Barbara Vucanovich
Encyclopedia
Barbara Farrell Vucanovich (born June 22, 1921) is a American
Republican
politician
, the first woman to represent Nevada
in the United States House of Representatives
, where she served from 1983 to 1997.
. Her father was Thomas Farrell, of Irish
ancestry from Troy, New York
; between the wars he was chief engineer for the New York State Department of Public Works, and during World War II
rejoined the Army
to become Deputy Commanding General of the Manhattan Project
. Her mother, Maria Ynez White, was of English
and Hispanic ancestry from Southern California
. Barbara grew up in Albany, New York
and attended a private, all-girls school. She received her college education from Manhattanville College
. She married James Henry Bugden at the age of 18, but became separated when her husband was assigned overseas during the war. She was employed by several New York businesses during the 1940s. In 1949 she moved to Reno, Nevada
and obtained a divorce. She married Kenneth Dillon in 1950, a founding partner in the law firm Vargas, Dillon, and Bartlett. She became a widow on Dillon's death in 1964. She married George Vucanovich in 1965; she met George while working on Paul Laxalt
's campaign.
. After working on Laxalt's gubernatorial campaigns and his razor close win over Harry Reid in 1974, Vucanovich was hired as the district director for the newly elected Senator.
When Nevada earned a new congressional district after the 1980 Census, Laxalt urged Vucanovich to run. She won handily and served in Congress from 1983 until her retirement in 1997. She only faced serious opposition once, in 1992.
Shortly after taking office in 1983 she was diagnosed and had surgery for breast cancer. Vucanovich served for many years on the House Interior Committee, where she eventually became the ranking Republican on the Mining and Minerals Subcommittee. She also served on the House Administration Committee until her appointment in 1991 to the Appropriations Committee. She became Chairman of the Subcommittee on Military Construction when the Republicans gained control of the House of Representatives in 1995.
She launched a campaign to become Secretary of the Republican Conference shortly after Congressman Bob Michel announced he would not seek another term, creating several vacancies in Republican leadership as Newt Gingrich
and others jockied for higher positions in leadership. Despite having been a member of the Conservative Opportunity Society, a group led by Newt Gingrich
with the goal of achieving Republican control of the House of Representatives, she faced serious opposition in her leadership bid from a freshman member from Arkansas. She prevailed in a close contest for Secretary after a rousing nomination speech by Congressman Henry Hyde
of Illinois a good friend and ally in their shared opposition to abortion.
Vucanovich positioned herself early in her House career as a conservative leader, aligning herself with a group of Members including, Newt Gingrich, Bob Walker
, and Vin Weber
who were not content with minority status. She helped draft two of the ten bills that were part of the Contract with America
. She served on the Presidential Debate Commission from 1987 to 1997.
Her daughter, Patricia Dillon Cafferata, has served as Nevada State Treasurer
and as District Attorney in three Nevada counties, and is also Vucanovich's biographer.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, the first woman to represent Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, where she served from 1983 to 1997.
Background
Vucanovich was born in Camp Dix, New JerseyNew Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. Her father was Thomas Farrell, of Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
ancestry from Troy, New York
Troy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
; between the wars he was chief engineer for the New York State Department of Public Works, and during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
rejoined the Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
to become Deputy Commanding General of the Manhattan Project
Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project was a research and development program, led by the United States with participation from the United Kingdom and Canada, that produced the first atomic bomb during World War II. From 1942 to 1946, the project was under the direction of Major General Leslie Groves of the US Army...
. Her mother, Maria Ynez White, was of English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
and Hispanic ancestry from Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
. Barbara grew up in Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
and attended a private, all-girls school. She received her college education from Manhattanville College
Manhattanville College
Manhattanville College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college offering undergraduate and graduate degrees, located in Purchase, New York. Founded in 1841 it was known initially as Manhattanville College of the Sacred Heart...
. She married James Henry Bugden at the age of 18, but became separated when her husband was assigned overseas during the war. She was employed by several New York businesses during the 1940s. In 1949 she moved to Reno, Nevada
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
and obtained a divorce. She married Kenneth Dillon in 1950, a founding partner in the law firm Vargas, Dillon, and Bartlett. She became a widow on Dillon's death in 1964. She married George Vucanovich in 1965; she met George while working on Paul Laxalt
Paul Laxalt
Paul Dominique Laxalt of Nevada was a former Republican District Attorney, Lieutenant Governor, Governor and U.S. Senator. In the media, the words "son of a Basque sheepherder" often accompanied his name. He was one of Ronald Reagan's closest friends in politics...
's campaign.
Political career
Vucanovich's husband, Ken Dillon introduced her to Nevada Republican politics in the 1950s, when the party was slowly building after decades of being in the minority. Ken introduced her to a young district attorney from Carson City named Paul LaxaltPaul Laxalt
Paul Dominique Laxalt of Nevada was a former Republican District Attorney, Lieutenant Governor, Governor and U.S. Senator. In the media, the words "son of a Basque sheepherder" often accompanied his name. He was one of Ronald Reagan's closest friends in politics...
. After working on Laxalt's gubernatorial campaigns and his razor close win over Harry Reid in 1974, Vucanovich was hired as the district director for the newly elected Senator.
When Nevada earned a new congressional district after the 1980 Census, Laxalt urged Vucanovich to run. She won handily and served in Congress from 1983 until her retirement in 1997. She only faced serious opposition once, in 1992.
Shortly after taking office in 1983 she was diagnosed and had surgery for breast cancer. Vucanovich served for many years on the House Interior Committee, where she eventually became the ranking Republican on the Mining and Minerals Subcommittee. She also served on the House Administration Committee until her appointment in 1991 to the Appropriations Committee. She became Chairman of the Subcommittee on Military Construction when the Republicans gained control of the House of Representatives in 1995.
She launched a campaign to become Secretary of the Republican Conference shortly after Congressman Bob Michel announced he would not seek another term, creating several vacancies in Republican leadership as Newt Gingrich
Newt Gingrich
Newton Leroy "Newt" Gingrich is a U.S. Republican Party politician who served as the House Minority Whip from 1989 to 1995 and as the 58th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999....
and others jockied for higher positions in leadership. Despite having been a member of the Conservative Opportunity Society, a group led by Newt Gingrich
Newt Gingrich
Newton Leroy "Newt" Gingrich is a U.S. Republican Party politician who served as the House Minority Whip from 1989 to 1995 and as the 58th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999....
with the goal of achieving Republican control of the House of Representatives, she faced serious opposition in her leadership bid from a freshman member from Arkansas. She prevailed in a close contest for Secretary after a rousing nomination speech by Congressman Henry Hyde
Henry Hyde
Henry John Hyde , an American politician, was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1975 to 2007, representing the 6th District of Illinois, an area of Chicago's northwestern suburbs which included O'Hare International Airport...
of Illinois a good friend and ally in their shared opposition to abortion.
Vucanovich positioned herself early in her House career as a conservative leader, aligning herself with a group of Members including, Newt Gingrich, Bob Walker
Robert Smith Walker
Robert Smith Walker, popularly known as Bob Walker, is a former American politician who represented Pennsylvania in the United States House of Representatives as a Republican from 1977 to 1997. He was known for his fiery rhetoric and knowledge of parliamentary procedure.Born in Bradford,...
, and Vin Weber
Vin Weber
John Vincent Weber is a former Republican Congressman from Minnesota. Weber attended the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities from 1970 to 1974. He had been the co-publisher of Murray County newspaper and the president of Weber Publishing Company...
who were not content with minority status. She helped draft two of the ten bills that were part of the Contract with America
Contract with America
The Contract with America was a document released by the United States Republican Party during the 1994 Congressional election campaign. Written by Larry Hunter, who was aided by Newt Gingrich, Robert Walker, Richard Armey, Bill Paxon, Tom DeLay, John Boehner and Jim Nussle, and in part using text...
. She served on the Presidential Debate Commission from 1987 to 1997.
Retirement
Since her retirement, Vucanovich has continued to work in politics, mainly serving on external committees.Her daughter, Patricia Dillon Cafferata, has served as Nevada State Treasurer
Nevada State Treasurer
The Nevada State Treasurer is an elected office in the U.S. state of Nevada. The Nevada State Treasurer is based in Carson City, Nevada. The Treasurer is elected for 4 year terms and the current Treasurer for the 2007-2011 term is Kate Marshall....
and as District Attorney in three Nevada counties, and is also Vucanovich's biographer.