15 Facts About Jocelyn Burdick

Jocelyn Louise Burdick was an American politician from North Dakota who briefly served as a member of the United States Senate in 1992.

Jocelyn Burdick was the first woman from the state to hold this office.

Jocelyn Burdick's great-grandmother was suffragist and abolitionist Matilda Joslyn Gage.

Jocelyn Burdick was educated at Principia College and at Northwestern University.

Jocelyn Burdick was engaged in civics throughout her marriage to Quentin Jocelyn Burdick.

Jocelyn Burdick was part of the official US delegation to Russia in 1978 and she was a trustee to the Lake Agassiz Arts Council.

Jocelyn Burdick helped to found the Democratic Women Plus in the early 1980s.

Jocelyn Burdick recorded public service announcements against drunk driving and drug use in 1989.

Jocelyn Burdick had been reluctant to fill the vacancy, but agreed to do it for the opportunity to cast some votes her husband would have wanted.

Jocelyn Burdick did not run as a candidate for election to the rest of the term.

Jocelyn Burdick was the first woman from North Dakota to serve in either house of the US Congress.

Jocelyn Burdick lived in Fargo, where she remained active in politics.

Jocelyn Burdick had two children, daughter Leslie and son Birch, with Peterson.

Two years later she married Quentin Jocelyn Burdick, who was a widower himself with four children.

Jocelyn Burdick died in Fargo on December 26,2019, at the age of 97.