Dianne Feinstein
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fr:Dianne FeinsteinTemplate:Infobox Senator
Dianne Goldman Berman Feinstein (born June 22, 1933) is a Democratic U.S. Senator from California, a position she has held since 1992. She is Jewish. She was also San Francisco's first and, to date, only female mayor.
Feinstein was born Dianne Emiel Goldman in San Francisco. Her father, Leon Goldman, was a nationally renowned surgeon who traveled frequently and spoke at academic conferences. She received her B.A. degree in history in 1955 from Stanford University. In 1957, she married Jack Berman, a colleague in the San Francisco District Attorney's office. They were divorced three years later.
In 1962, shortly after starting her career in politics, she married neurosurgeon Bertram Feinstein. In 1969, Feinstein won a position on the San Francisco County Board of Supervisors, which is also the City Council of San Francisco. She held this position for nine years, becoming the first woman President of the Board. During her tenure, she unsuccessfully ran for mayor of San Francisco twice (in 1971 against Mayor Joseph Alioto and in a 1975 contest for a runoff slot against George Moscone, losing by 1 percentage point to county supervisor John Barbagelata).
In November 1978, San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk were assassinated by a rival politician, city supervisor Dan White. As President of the Board of Supervisors, Feinstein automatically succeeded to the mayoral position on December 4. She served out the remainder of the term and was re-elected in 1979 for a second term and finally left office on January 8, 1988. In 1984 she survived an attempt to recall her from office.
In 1985, as the city of San Francisco was in a state of fear caused by "The Night Stalker," serial murderer/rapist Richard Ramirez, Mayor Feinstein held a press conference, and revealed details of the hunt for the Night Stalker. Unfortunately, she revealed specific evidence of what clothes the Night Stalker wore, in so doing so, she allowed Ramirez to be aware of what the authorities knew, and to toss his shoes into the river.
In 1978, Feinstein's husband, Bertram, died of colon cancer. In 1980, she married Richard C. Blum, an investment banker who later helped fund her unsuccessful bid for the California Governor's seat in 1990. She lost to Republican Senator Pete Wilson, who vacated his seat in the Senate to assume the governorship. In 1992, Feinstein won a special election to fill the remaining two years in Wilson's vacated Senate seat. She was re-elected in 1994 and again in 2000 and announced plans to run in 2006. In 1998 and 2003 many advised her to run for governor, but she refused.
A vocal supporter of embryonic stem cell research, Feinstein was one of 58 senators who signed a letter directed to President George W. Bush, in hopes of relaxing the federal restrictions on embryonic stem cell research.
Feinstein is a strong proponent of gun control, yet is known to have carried concealed handguns herself with a normally nearly impossible to obtain California carry permit - few people, other than politicians and celebrities, are able to obtain California CCW permits. At one time, she was the only person in San Francisco to possess a concealed carry permit.
Feinstein is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
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Personal
Feinstein is married to Richard C. Blum. They have 4 children.
Awards
-- Outstanding Member of the U.S. Senate Award by the National Narcotic Officers Associations Coalition, February 2005.
-- Friend of the Watershed Award, Ventura County Association of Water Agencies, November 2004
-- Funding Hero, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, October 2004
-- Women of Achievement Award, Century City Chamber of Commerce, October 2004
-- National Distinguished Advocacy Award., American Cancer Society, September 2004
-- Mobility 21 Coalition’s Julian C. Dixon Award, August 2004
-- Legislator of the Year Award, California School Resource Officers’ Association, June 2004
-- Lifetime of Idealism Award, City Year, June 2004
-- The Pat Brown Legacy Award, The Edmund G. "Pat" Brown Institute of Public Affairs at Cal State LA, April 2004
-- Community Health Centers Leadership Award, Alta Med Health Services Corporation, April 2004
-- Public Service Award, American Society of Hematology, December 2003
-- Crystal Eagle Award, Coro Foundation, April 12, 2003
-- California National Guard, 2003
-- Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation special recognition award for work to advance breast cancer research and education, September 2000
-- Living Legacy Award, Women's International Center , 1987Spirit of Enterprise Award , U.S. Chamber of Commerce, March 2002
-- Dr. Nathan Davis Award, American Medical Association, February 2002
-- Torch of Liberty Award, Anti-Defamation League, March 2002
-- Western States Service Award, Western States Policy Council, February 2002
-- Water Drop Award, San Gabriel Basin Water Quality Authority, 2002
-- Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, October 2001
-- Soaring Eagle Award, California Public Employee Retirement System, December 2001
-- Congressional Quarterly’s Top 50 Member of Congress B Top Five Centrists 2000
-- National Asian Women’s Health Organization’s Leadership Award for the fight against Cancer, April 2000
-- Winning Spirit Award for Leadership, Women’s Information Network Against Breast Cancer, March 2000
-- President’s Medal, San Francisco State University , December 1999
-- Public Sector Award from the Aspen Institute, November 1999
-- Jack Webb Award, Los Angeles Police Historical Society, October 1999
-- Congressional Leadership Award, Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, 1999
-- Congressional Champion Award, Coalition for Cancer Research, 1999
-- Celebration of Courage Award, Handgun Control, Inc. 1999
-- Friend of the Lake Award , League to Save Lake Tahoe, 1999
-- Congressional Award, National Associations of Police Organizations, 1999
-- Name enshrined in the Watts Promenade of Prominence, Los Angeles , 1999
-- CORO Public Service Award, CORO Foundation, 1998
-- Abraham Lincoln Award, Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence, 1998
-- Paul E. Tsongas Award for the Leadership in Fight Against Cancer, Lymphoma Research Association of America , 1997
-- Congressional Excellence Award, Mother’s Against Drunk Driving, 1997
-- Donald Santarelli Award for Outstanding Public Service, National Organization for Victims= Assistance, 1996
-- Person of the Year, National Guard Association of California , 1995
-- Awareness Achievement Award, Board of Sponsors of Breast Cancer Awareness,1995
-- Hubert H. Humphrey Humanitarian Award, National Jewish Democratic Council, 1995
-- The Deborah Award for Leadership, Anti-Defamation League, 1995
-- Life Time Achievement Award, National AIDS Foundation, 1993
-- Service Award to Citizens of San Diego , San Diego Crime Commission, 1993
-- Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, University of San Francisco , 1988
-- President’s Medal, University of California , San Francisco , 1988
-- CORO Investment in Leadership Award Honoree, 1988
-- President’s Award, St. Ignatius High School , San Francisco , 1988
-- Community Service Award Honoree for Public Service, American Jewish Congress, 1987
-- “All Pro Management Team Award” for #1 Mayor, City and State Magazine, 1987
-- Planning and Urban Renewal Association’s Silver Spur Award for Outstanding Public Service, 1987
-- U.S. Navy’ Distinguished Civilian Award for Service, 1987
-- Paulist Father Award, 1987
-- U.S. Army’s Commander’s Award for Public Service, 1986
-- Brotherhood/Sisterhood Award, National Conference of Christians and Jews, 1986
-- Honorary Doctorate of Law, Mills College , 1985
-- French Legion d’Honneur, bestowed by President Mitterand, 1984
-- Los Angeles Anti-Defamation League of B’nai Brith’s Distinguished Public Service Award, 1984
-- Honorary Doctorate of Law, Antioch University , 1983
-- Honorary Doctorate of Public Administration, University of Manila , 1981
-- Honorary Doctorate of Public Administration, University of Santa Clara , 1981
-- SCOPUS Award, Outstanding Public Service, American Friends of the Hebrew Jerusalem
-- Honorary Law Degree, Golden Gate University
-- Achievement Award, Business and Professional Women’s Club Distinguished Woman Award, San Francisco Examiner
See also
External References
- Official U.S. Senate site (http://feinstein.senate.gov/)
- Dianne Feinstein's Project Syndicate op/eds (http://www.project-syndicate.org/contributors/contributor_comm.php4?id=594)
- An Evident Feinstein Detractor's page (http://www.stentorian.com/2ndamend/dianne_f.html)
| Preceded by: George Moscone | Mayor of San Francisco 1978–1988 | Succeeded by: Art Agnos |
| Preceded by: John F. Seymour | U.S. Senator (Class 1) from California 1992– | Succeeded by: Incumbent Template:End box Template:CA-FedRep Template:Current U.S. Senators |