Olympia Snowe

Olympia Jean Bouchles Snowe (born February 21, 1947 in Augusta, Maine) is a Republican politician and, as of 2005, the senior United States senator from Maine.

Career in politics

Snowe entered politics and rose quickly, winning a seat on the Board of Voter Registration and working for Congressman (later U.S. Senator and U.S. Secretary of Defense) William Cohen. Tragedy struck Snowe again in 1973, when her husband was killed in an automobile accident. At the urging of family, friends, neighbors and local leaders, Snowe ran for his Auburn-based seat in the Maine House of Representatives at the age of 26 and won. She was re-elected to the House in 1974, and, in 1976, won election to the Maine Senate, representing Androscoggin County. That same year, she was a delegate to both the state and national Republican conventions.

Related Topics:
Congressman - U.S. Senator - U.S. Secretary of Defense - William Cohen - 1973 - Auburn - Maine House of Representatives - 1974 - 1976 - Androscoggin County

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Snowe was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1978, and represented Maine's 2nd Congressional District from 1979-1994. The district includes Bangor and her hometown of Auburn. She served as a member of the House Budget and Foreign Affairs Committees.

Related Topics:
1978 - 1979 - 1994 - Bangor

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In 1994, when Senate Majority Leader George J. Mitchell declined to run for reelection, Snowe immediately declared her candidacy for the seat. The Democratic nominee was her House colleague, 1st District Congressman Tom Andrews. Snowe defeated Andrews 60%-36%, carrying every county in the state; she was reelected in 2000 over State Senate President Mark Lawrence, increasing her winning margin to 69%-31%.

Related Topics:
1994 - Senate Majority Leader - George J. Mitchell - Democratic - Tom Andrews - 2000

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Snowe was an important voice during the Senate's 1999 impeachment trial of then-President Bill Clinton. She and fellow Maine Senator Susan Collins sponsored a motion that would have allowed the Senate to vote separately on the charges and the remedy. When the motion failed, Snowe and Collins voted to acquit, arguing that Clinton's perjury did not warrant his removal from office.

Related Topics:
Impeachment trial - Bill Clinton - Susan Collins

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