Susan Molinari
Susan Molinari | |
---|---|
Jennifer Dunn | |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York | |
In office March 20, 1990 – August 2, 1997 | |
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 | |
In office January 1, 1986 – March 20, 1990 | |
Preceded by | Frank Fossella |
Succeeded by | Fred Cerullo |
Personal details | |
Born | New York City, U.S. | March 27, 1958
Political party | Republican |
Spouses |
|
Children | 2 |
Parent | Guy Molinari (father) |
Education | State University of New York, Albany (BA) |
Susan Molinari (born March 27, 1958) is an American politician, company executive, journalist, and lobbyist from New York. A member of the Republican Party, she sat in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1990 to 1997, representing Staten Island for three terms. Molinari, who was considered a rising star in the party, was selected to deliver the keynote address at the 1996 Republican National Convention. However, the next year, she resigned from Congress to become a television journalist for CBS News. Later, she became a vice president for public policy at Google from 2012 to 2018.[1]
Early life, education and early political career
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e9/Reagan_Contact_Sheet_C32360_%28cropped%29.jpg/220px-Reagan_Contact_Sheet_C32360_%28cropped%29.jpg)
Molinari was born in
She graduated from the then SUNY Albany (now called the
Molinari is a member of the Advisory Board for
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
- 1990
On January 1, 1990, her father, incumbent Republican U.S. Representative Guy Molinari, decided to resign in order to become Borough President of Staten Island. She ran for her father's seat in Staten Island-based 14th congressional district. On the eve of the special election, The New York Times endorsed Molinari because she "promises to add a moderate Republican voice to the city's Democratic-dominated congressional delegation". In March 1990, she defeated Robert Gigante 59% to 35%.[4]
- 1992
After redistricting, she ran in New York's 13th congressional district. She won the Republican primary with 75%.[5] In the general election, she defeated NYC Councilmember Sal Albanese 56%–38% and was elected to her first full term.[6]
- 1994
She won re-election to her second full term with 71% of the vote.[7]
- 1996
She won re-election to her third full term with 62% of the vote.[8] She resigned effective August 2, 1997.
Tenure
While in the House of Representatives, Molinari was among the more moderate and liberal members of the Republican Party.
She signed on to the Republicans' 1994
On issues of crime and punishment, she favored extended use of the federal death penalty and other restrictions. Molinari is also remembered for her role as principal sponsor of Federal Rules of Evidence 413-15.[11] As Molinari put it on the House floor in 1994, the rules "strengthen the legal system's tools for bringing the perpetrators of these atrocious crimes to justice."[12]
In her autobiography she intimated that the tense ideological atmosphere within the Republican Party after they won majority in the House and Georgian Newt Gingrich became Speaker contributed to her unease. Molinari gave the keynote speech at the 1996 Republican National Convention, but resigned from the House in June 1997 to take a job as a television journalist for CBS.[13]
Committee assignments
When first elected, she received assignments on the
She was vice chairwoman of the Republican Conference and Republican Policy Committee.[15][16]
Post-congressional career
Journalism
At
Molinari announced she was pregnant at the end of her nine-month run at CBS. Her second child was born in late January 1999.[17]
Molinari later hosted a public affairs show called The Flipside and has been a frequent guest commentator on major political talk shows.[18]
Lobbying and consulting
After a stint as a
Molinari joined the law and public policy firm
Molinari supports the Rape Abuse and Incest National Network (
Molinari also serves as Chair of
Political activities
Although she has maintained a public face, Molinari's subsequent political activities have been largely behind the scenes. She supported
Molinari did not seek elected office in 2006, bucking speculation that she would run against Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton. She served as an adviser to former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani's (R) 2008 presidential campaign. There was early speculation she might consider running for mayor of New York City in 2009, but she never did. In January 2010, Molinari confirmed that she was seriously considering a Senate bid against U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, before issuing a public statement three days later saying that she had decided not to run.
In 2013 Molinari was a signatory to an amicus curiae brief submitted to the Supreme Court in support of same-sex marriage during the Hollingsworth v. Perry case.[21]
In 2020, it was announced that she would speak at the 2020 Democratic National Convention in support of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, becoming one of two one-time U.S. political party convention keynote speakers, along with Zell Miller, to speak at a convention for the opposite party.[22]
Molinari is also a member of the Atlantic Council's[23] Board of Directors.
Personal life
Molinari married fellow U.S. Representative Bill Paxon on July 3, 1994, after having previously been married to John Lucchesi. She and Paxon have two daughters, and reside in Alexandria, Virginia as of 2006[update].[24]
See also
References
- ^ Benner, Katie; Kang, Cecilia; Wakabayashi, Daisuke (November 2, 2018). "Senior Google Lobbyist Is Stepping Down From Her Role". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ "MOLINARI, Susan, (1958– )". congress.gov. Retrieved September 13, 2010.
- ^ "Global Threat Assessment 2018". WeProtect. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - NY District 14 Special Race - Mar 20, 1990". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - NY District 13 - R Primary Race - Sep 15, 1992". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - NY District 13 Race - Nov 03, 1992". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - NY District 13 Race - Nov 08, 1994". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - NY District 13 Race - Nov 05, 1996". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
- ^ "CNN.com - Transcripts". transcripts.cnn.com. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
- ^ Levy, Clifford J. (September 27, 1994). "New York Looks to S. I. Site to Revive Port (Published 1994)" – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ George Fisher, Evidence at 219 (3d ed. 2013).
- ^ Id.
- ISBN 9780385492201.
- ^ "Women in Congress - Susan Molinari, Representative from New York". Archived from the original on June 18, 2012. Retrieved June 20, 2012.
- ^ Hall, Mimi (December 27, 1994). "Republican women: A 'contrast' with America // 'Militant-type' feminism is out, newest members say". USA Today.
- ^ "The Buffalo News". nl.newsbank.com. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
- ^ Douglas Feiden (January 30, 1999). "2nd Baby for Molinari, Paxton". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on August 15, 2011.
- ^ "Susan Molinari -". Archives of Women's Political Communication. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
- ^ Judy Sarasohn (October 4, 2001). "Molinari Joins the Washington Group". Washington Post.
- ^ "MyWay". apnews.myway.com. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
- ^ Avlon, John (February 28, 2013). "The Pro-Freedom Republicans Are Coming: 131 Sign Gay Marriage Brief". The Daily Beast. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
- ^ Gillman, Todd J. (August 17, 2020). "Dems add more anti-Trump Republicans to Monday night convention lineup in bid to pick off GOP votes". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
- ^ "Board of Directors". Atlantic Council. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
- ^ "MOLINARI, Susan - US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives". history.house.gov. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
External links
- United States Congress. "Susan Molinari (id: M000843)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Appearances on C-SPAN