 16, 1997 – March 1, 2001 |
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| President | Bill Clinton George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Raymond Flynn |
| Succeeded by | Jim Nicholson |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Louisiana's 2nd district |
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| In office March 20, 1973 – January 3, 1991 |
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| Preceded by | Hale Boggs |
| Succeeded by | William J. Jefferson |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Marie Corinne Morrison Claiborne
March 13, 1916 New Roads, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | July 27, 2013 (aged 97) Chevy Chase, Maryland, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4, including Barbara, Tommy, and Cokie |
| Education | Tulane University (BA) |
Lindy Boggs (born Marie Corinne Morrison Claiborne) was an important American politician. She was born on March 13, 1916, and passed away on July 27, 2013. Lindy Boggs served in the U.S. House of Representatives for many years. She also became the United States Ambassador to the Holy See.
She made history as the first woman elected to Congress from Louisiana. Lindy Boggs was also the first woman to lead a major political meeting. This happened at the 1976 Democratic National Convention. She was married to Hale Boggs, who was also a powerful leader in the House of Representatives.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Lindy Boggs was born Marie Corinne Morrison Claiborne. Her birthday was March 13, 1916. She grew up on Brunswick Plantation in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana. Her father, Roland Philemon Claiborne, was a well-known lawyer.
Lindy's father died when she was only two years old. People called her "Lindy" because she looked like him. "Lindy" was a short form of "Rolinde," a female version of Roland.
Education and Marriage
Lindy went to Newcomb College in New Orleans. This was a women's college at Tulane University. She graduated in 1935.
In 1934, she met Thomas Hale Boggs at Tulane. They both worked on the school newspaper, The Hullabaloo. Lindy became a school teacher after college. Hale studied law at Tulane University Law School. They got married on January 22, 1938.
Lindy and Hale Boggs had four children together. Their children included Cokie Roberts, who became a famous journalist. Another child was Thomas Hale Boggs, Jr., a well-known lobbyist. Their daughter Barbara Boggs Sigmund became a mayor in New Jersey. Sadly, their son William died as a baby.
Political Career
In 1940, Hale Boggs won a seat in the House of Representatives. The Boggs family then moved to Washington, D.C. Hale lost his election in 1942 but returned to Congress in 1947. He served as a representative for Jefferson Parish, Louisiana.
Taking Office
On October 16, 1972, Hale Boggs' plane disappeared over Alaska. He was helping a fellow politician, Nicholas Begich, with his election campaign. In 1973, the House of Representatives officially recognized Hale Boggs' death. This meant a special election was needed for his seat.
Lindy Boggs decided to run for her husband's vacant seat. She ran as a Democrat in Louisiana's 2nd congressional district. This district was in New Orleans. She won the special election and became a member of Congress.
Time in Congress
Lindy Boggs was elected for a full term in 1974. She won with 82 percent of the votes. She was re-elected seven more times after that. She usually won her elections with more than 80 percent of the vote.
In 1984, her district boundaries were changed. This created Louisiana's first district with a majority of African-American voters. Lindy Boggs became the only white member of Congress to represent such a district. She decided to retire from public office in 1990. William J. Jefferson took her place.
Key Achievements
Lindy Boggs played a big role in creating the Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974. This law made it illegal to discriminate against people based on their sex or marital status when they applied for credit. She secretly added this important rule to the bill herself. The committee then approved the bill without any objections.
She was also the first woman to lead a national political convention. This happened at the 1976 Democratic National Convention.
Later Career and Honors
In 1991, Lindy Boggs received the Laetare Medal. This is a very old and respected award for American Catholics. In 1994, she was added to the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame. Her husband had been honored there a year earlier.
In 1997, President Bill Clinton chose her to be the U.S. ambassador to the Holy See. She held this important job until 2001.
In 2006, she received the Congressional Distinguished Service Award. This award recognized her long service in the House of Representatives. The Boggs Center for Energy and Biotechnology Building at Tulane University is named in her honor.
In 2013, Lindy Boggs and her daughter, Cokie Roberts, received the Foremother Award. This award came from the National Center for Health Research.
Later Years and Passing
Lindy Boggs passed away peacefully at her home in Chevy Chase, Maryland. She was 97 years old. Her funeral was held on August 1, 2013, in New Orleans. She was buried in New Roads, Louisiana. Governor Bobby Jindal ordered flags in Louisiana to fly at half-staff to honor her memory.
See also
Women in the United States House of Representatives
Images for kids
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In Spanish: Lindy Boggs para niños
