Martin, Lynn (1939–)

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Martin, Lynn (1939–)

American politician. Born Judith Lynn Morley, Dec 26, 1939, in Evanston, IL; dau. of Lawrence Morley and Helen (Hall) Morley; University of Illinois, Urbana, BA, 1960; m. John Martin (engineer), 1960 (div. 1978); m. Harry Leinenweber (US district court judge), 1987; children: (1st m.) Julia Martin; Caroline Martin.

US Republican congressional representative and secretary of labor, began career as a teacher; served as member of Winnebago Co. Board (1972–76); was a member of Illinois House of Representatives (1977–79) and Illinois Senate (1979–80); was a delegate to Illinois State Republican Convention (1980); elected to 97th and 4 succeeding Congresses (1981–91); appointed to the influential Budget Committee where she served for 3 Congresses; outspoken, skilled and confident, won election as vice chair of Republican Conference in the House (1984 and 1986), the 1st time a woman had held a position in the congressional Republican Party's hierarchy; delivered vice-presidential nomination speech at national convention (1984); a fiscal conservative but a social moderate, was a supporter of abortion rights and Equal Rights Amendment; stood but was not elected to US Senate (1990); served as secretary of labor under George Bush (1991–93); was professor at J. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University (1993–) and fellow at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.

See also Women in World History.

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