29 Facts About Madeleine Kunin

Madeleine Kunin is a Swiss-born American diplomat, author and politician.

Madeleine Kunin served as the 77th governor of Vermont from 1985 until 1991, as a member of the Democratic Party.

Madeleine Kunin served as United States Ambassador to Switzerland from 1996 to 1999.

Madeleine Kunin was Vermont's first and, to date, only female governor as well as the first Jewish governor of Vermont.

Madeleine Kunin was the first Jewish woman to be elected governor of a US state.

Since 2003, Kunin has been a James Marsh Professor-at-Large at the University of Vermont.

Madeleine Kunin served as the Lieutenant Governor of Vermont from 1979 until 1983.

Madeleine Kunin ran for governor in 1982, but lost to Incumbent Governor Richard Snelling.

Madeleine Kunin was narrowly elected governor in 1984, won reelection in 1986, promptly after being elected by the Vermont General Assembly, and won a third term in 1988.

Since the death of Thomas P Salmon on January 14,2025, Kunin is the oldest living former Governor of Vermont.

Madeleine Kunin was born on September 28,1933, in Zurich, Switzerland, the daughter of Renee and Ferdinand May Her family were German Jews escaped to Switzerland after the Nazi rise.

Madeleine Kunin moved to the United States as a child.

Madeleine Kunin received her bachelor's degree in history from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, a master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, and a master's degree in English from the University of Vermont.

Madeleine Kunin was involved in community activities, particularly in the area of women's rights, children, and literature.

In 1972, Madeleine Kunin was defeated in her bid to join the Burlington Board of Aldermen.

Madeleine Kunin produced various studies in areas such as energy and daycare and made policy recommendations to the Governor and Legislature.

Madeleine Kunin was a frequent speaker statewide during her time as lieutenant governor.

Madeleine Kunin did not run for reelection as lieutenant governor in 1982, instead challenging Snelling for the governorship.

Madeleine Kunin was unsuccessful, but in 1984 Snelling did not run for reelection, and Kunin was the successful Democratic nominee, defeating Republican John J Easton Jr.

Madeleine Kunin's opponents were Republican Peter Plympton Smith and independent Bernie Sanders.

Smith received 38 percent of the vote, Sanders 14 percent, and Madeleine Kunin won with 47 percent of the vote.

Madeleine Kunin is the first woman in US history to have been elected governor of a US state three times.

Madeleine Kunin appointed the first woman to the Vermont Supreme Court and created her state's family court system.

Madeleine Kunin was a member of the administration of President Bill Clinton, serving as deputy secretary of education of the United States from 1993 until 1997 when she became the ambassador to her native Switzerland, as well as to Liechtenstein.

One of the steps taken was the publication of the names of the owners of dormant accounts in Swiss banks, with the surprise result that Renee May, Madeleine Kunin's mother deceased in 1970 was among the names.

Madeleine Kunin is the author of the books Coming of Age: My Journey to the Eighties, The New Feminist Agenda: Defining the Next Revolution for Women, Work, and Family, Pearls, Politics, and Power: How Women Can Win and Lead and Living a Political Life which chronicles her career prior to joining the US Department of Education.

Madeleine Kunin is the mother of four children, including her daughter Julia Madeleine Kunin.

Madeleine Kunin divorced her first husband, the academic Arthur Kunin, in 1995.

In 1995, Madeleine Kunin received the Foreign Language Advocacy Award from the Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages in recognition of her support for education, equal access for all children and equitable salaries for teachers.