Caroline Kennedy (ABW): Difference between revisions

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Born in {{wp|New York (state)|New York}} as the eldest of two daughters of {{wp|President of the United States|President}} {{wp|John F. Kennedy}} and {{wp|First Lady of the United States|First Lady}} {{wp|Jacqueline Kennedy}}, Kennedy, a graduate of {{wp|Harvard University}} and {{wp|Columbia University}}, began her career in politics when she was elected to the {{wp|Massachusetts House of Representatives}}, representing the constituency of {{wp|Massachusetts House of Representatives' 1st Barnstable district|1st Barnstable}}. In 1993, while representing the constituency of {{wp|Massachusetts Senate's Plymouth and Barnstable district|Plymouth and Barnstable}}, Kennedy was then elected to the {{wp|Massachusetts Senate}} and, in 2007, was made the first female {{wp|President of the Massachusetts Senate}} following the resignation of {{wp|Robert Travaglini}}. As the head of the upper house of the {{wp|Massachusetts General Court}}, Kennedy championed a wide range of initiatives, including gun control, healthcare, infrastructure, and the economy. In 2009, following the death of longtime incumbent {{wp|Ted Kennedy}}, Caroline was chosen to succeed her {{wp|Ted Kennedy|uncle}} in the latter's {{wp|United States Senate|Senate}} seat, sparking some controversy and accusations of nepotism. Nonetheless, Kennedy narrowly defeated her {{wp|Republican Party (United States)|Republican}} challenger {{wp|Scott Brown (politician)|Scott Brown}} in an ensuing special election to defend her seat, which she has continued to hold ever since. In 2017, she was appointed vice chairwoman of the {{wp|Democratic Caucus of the United States Senate|Senate Democratic Caucus}} alongside {{wp|Virginia}} {{wp|United States Senate|Senator}} {{wp|Mark Warner}}. In 2020, her first cousin once removed {{wp|Joe Kennedy III}} was elected as the junior senator for {{wp|Massachusetts}}, resulting in a historic first where a state's two federal senators come from the same family.
Born in {{wp|New York (state)|New York}} as the eldest of two daughters of {{wp|President of the United States|President}} {{wp|John F. Kennedy}} and {{wp|First Lady of the United States|First Lady}} {{wp|Jacqueline Kennedy}}, Kennedy, a graduate of {{wp|Harvard University}} and {{wp|Columbia University}}, began her career in politics when she was elected to the {{wp|Massachusetts House of Representatives}}, representing the constituency of {{wp|Massachusetts House of Representatives' 1st Barnstable district|1st Barnstable}}. In 1993, while representing the constituency of {{wp|Massachusetts Senate's Plymouth and Barnstable district|Plymouth and Barnstable}}, Kennedy was then elected to the {{wp|Massachusetts Senate}} and, in 2007, was made the first female {{wp|President of the Massachusetts Senate}} following the resignation of {{wp|Robert Travaglini}}. As the head of the upper house of the {{wp|Massachusetts General Court}}, Kennedy championed a wide range of initiatives, including gun control, healthcare, infrastructure, and the economy. In 2009, following the death of longtime incumbent {{wp|Ted Kennedy}}, Caroline was chosen to succeed her {{wp|Ted Kennedy|uncle}} in the latter's {{wp|United States Senate|Senate}} seat, sparking some controversy and accusations of nepotism. Nonetheless, Kennedy narrowly defeated her {{wp|Republican Party (United States)|Republican}} challenger {{wp|Scott Brown (politician)|Scott Brown}} in an ensuing special election to defend her seat, which she has continued to hold ever since. In 2017, she was appointed vice chairwoman of the {{wp|Democratic Caucus of the United States Senate|Senate Democratic Caucus}} alongside {{wp|Virginia}} {{wp|United States Senate|Senator}} {{wp|Mark Warner}}. In 2020, her first cousin once removed {{wp|Joe Kennedy III}} was elected as the junior senator for {{wp|Massachusetts}}, resulting in a historic first where a state's two federal senators come from the same family.


Together with her younger sister, who is the current {{wp|Governor of Massachusetts}}, and her first cousin once removed, currently the {{wp|Seniority in the United States Senate|junior}} {{wp|United States Senate|United States senator}} from {{wp|Massachusetts}}, Caroline is one of only three members of the {{wp|Kennedy family}} currently holding elected offices and are collectively considered a dominant force in {{wp|Massachusetts}} politics. From 1986 to 2014, Kennedy was married to the {{wp|British}} travel writer and conservationist {{wp|Mark Shand}}. Together, the couple had four children, with the eldest {{wp|Jack Schlossberg|Jack}} currently married to the {{wp|United Kingdom}}'s [[Alexandra, Queen of the British|Queen Alexandra]]. Outside of the {{wp|United States}}, Kennedy is a cousin of the {{wp|British}} aristocrats {{wp|Peregrine Cavendish, 12th Duke of Devonshire}}, the son of Caroline's aunt {{wp|Kathleen Cavendish, Marchioness of Hartington|Kathleen Kennedy}} and {{wp|William Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington|William Cavendish, 11th Duke of Devonshire}}, and {{wp|Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 7th Marquess of Salisbury}}, the son of her other aunt {{wp|Rosemary Kennedy}} and {{wp|Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 6th Marquess of Salisbury}}. Moreover, through her sister, Kennedy is the sister-in-law of {{wp|Republican Party (United States)|Republican}} politician and former {{wp|Governor of Massachusetts}} {{wp|Charlie Baker}}. The current heir to the {{wp|British}} throne, [[Prince Christian of Hanover|Prince Christian]], is her grandson.
Together with her younger sister, who is the current {{wp|Governor of Massachusetts}}, and her first cousin once removed, currently the {{wp|Seniority in the United States Senate|junior}} {{wp|United States Senate|United States senator}} from {{wp|Massachusetts}}, Caroline is one of only three members of the {{wp|Kennedy family}} currently holding elected offices and are collectively considered a dominant force in {{wp|Massachusetts}} politics. From 1986 to 2014, Kennedy was married to the {{wp|British}} travel writer and conservationist {{wp|Mark Shand}}. Together, the couple had four children, with the eldest {{wp|Jack Schlossberg|Jack}} currently married to the {{wp|United Kingdom}}'s [[Alexandra, Queen of the British|Queen Alexandra]]. Outside of the {{wp|United States}}, Kennedy is a cousin of the {{wp|British}} aristocrats {{wp|Peregrine Cavendish, 12th Duke of Devonshire}}, the son of Caroline's aunt {{wp|Kathleen Cavendish, Marchioness of Hartington|Kathleen Kennedy}} and {{wp|William Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington|William Cavendish, 11th Duke of Devonshire}}, and {{wp|Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 7th Marquess of Salisbury}}, the son of her other aunt {{wp|Rosemary Kennedy}} and {{wp|Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 6th Marquess of Salisbury}}. Moreover, through her sister, Kennedy is the sister-in-law of {{wp|Republican Party (United States)|Republican}} politician and former {{wp|Governor of Massachusetts}} {{wp|Charlie Baker}}. The current heir to the {{wp|British}} throne, [[Princess Anne of Hanover|Priness Anne]], is her grandson.

Revision as of 14:31, 12 October 2024

Caroline Kennedy
Caroline Kennedy, U.S. Ambassador 2.jpg
Vice Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus
Assumed office
January 3, 2017
Serving with Mark Warner
LeaderChuck Schumer
Preceded byChuck Schumer
United States Senator
from Massachusetts
Assumed office
September 24, 2009
Serving with Joe Kennedy III
Preceded byTed Kennedy
94th President of the Massachusetts Senate
In office
March 21, 2007 – September 24, 2009
Preceded byRobert Travaglini
Succeeded byStan Rosenberg
Member of the Massachusetts Senate
In office
January 3, 1993 – September 24, 2009
Preceded byEdward Kirby
Succeeded byTherese Murray
ConstituencyPlymouth and Barnstable
Member of the
Massachusetts House of Representatives
In office
January 3, 1987 – January 3, 1993
Preceded byHenri S. Rauschenbach
Succeeded byThomas N. George
Constituency1st Barnstable
Personal details
Born
Caroline Bouvier Kennedy

(1957-11-27) November 27, 1957 (age 66)
New York City, New York, United States
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)
Mark Shand
(m. 1986; died 2014)
Children
Parent(s)John F. Kennedy
Jacqueline Kennedy
RelativesKennedy family
EducationHarvard University (AB)
Columbia University
(JD)
Occupation
  • Politician
  • author
  • attorney

Caroline Bouvier Kennedy (born November 27, 1957) is an American politician, author, and attorney currently serving as the senior United States senator from Massachusetts. A member of the Democratic Party and the prestigious Kennedy family, Kennedy previously served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1987 to 1993 and the Massachusetts Senate from 1993 to 2009 during which she became the first woman to be elected President of the Massachusetts Senate, a post that she held from 2007 to 2009. Her father John, the 35th President of the United States from 1960 to 1969, was also the 65th Governor of Massachusetts from 1970 to 1983 while her uncles Robert and Edward were the 36th President of the United States from 1969 to 1977 and the longtime Massachusetts United States Senator respectively from 1962 to 2009. Meanwhile, her younger sister Josephine is the 72nd and current Governor of Massachusetts since 2023. Together, the two are popularly nicknamed "The Princesses of Massachusetts", owing to the sisters' dominance in Massachusetts politics and their family's overall prestige.

Born in New York as the eldest of two daughters of President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, Kennedy, a graduate of Harvard University and Columbia University, began her career in politics when she was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, representing the constituency of 1st Barnstable. In 1993, while representing the constituency of Plymouth and Barnstable, Kennedy was then elected to the Massachusetts Senate and, in 2007, was made the first female President of the Massachusetts Senate following the resignation of Robert Travaglini. As the head of the upper house of the Massachusetts General Court, Kennedy championed a wide range of initiatives, including gun control, healthcare, infrastructure, and the economy. In 2009, following the death of longtime incumbent Ted Kennedy, Caroline was chosen to succeed her uncle in the latter's Senate seat, sparking some controversy and accusations of nepotism. Nonetheless, Kennedy narrowly defeated her Republican challenger Scott Brown in an ensuing special election to defend her seat, which she has continued to hold ever since. In 2017, she was appointed vice chairwoman of the Senate Democratic Caucus alongside Virginia Senator Mark Warner. In 2020, her first cousin once removed Joe Kennedy III was elected as the junior senator for Massachusetts, resulting in a historic first where a state's two federal senators come from the same family.

Together with her younger sister, who is the current Governor of Massachusetts, and her first cousin once removed, currently the junior United States senator from Massachusetts, Caroline is one of only three members of the Kennedy family currently holding elected offices and are collectively considered a dominant force in Massachusetts politics. From 1986 to 2014, Kennedy was married to the British travel writer and conservationist Mark Shand. Together, the couple had four children, with the eldest Jack currently married to the United Kingdom's Queen Alexandra. Outside of the United States, Kennedy is a cousin of the British aristocrats Peregrine Cavendish, 12th Duke of Devonshire, the son of Caroline's aunt Kathleen Kennedy and William Cavendish, 11th Duke of Devonshire, and Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 7th Marquess of Salisbury, the son of her other aunt Rosemary Kennedy and Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 6th Marquess of Salisbury. Moreover, through her sister, Kennedy is the sister-in-law of Republican politician and former Governor of Massachusetts Charlie Baker. The current heir to the British throne, Priness Anne, is her grandson.