Susan Molinari facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Susan Molinari
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| Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference | |
| In office January 3, 1995 – July 17, 1997 |
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| Leader | Newt Gingrich |
| Preceded by | Bill McCollum |
| Succeeded by | Jennifer Dunn |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York |
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| In office March 20, 1990 – August 2, 1997 |
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| Preceded by | Guy Molinari |
| Succeeded by | Vito Fossella |
| Constituency | 14th district (1990–1993) 13th district (1993–1997) |
| Member of the New York City Council from the 1st district |
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| In office January 1, 1986 – March 20, 1990 |
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| Preceded by | Frank Fossella |
| Succeeded by | Fred Cerullo |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 27, 1958 New York City, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses |
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| Children | 2 |
| Parent | Guy Molinari (father) |
| Education | State University of New York, Albany (BA) |
Susan Molinari (born March 27, 1958) is an American who has worked in many important roles. She has been a politician, a company leader, a journalist, and a lobbyist. A lobbyist is someone who tries to influence government decisions.
Molinari is a member of the Republican Party. She served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1990 to 1997. She represented Staten Island in New York for three terms. Many people saw Molinari as a rising star in her party. She was chosen to give a major speech at the 1996 Republican National Convention. This is a big meeting where the party chooses its candidate for president.
In 1997, she left Congress to become a television journalist for CBS News. Later, from 2012 to 2018, she worked as a vice president for public policy at Google. This role involved helping Google work with governments and the public.
Contents
Early Life and Education
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Susan Molinari was born in Staten Island, New York. Her father, Guy Molinari, was a lawyer and a Republican politician. Her grandfather, S. Robert Molinari, was also a politician.
She went to the University at Albany, The State University of New York. After college, she started her political career.
Starting Her Political Journey
Before joining the U.S. House of Representatives, Susan Molinari served on the New York City Council. This is a group of elected officials who make laws for New York City.
In 1990, her father, Guy Molinari, left his seat in Congress. He became the Borough President of Staten Island. Susan Molinari then ran in a special election to take his place. She won this election as a Republican.
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives
Susan Molinari was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1990 to 1997. This is part of the U.S. Congress, where laws are made for the whole country.
How She Was Elected
1990 Election
In March 1990, Susan Molinari won a special election. She ran for her father's old seat in the 14th congressional district of New York. She won with 59% of the votes.
1992 Election
After some changes to the district maps, she ran in the 13th congressional district. She won the Republican primary election with 75% of the votes. Then, she won the main election with 56% of the votes. This was her first full term in Congress.
1994 and 1996 Elections
She was re-elected for her second full term in 1994, winning 71% of the vote. In 1996, she was re-elected for her third full term with 62% of the vote. She left Congress on August 2, 1997.
What She Did in Congress
While in the House of Representatives, Molinari was known as a more moderate Republican. This means she sometimes agreed with Democrats on certain issues.
She supported the Republicans' 1994 plan called the "Contract with America." This plan aimed to balance the national budget. She also voted for the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). This law helps workers take time off for family or medical reasons without losing their jobs.
Molinari also worked on issues related to crime. She supported stricter laws and the use of the federal death penalty. She was a main supporter of new rules that helped bring people who committed serious crimes to justice.
She gave a very important speech at the 1996 Republican National Convention. However, she later felt uncomfortable with some of the strong disagreements within the Republican Party. In June 1997, she decided to leave Congress. She took a job as a television journalist for CBS.
Her Committee Work
When she first joined Congress, Molinari worked on the Small Business Committee and the Public Works committees. These committees deal with issues like small businesses and public buildings or roads.
Later, she joined the Education and Labor Committee. This committee focuses on schools and jobs. When Republicans gained more control in Congress in 1995, she moved to the House Budget Committee. This committee works on the government's spending plans.
She also held leadership roles as vice chairwoman of the Republican Conference and the Republican Policy Committee.
After Congress: New Careers
Working as a Journalist
At CBS, Susan Molinari was a co-host for the news show CBS This Morning. She worked there for about nine months. Her hiring caused some discussion because she was a politician, not a trained journalist. People wondered if she could be fair and unbiased.
After leaving CBS, Molinari hosted a show called The Flipside. She also often appeared as a guest on political talk shows.
Lobbying and Consulting
After her time in journalism, Molinari became a lobbyist. She joined a lobbying firm called the Washington Group in 2001. She became its president and chief executive.
Later, she joined a law and public policy firm called Bracewell & Giuliani in 2008. She worked as a senior principal there. She also led Ketchum Public Affairs, another firm that helps organizations connect with the government.
Political Activities After Congress
Even after leaving Congress, Molinari stayed involved in politics behind the scenes. She supported George W. Bush in his presidential election in 2000. However, she also joined a group called the Republican Unity Coalition. This group disagreed with Bush's idea to ban gay marriage in the U.S. Constitution.
In 2006, some people thought she might run for Senate against Hillary Clinton, but she did not. She also advised former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani during his 2008 presidential campaign for president.
In 2013, Molinari supported same-sex marriage in a Supreme Court case. In 2020, she spoke at the 2020 Democratic National Convention. This was unusual because she had given a keynote speech for the Republican Party before. She spoke in support of the Democratic presidential candidate, Joe Biden.
Molinari is also a member of the Atlantic Council's Board of Directors. This group works on international affairs.
Personal Life
Susan Molinari married Bill Paxon on July 3, 1994. He was also a U.S. Representative. Before that, she was married to John Lucchesi. Susan and Bill have two daughters. As of 2006, they live in Alexandria, Virginia.
See also
- Women in the United States House of Representatives
