December 12, 2013 – 7 p.m. – Eberhard Center, GVSU

 

In this timely call to action, Senator Olympia Snowe explored the roots of her belief in principled policy-making and bipartisan compromise. A leading moderate with a reputation for crossing the aisle, she proposed solutions for bridging the partisan divide in Washington, most notably through a citizens’ movement to hold elected officials accountable. Senator Snowe recounted how the tragedies and triumphs of her personal story helped shape her political approach .This event was in partnership with the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation and Library & Museum.

 

Biography

Olympia J. Snowe, born Olympia Jean Bouchles, hails from Augusta, Maine. She attended St. Basil’s Academy and graduated from Edward Little High School in Auburn. In 1969, she earned her degree in political science from the
University of Maine.

Sen. Snowe represented Maine’s Second Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives for sixteen years. Following her 1994 election, Sen. Snowe became the second woman senator to represent Maine. She was reelected twice, and in her third term won with 75 percent of the vote.

She is the fourth woman in history to be elected to both houses of her state legislature. She is also the first woman in history to serve in both houses of state legislature and in
both houses of the United States Congress. When she was elected to Congress, she became the first Greek-­American woman, and the youngest Republican woman, ever to take office. She is known for crossing the aisle with a strong ability to compromise and promote bipartisanship.