Barbara Kennelly | |
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Vice Chairperson of the House Democratic Conference | |
In office January 3, 1995 – January 3, 1999 |
|
Leader | Dick Gephardt |
Preceded by | Vic Fazio |
Succeeded by | Bob Menendez |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Connecticut's 1st district |
|
In office January 12, 1982 – January 3, 1999 |
|
Preceded by | Bill Cotter |
Succeeded by | John Larson |
67th Secretary of the State of Connecticut | |
In office January 5, 1979 – January 12, 1982 |
|
Governor |
Ella Grasso William O'Neill |
Preceded by | Henry Cohn |
Succeeded by | Maura Melley |
Personal details | |
Born |
Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. |
July 10, 1936
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | James Kennelly |
Children | 4 |
Alma mater |
Trinity Washington University Harvard University Trinity College, Connecticut |
Barbara Bailey Kennelly (born July 10, 1936) is a former Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from Connecticut.
Kennelly was born Barbara Ann Bailey in Hartford, Connecticut on July 10, 1936. Her father was long-time Democratic Party leader John M. Bailey.
Kennelly studied at St. Joseph Cathedral School and graduated from Mount St. Joseph Academy in West Hartford in 1954. She earned a B.A. from Trinity College in Washington, D.C. (now Trinity Washington University) in 1958 and a certificate from the Harvard-Radcliffe Program in Business Administration in 1959. In 1971, she earned a master's degree from Trinity College in Connecticut.
Kennelly was married to the late James J. Kennelly, an attorney who served as Speaker of the Connecticut House of Representatives from 1975 to 1979. She has three daughters, one son, and twelve grandchildren.
In 1975, Kennelly was elected to the Hartford Court of Common Council, a position she held until 1979. She served as the Secretary of the State of Connecticut from 1979 until 1982.
Kennelly was elected to Congress in a special election to fill the vacancy caused by the death of William R. Cotter. She represented Connecticut's First Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives for eight terms, from January 12, 1982 until January 3, 1999. During the 98th Congress, Kennelly was appointed to the Ways and Means Committee. She served on the Subcommittees on Human Resources and Select Revenue Measures. Beginning in 1987, she served on the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. During the 103rd Congress, Kennelly became Vice-Chair of the Democratic Caucus.