Nancy Johnson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nancy Johnson
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| Chair of the House Ethics Committee | |
| In office January 3, 1995 – January 3, 1997 |
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| Preceded by | Jim McDermott |
| Succeeded by | James V. Hansen |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Connecticut |
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| In office January 3, 1983 – January 3, 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Toby Moffett |
| Succeeded by | Chris Murphy |
| Constituency | 6th district (1983–2003) 5th district (2003–2007) |
| Member of the Connecticut State Senate from the 6th district |
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| In office January 5, 1977 – January 3, 1983 |
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| Preceded by | Paul S. Amenta |
| Succeeded by | Joe Harper |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Nancy Elizabeth Lee
January 5, 1935 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Ted Johnson |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Harvard University (BA) University of London |
Nancy Elizabeth Johnson (born January 5, 1935) is an American politician and lobbyist from Connecticut. As a member of the Republican Party, she served in the United States House of Representatives for over 20 years, from 1983 to 2007.
The U.S. House of Representatives is one of the two parts of Congress, the branch of government that makes laws for the United States. Johnson represented the people of Connecticut's 6th district and later its 5th district.
After her career in politics, Johnson became a lobbyist. A lobbyist is someone who works to influence the decisions of government officials.
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Early Life and Education
Nancy Johnson was born in Chicago, Illinois. She went to high school at the University of Chicago Laboratory School and graduated in 1953. After high school, she attended Radcliffe College, which was part of Harvard University, and earned her degree in 1957.
She also studied art at the University of London for a year. Later, she moved to New Britain, Connecticut, where she became very active in her community. She volunteered at local schools and social service groups before starting her career in politics. From 1977 to 1983, she served in the Connecticut Senate.
A Career in the House of Representatives
In 1982, Nancy Johnson was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. This was the beginning of a long career in Washington, D.C., where she would serve for 12 terms.
Winning Elections
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Johnson won her first election to Congress with 52% of the vote. Over the years, she was re-elected many times. Most of her victories were by a large margin, but her 1996 election was very close. She won by just one percent.
In 2002, the boundaries of her voting district were changed. It was combined with another district, which meant she had to run against another sitting congressman, James H. Maloney. Johnson won the election with 54% of the vote.
2006 Re-election Campaign
In 2006, Johnson ran for re-election against Chris Murphy, a Democratic state senator. The campaign was tough, with both sides running ads that attacked the other.
Johnson had raised a lot more money for her campaign than her opponent. However, polls just before the election showed that Murphy was slightly ahead. In the end, Johnson lost the election to Chris Murphy. It was a surprising result, as she had been in Congress for so long. Some people believed that her negative ads against Murphy may have backfired and cost her votes.
Political Views and Key Issues
Johnson was known as a moderate Republican. This means her views were often in the middle, not strictly conservative or liberal. She called herself "an independent voice in Washington."
On social issues, she was often considered moderate or liberal. For example, she was a member of groups like Republicans for Choice. On money-related or economic issues, she was usually more conservative.
One of Johnson's most important issues was health care. She was one of the main authors of the Medicare Part D program. This program helps senior citizens pay for prescription medicines. She also worked on laws related to welfare, helping people keep their health insurance (Medicaid) even if they were receiving government aid.
Committee Work
In Congress, much of the work is done in small groups called committees. In 1988, Johnson became the first Republican woman to join the powerful Ways and Means Committee. This committee is very important because it handles laws about taxes, trade, and social programs like Medicare.
She later became the chairperson of three different subcommittees within the Ways and Means Committee. A subcommittee is a smaller group that focuses on a specific topic.
Life After Congress
After leaving Congress in 2007, Nancy Johnson did not stop working. She became a fellow at Harvard University's Institute of Politics, where she could share her knowledge with students. She also became a co-chair of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, a group that studies public policy.
In 2013, she signed a legal document called an amicus brief that was sent to the Supreme Court. The brief showed her support for same-sex marriage.
Personal Life
Nancy Johnson is married to Dr. Theodore Johnson, a physician. They have three daughters.
See also
- Women in the United States House of Representatives
