Editing Nancy Johnson

{{Short description|American politician (born 1935)}}
{{other people}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{BLP sources|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name          = Nancy Johnson
|image         = Nancy Johnson2.jpg
|office        = Chair of the [[United States House Committee on Ethics|House Ethics Committee]]
|term_start    = January 3, 1995
|term_end      = January 3, 1997
|predecessor   = [[Jim McDermott]]
|successor     = [[James V. Hansen]]
|state1        = [[Connecticut]]
|term_start1   = January 3, 1983
|term_end1     = January 3, 2007
|predecessor1  = [[Toby Moffett]]
|successor1    = [[Chris Murphy]]
|constituency1 = {{ushr|CT|6|6th district}} (1983–2003)<br />{{ushr|CT|5|5th district}} (2003–2007)
|state_senate2 = Connecticut State  
|district2     = [[Connecticut's 6th State Senate district|6th]]
|term_start2   = January 5, 1977  
|term_end2     = January 3, 1983
|predecessor2  = [[Paul S. Amenta]]
|successor2    = Joe Harper
|birth_name    = Nancy Elizabeth Lee
|birth_date    = {{birth date and age|1935|1|5}}
|birth_place   = [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], U.S.
|death_date    = 
|death_place   = 
|party         = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|spouse        = Ted Johnson
|children      = 3
|education     = [[Harvard University]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br />[[University of London]]
}}

'''Nancy Elizabeth Johnson''' (née '''Lee'''; born January 5, 1935) is an American lobbyist and [[politics in the United States|politician]] from the [[U.S. state|state]] of [[Connecticut]]. Johnson was a [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] member of the [[United States House of Representatives]] from 1983 to 2007, representing the [[Connecticut's 6th congressional district|6th district]] and later the [[Connecticut's 5th congressional district|5th District]] after reapportionment.

In September 2007, Johnson began lobbying for [[Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz|Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC]] in Washington, D.C.<ref>[http://www.bakerdonelson.com/nancy-l-johnson/ Nancy Johnson], ''Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz PC'', Washington, DC.</ref>

== Early life, education, and early career ==
Nancy Johnson was born in [[Chicago]]. She graduated from the [[University of Chicago Laboratory School]] (high school) in 1953, and from [[Radcliffe College]] of [[Harvard University]] in 1957. She attended the [[University of London]]'s [[Courtauld Institute of Art]] in 1957 and 1958. She later moved to [[New Britain, Connecticut]], where she lives today.{{Citation needed|date=June 2020}}

She was an active volunteer in the schools and social service agencies of her community, before serving in the [[Connecticut Senate]] from 1977 to 1983.

== House of Representatives ==

=== Elections ===
[[File:Reagan Contact Sheet C32472 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Johnson and [[President of the United States|President]] [[Ronald Reagan]] in 1985]]
[[File:President George W. Bush greets Congresswoman Nancy Johnson after speaking to seniors about Medicare at New Britain General Hospital.jpg|thumb|right|Johnson greeting [[President of the United States|President]] [[George W. Bush]] in 2003]]
[[File:Bill Clinton and Nancy Johnson.jpg|thumb|right|Johnson with former [[President of the United States|President]] [[Bill Clinton]] in 2005]]
Johnson was elected to the House of Representatives in 1982 with 52 percent of the vote, defeating Democratic state senator [[William E. Curry Jr]]. She replaced Democrat [[Toby Moffett|Anthony "Toby" Moffett]], who made an unsuccessful bid for the U.S. Senate that year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ctmirror.org/2019/09/30/yes-that-was-toby-moffett-visiting-lowell-weicker/|title=Yes, that was Toby Moffett visiting Lowell Weicker|date=30 September 2019}}</ref>

She won narrowly in her re-election bid in 1996, defeating Democrat Charlotte Koskoff 50%–49%, her only close race for re-election.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=904|title = Our Campaigns - Candidate - Nancy L. Johnson}}</ref> She attributed her decreased percentage to the time she had spent on the House ethics panel, dealing with ethics allegations against Speaker [[Newt Gingrich]], which prevented her from getting around in her district.{{citation needed |date=October 2020}} She won in 1998, again against Koskoff, with 59% of the vote, and got 63% of the vote in 2000 against Paul Valenti.

Had [[Al Gore]] won the [[2000 United States Presidential Election|2000 presidential election]],  Johnson was widely considered to be the front runner<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/11/07/senate.connecticut/| title = CNN.com - Lieberman wins Senate race - November 7, 2000| website = [[CNN]]}}</ref> to win the appointment of [[Governor of Connecticut|Governor]] [[John G. Rowland]] to serve in the [[United States Senate]], filling the seat of Gore's running mate [[Joe Lieberman]]. Lieberman had been reelected to the Senate at the same time as the presidential election.<ref>[https://www.courant.com/2000/11/18/liebermans-fate-should-smile-on-johnson/ Lieberman's Fate Should Smile On Johnson]</ref>

In 2002, Johnson's New Britain-based district was merged with the [[Waterbury]]-based 5th District of Democratic Congressman [[James H. Maloney]].  While the new district retained Maloney's district number, its geography and demographics slightly favored Johnson. She won the general election over Maloney with 54% of the vote. In 2004, she defeated Democrat Theresa Gerratana, getting 60% of the vote.

=== 2006 re-election campaign ===
{{BLP sources section|date = December 2019}}
In the [[US House election, 2006|November 2006 general election]], Johnson faced Democrat [[Chris Murphy]], a [[Connecticut Senate|state senator]] originally elected from the First District town of [[Southington, Connecticut]], who now lives in [[Cheshire, Connecticut|Cheshire]].

In April 2006, Johnson became the target of a negative ad campaign run by a political action committee, ''MoveOn.org'', which alleged ties to disgraced lobbyist [[Jack Abramoff]] and former Majority Leader [[Tom DeLay]] (R-TX). Johnson responded with her own advertising campaign dismissing the charges and strongly attacking Murphy, accusing him of not disavowing the MoveOn attack ads.

Johnson had a large cash advantage over her challenger. In April 2006, Johnson reported that she had raised $436,000 in the first quarter of the year, with 60% of that coming from [[political action committee|PACs]], and 56% from contributors from outside [[Connecticut]].<ref>[http://www.fec.gov Campaign contributions to Nancy Johnson], ''FEC.gov'', 2006.</ref> In the second quarter of 2006 she raised almost $800,000, and had cash on hand, as of June 30, 2006, of $2.6 million.<ref>[http://disclosure.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/dcdev/forms/C00145607/231891/ Campaign disclosure of Nancy Johnson]{{Dead link|date=August 2018|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}, ''Nictusa.com'', 2006.</ref>

In late October, Chris Murphy had a slight lead, and heading into the election, polls showed him ahead by four points.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newtownbee.com/11032006/polls-show-murphy-farrell-with-slight-leads-over-republicans/|title=Polls Show Murphy, Farrell with Slight Leads over Republicans}}</ref> Johnson ultimately lost the race in November to Chris Murphy by 12 points;<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Writer|first=RINKER BUCK; Courant Staff|title=A TIDE OF IRE SWEEPS OUT JOHNSON|url=https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-xpm-2006-11-08-0611080058-story.html|access-date=2020-03-11|website=courant.com|date=November 8, 2006 |language=en-US}}</ref> the only House incumbent to suffer a worse defeat was [[John Hostettler]] (IN-08).

Articles in the ''[[Hartford Courant]]'' speculated that Johnson's negative TV ads, which accused Murphy of coddling sex offenders and drug dealers, may have proven counterproductive.<ref name=":0" />  Johnson won only six of the district's 41 towns, losing many areas that had reliably supported her in the past.  For instance, she lost badly in New Britain, an area she had represented for 30 years at both the federal and state level.  She had failed to carry New Britain in her last two elections.

=== Ideology ===
Johnson is a [[Rockefeller Republican|moderate Republican]]. She called herself "an independent voice in Washington",<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/running-away-from-bush-and-foley/|title = Running Away from Bush and Foley|website = [[CBS News]]| date=October 8, 2006 }}</ref> although she frequently supported the mainstream Republican agenda. Some nonpartisan observers such as [[National Journal]] rated her near the ideological midpoint in the House, although others, like the [[American Conservative Union]] (ACU) rated her as a moderate conservative. The ACU gave Johnson's 2005 voting record 40 points out of 100; the liberal [[Americans for Democratic Action]] gave her 35 points.  In general, she was moderate-to-liberal on social issues and conservative on economic ones.

Johnson is a member of several socially moderate Republican groups including [[The Wish List (political organization)|The Wish List]], The [[Republican Main Street Partnership]], [[Republicans for Choice]], the Republican Majority for Choice, and Republicans for Environmental Protection, now known as [[ConservAmerica]], although she has supported many elements of President [[George W. Bush]]'s agenda and the agenda of conservative House leaders.{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}}

In 1998, Johnson voted for two of the four [[impeachment of Bill Clinton|articles of impeachment]] then-President [[Bill Clinton]]—the only member of the Connecticut delegation to support Clinton's impeachment.

In 2003, Johnson voted with the House Democrats to oppose [[Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act]]. The bill was passed by a large majority 281–142 on October 2, 2003.

In 2006, Johnson attracted considerable controversy after voting against a Republican budget reconciliation bill that passed the House by two votes. She was one of 14 moderate Republicans who crossed party lines to side with Democrats against it.

=== Issues ===
Johnson is a strong supporter of Republican policy on health care and the [[Iraq War]], but opposed the Bush energy agenda, including oil drilling in the [[Arctic National Wildlife Refuge]] (ANWR) refuge. She has received favorable marks and awards from such groups as the [[National Education Association]] and the [[Sierra Club]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sierraclub.org/awards/sierra-club-2005-national-awards|title=Sierra Club 2005 National Awards|date=2018-03-23|website=Sierra Club|language=en|access-date=2019-11-06}}</ref>

In 2005, Johnson supported the [[White House]] plan to partially privatize [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]], and voted for a measure sponsored by then-Majority Leader [[Tom DeLay]] that would have weakened House ethics rules.<ref>[http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2005/roll006.xml Roll Call Vote 006], ''United States House of Representatives'', Washington, DC, 2005.</ref>

One of Johnson's central issues is health care. She was one of the authors of the [[Medicare Part D]] [[prescription drug]] benefit program, which took effect in 2006. On May 15, 2006, Johnson announced she would submit legislation to waive penalties for those who miss deadlines to enroll in Medicare Part D, reacting to widespread criticism of the Johnson-authored program. Her bill was unsuccessful but was supported by the [[AARP]].<ref>[https://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20060518/pl_usnw/statement_by_aarp_ceo_bill_novelli_in_support_of_proposed_medicare_part_d_legislation136_xml Statement by AARP CEO Bill Novelli in support of proposed Medicare Part B legislation 136], ''Yahoo News'', 2006.</ref>

She also authored the legislation that allowed welfare recipients to remain eligible for Medicaid, adding a more moderate influence to the welfare reform law.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/GPO-CDOC-108hdoc223-3-1.pdf |title=Women in Congress }}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

=== Committees ===
In 1988, Johnson became the first Republican woman to be named to the powerful [[United States House Committee on Ways and Means|Ways and Means Committee]]. She eventually rose to chair three separate Ways and Means subcommittees.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/GPO-CDOC-108hdoc223-3-1.pdf |title=Women in Congress }}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

With the retirement of Ways and Means Committee chairman [[Bill Thomas]] (R-CA) at the end of the [[109th United States Congress|109th Congress]] in 2006, Johnson was a possible candidate to replace him as chairman if Republicans were to retain the House and Johnson retained her seat in the [[US House election, 2006|November elections]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bondbuyer.com/news/congress-mccrery-mica-win-gop-committee-leadership-posts|title = Congress: McCrery, Mica Win GOP Committee Leadership Posts|date = 12 December 2006}}</ref> Neither happened.

In 1983, Johnson was one of the original congressional members of the [[United States House Select Committee on Children, Youth, and Families]].<ref name="Hearing">[http://files/eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED245830.pdf Children, youth, and families: Beginning the assessment. Hearing before the Select Committee on Children, Youth, and Families; House of Representatives, Ninety-Eighth Congress, First Session]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, ''United States House of Representatives'', Washington, DC, 28 April 1984, Original document retrieved 19 January 2014 from ERIC at Ed.gov: Institution of Education Sciences.</ref>

=== Campaign contributors ===
Connecticut is a center of the pharmaceutical industry with [[Pfizer]] and [[Bayer]] operating major facilities in the state. According to the nonpartisan [[OpenSecrets]], Johnson had been one of the leading Congressional recipients of contributions from the pharmaceutical industry, receiving $534,830 in related contributions since 2000.<ref>[http://www.opensecrets.org Campaign contributions to Nancy Johnson], ''[[OpenSecrets]]''.</ref>{{failed verification|date=May 2021}}

==Post-congressional career==
Following her career in Congress, in 2007 Johnson became a [[resident (title)|resident]] [[fellow]] at [[Harvard University]]'s Institute of Politics.<ref>[http://ksgwww.harvard.edu/iop/newsroom_fellows_spring_2007.html Harvard University fellows], ''Harvard University'', Cambridge, MA, 2007.</ref> She also served as co-chair of the [[Information Technology and Innovation Foundation]], a public policy [[think tank]].<ref>[http://itif.org/content/board Board] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111102457/http://www.itif.org/content/board |date=2012-11-11 }}, ''Information Technology and Innovation Foundation'', 2007.</ref>

In October 2007, Johnson endorsed former New York City Mayor [[Rudy Giuliani]]'s bid for the Republican presidential nomination.<ref>[http://blogs.courant.com/capitol_watch/2007/10/giuliani-celebr.html Giuliani presidential nomination]{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, ''Courant.com'', 2007.</ref>

In 2013, Johnson was a signatory to an amicus curiae brief submitted to the Supreme Court in support of same-sex marriage during the ''[[Hollingsworth v. Perry]]'' case.<ref>[http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/02/28/the-pro-freedom-republicans-are-coming-131-sign-gay-marriage-brief.html The pro-freedom republicans are coming: 131 sign gay marriage brief], ''The Daily Beast'', 28 February 2013.</ref>

==Personal life==
Johnson is married to Theodore Johnson, an [[obstetrics and gynaecology]] (OBGYN) physician; and has three adult daughters.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1995/10/25/friendly-fire/30a4bf17-67a5-42bd-9720-b2d27ede5b95/ |title=FRIENDLY FIRE |date=1995-10-25 |author1=Lloyd Grove |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |place=Washington, D.C. |issn=0190-8286 |oclc=1330888409}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Women in the United States House of Representatives]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060427025927/http://www.house.gov/nancyjohnson/ |date=April 27, 2006 |title=Official Site }}
* [http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/external/pre-election/bios/1234.html ''Associated Press'' profile]
* [http://baltimorechronicle.com/2006/053106Hickman.shtml Op-ed column]
* {{C-SPAN|1754}}
{{CongLinks|congbio=j000163}}
{{div col end|2}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Nancy}}
[[Category:1935 births]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Connecticut General Assembly]]
[[Category:20th-century American women politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives]]
[[Category:21st-century American women politicians]]
[[Category:Alumni of the Courtauld Institute of Art]]
[[Category:American lobbyists]]
[[Category:American Unitarian Universalists]]
[[Category:Republican Party Connecticut state senators]]
[[Category:Female members of the United States House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Politicians from Chicago]]
[[Category:Politicians from New Britain, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Radcliffe College alumni]]
[[Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Connecticut]]
[[Category:University of Chicago Laboratory Schools alumni]]
[[Category:Women state legislators in Connecticut]]
[[Category:Members of Congress who became lobbyists]]