Lindy Boggs
Encyclopedia
Marie Corinne Morrison Claiborne Boggs, usually known as Lindy Boggs (born March 13, 1916), is a United States
political figure who served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and later as ambassador to the Vatican
. She was the first woman elected to Congress from Louisiana
. She was also a permanent chairwoman of the 1976 Democratic National Convention
, which made her the first female to preside over a major party convention.
She is the widow of former House Majority Leader Hale Boggs
, and the mother of three children: Cokie Roberts
(a television news commentator), Thomas Hale Boggs, Jr.
, (a prominent lobbyist), and the late Barbara Boggs Sigmund
, a mayor of Princeton, New Jersey
, and a candidate in the 1982 New Jersey Democratic senatorial primary election. No woman has served in the House from Louisiana since Boggs left office.
in Pointe Coupee Parish. She attended Newcomb College at Tulane University
in New Orleans. She was a second cousin of the late New Orleans Mayor and Ambassador to the Organization of American States
, DeLesseps Story "Chep" Morrison, Sr., who for a time was also her husband's law partner.
Boggs first took office in 1973, after the presumed death of her husband from a plane crash. The first bill that the House passed that year, House Resolution 1, officially recognized Hale Boggs's death, opening the door for a special election, which Lindy Boggs won, running as a Democrat in the New Orleans-based 2nd District.
She was elected to a full term in 1974 with 82 percent of the vote and was reelected seven times thereafter, leaving office in January 1991. In 1980, she faced the Republican
Rob Couhig
, an attorney-businessman who raised some $200,000 for the race, a large amount at that time for a challenger in a difficult district. Lindy Boggs still prevailed, 45,091 votes (63.8 percent) to Couhig's 25,512 (36.2 percent). Otherwise, Boggs polled more than 80 percent in her contested races. In her four final campaigns, she ran without opposition even though the district had been redrawn with an African American
majority following the 1980 United States Census
. In 1994, Boggs was inducted into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame
in Winnfield
, one year after her late husband had been among the original thirteen inductees.
In 1997, President
Bill Clinton
appointed her official U.S. ambassador to the Holy See
, a position she held until 2001.
In 2005, Boggs's home on Bourbon Street
in New Orleans' French Quarter suffered moderate wind damage from Hurricane Katrina
. In 2006, she was awarded the Congressional Distinguished Service Award for her time in the House of Representatives.
Boggs is a member of Sigma Gamma Rho
, one of the four traditionally African-American sororities in the United States.
Tulane's Boggs Center for Energy and Biotechnology building is named in honor of her.
Tyler, Pamela. "Silk Stockings & Ballot Boxes: Women & Politics in New Orleans, 1920 - 1965". University of Georgia Press, 1996.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
political figure who served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives and later as ambassador to the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
. She was the first woman elected to Congress from Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. She was also a permanent chairwoman of the 1976 Democratic National Convention
1976 Democratic National Convention
The 1976 Democratic National Convention met at Madison Square Garden in New York City, from July 12 to July 15, 1976. The assembled United States Democratic Party delegates at the convention nominated Governor Jimmy Carter of Georgia for President and Senator Walter Mondale of Minnesota for Vice...
, which made her the first female to preside over a major party convention.
She is the widow of former House Majority Leader Hale Boggs
Hale Boggs
Thomas Hale Boggs Sr. , was an American Democratic politician and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Orleans, Louisiana...
, and the mother of three children: Cokie Roberts
Cokie Roberts
Mary Martha Corinne Morrison Claiborne Roberts , best known as Cokie Roberts, is an American Emmy Award-winning journalist and bestselling author. She is a contributing senior news analyst for National Public Radio as well as a regular roundtable analyst for the current This Week with Christiane...
(a television news commentator), Thomas Hale Boggs, Jr.
Thomas Hale Boggs, Jr.
Thomas Hale Boggs, Jr. , is an American lawyer and lobbyist, based in Washington, D.C.Boggs is the son of the late Thomas Hale Boggs , a United States Representative from Louisiana from 1941–43 and again from 1947 until his death in 1972, and Lindy Boggs , a United States Representative from...
, (a prominent lobbyist), and the late Barbara Boggs Sigmund
Barbara Boggs Sigmund
Barbara Boggs Sigmund was a daughter of the powerful Democratic United States Representative Hale Boggs of Louisiana, and Lindy Boggs, who became a Congresswoman from Louisiana after her husband Hale died in an air crash....
, a mayor of Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
, and a candidate in the 1982 New Jersey Democratic senatorial primary election. No woman has served in the House from Louisiana since Boggs left office.
Life
Boggs was born in Brunswick Plantation, near New RoadsNew Roads, Louisiana
New Roads is a city in and the parish seat of Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, United States. The center of population of Louisiana is located in New Roads . The population was 4,996 at the 2000 census. The city's ZIP code is 70760...
in Pointe Coupee Parish. She attended Newcomb College at Tulane University
Tulane University
Tulane University is a private, nonsectarian research university located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States...
in New Orleans. She was a second cousin of the late New Orleans Mayor and Ambassador to the Organization of American States
Organization of American States
The Organization of American States is a regional international organization, headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States...
, DeLesseps Story "Chep" Morrison, Sr., who for a time was also her husband's law partner.
Boggs first took office in 1973, after the presumed death of her husband from a plane crash. The first bill that the House passed that year, House Resolution 1, officially recognized Hale Boggs's death, opening the door for a special election, which Lindy Boggs won, running as a Democrat in the New Orleans-based 2nd District.
She was elected to a full term in 1974 with 82 percent of the vote and was reelected seven times thereafter, leaving office in January 1991. In 1980, she faced the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Rob Couhig
Rob Couhig
Robert Emmet Couhig, Jr., known as Rob Couhig , is an attorney, businessman, entrepreneur, Republican political activist, and a former radio talk show host from New Orleans, Louisiana. His last political foray was into the 2010 New Orleans mayoral election.A former partner of the Adams and Reese...
, an attorney-businessman who raised some $200,000 for the race, a large amount at that time for a challenger in a difficult district. Lindy Boggs still prevailed, 45,091 votes (63.8 percent) to Couhig's 25,512 (36.2 percent). Otherwise, Boggs polled more than 80 percent in her contested races. In her four final campaigns, she ran without opposition even though the district had been redrawn with an African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
majority following the 1980 United States Census
United States Census
The United States Census is a decennial census mandated by the United States Constitution. The population is enumerated every 10 years and the results are used to allocate Congressional seats , electoral votes, and government program funding. The United States Census Bureau The United States Census...
. In 1994, Boggs was inducted into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame
Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame
The Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame in Winnfield, Louisiana, highlights the careers of more than a hundred of the state’s leading politicians and political journalists. Because three governors, Huey P. Long, Jr., Oscar K...
in Winnfield
Winnfield, Louisiana
Winnfield is a city in and the parish seat of Winn Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 5,749 at the 2000 census. It has long been associated with the Long faction of the Louisiana Democratic Party and was home to three governors of Louisiana.-Geography:Winnfield is located at ...
, one year after her late husband had been among the original thirteen inductees.
In 1997, President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
appointed her official U.S. ambassador to the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
, a position she held until 2001.
In 2005, Boggs's home on Bourbon Street
Bourbon Street
Bourbon Street is a famous and historic street that spans the length of the French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana. When founded in 1718, the city was originally centered around the French Quarter...
in New Orleans' French Quarter suffered moderate wind damage from Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
. In 2006, she was awarded the Congressional Distinguished Service Award for her time in the House of Representatives.
Boggs is a member of Sigma Gamma Rho
Sigma Gamma Rho
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. was founded on the campus of Butler University on November 12, 1922, by seven school teachers in Indianapolis, Indiana...
, one of the four traditionally African-American sororities in the United States.
Tulane's Boggs Center for Energy and Biotechnology building is named in honor of her.
External links
- Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame
- Oral History Interview with Lindy Boggs from Oral Histories of the American South
Further reading
- Boggs, Lindy, with Katherine Hatch. Washington Through a Purple Veil: Memoirs of a Southern Woman. New York: Harcourt Brace and Co., 1994
- Ferrell, Thomas H., and Judith Haydel. “Hale and Lindy Boggs: Louisiana’s National Democrats.” Louisiana History 35 (Fall 1994): 389–402.
Tyler, Pamela. "Silk Stockings & Ballot Boxes: Women & Politics in New Orleans, 1920 - 1965". University of Georgia Press, 1996.
- Carrick, Bess. "Lindy Boggs: Steel and Velvet". Documentary film chronicles Mrs. Boggs' career in politics and features Cokie & Steve Roberts, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Rep. John Lewis, former House Speaker Tom Foley, and scholars, Dr. Patrick Maney, & Dr. Pamela Tyler. Produced by Bess Carrick with Louisiana Public Broadcasting, 2006. Airdate 2006–present, nationwide via PBS-Plus.