Barbara Vucanovich
Barbara Vucanovich | |
---|---|
Jim Gibbons | |
Personal details | |
Born | Barbara Farrell June 22, 1921 Camp Dix, New Jersey, U.S. |
Died | June 10, 2013 Reno, Nevada, U.S. | (aged 91)
Political party | Republican |
Spouses | Henry Bugden
(m. 1939; div. 1949)Kenneth Dillon
(m. 1950; died 1964)George Vucanovich
(m. 1965; died 1998) |
Children | 5 |
Education | Manhattanville College |
Barbara Farrell Vucanovich (June 22, 1921 – June 10, 2013) was an American Republican politician who was the first Latina elected to the United States House of Representatives, in which she served representing Nevada from 1983 to 1997.
Background
Vucanovich was born in
Vucanovich grew up in the capital city of
Political career
Vucanovich's second husband, Ken Dillon, introduced her to Nevada Republican politics in the 1950s, when the party was slowly building after decades of minority status. Dillon introduced her to
She won her first term with the slogan, "What Congress needs is a tough grandmother."
Vucanovich served for many years on the House Interior Committee, of which she eventually became the ranking Republican on the Mining and Minerals Subcommittee. She also served on the
She launched a campaign to become
Vucanovich positioned herself early in her House career as a conservative leader, having aligned herself with a group of members such as Newt Gingrich,
Retirement
After her retirement from elected office, Vucanovich continued to work in politics, mainly serving on external committees. Her daughter,
Death
Vucanovich died twelve days before her 92nd birthday on June 10, 2013.[4]
Governor Brian Sandoval paid tribute to Vucanovich, whom he likened to Margaret Thatcher, "the Iron Lady" of Great Britain:
Barbara Vucanovich was the matriarch of her political generation ... Nevada's "Silver Lady". ... First and foremost, however, Barbara was a wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Her family was always her priority, even as she served the entire Nevada family in the United States Congress.[3]
See also
- List of Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States Congress
- Women in the United States House of Representatives
References
- ^ a b Patricia D. Cafferata (2005). Barbara F. Vucanovich. University of Nevada Press. pp. 1–26, 153–231.
- ^ Hoffa, John (April 2007). "A Guide to the George J. Vucanoich Papers" (PDF). Reno, NV: Nevada Historical Society. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Barbara Vucanovich". legacy.com. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
- ^ Notice of death of Barbara Vucanovich, rgj.com; accessed April 28, 2014.
External links
- United States Congress. "Barbara Vucanovich (id: V000124)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- A Guide to the Records of Barbara Vucanovich, collection 1, collection 2, Special Collections, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Reno.
- Appearances on C-SPAN