Dianne Feinstein

Dianne Goldman Berman Feinstein (born June 22, 1933) is a Democratic U.S. Senator from California, a position she has held since 1992. She was also San Francisco's first (and to date, only) female mayor.

Early life and career

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.

Related Topics:
Surgeon - B.A. - 1955 - Stanford University - 1957 - Jack Berman - Divorced

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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 female 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 a single percentage point to county supervisor John Barbagelata).

Related Topics:
1962 - Neurosurgeon - 1969 - San Francisco County - 1971 - Joseph Alioto - 1975 - George Moscone - John Barbagelata

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In November 1978, San Francisco mayor George Moscone and supervisor Harvey Milk were assassinated by a rival politician, Dan White, who had resigned from the Board of Supervisors only two weeks prior. 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 and again in 1983. She survived a 1984 recall attempt, and left office on January 8, 1988.

Related Topics:
1978 - George Moscone - Harvey Milk - Assassinated - Dan White - December 4 - 1979 - 1983 - 1984 - January 8 - 1988

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