Olympia Jean Snowe McKernan (born February 21, 1947), née Bouchles, is the senior United States Senator from Maine. She is a Republican and a leading moderate within the party. Snowe has become widely known for her ability to influence the outcome of close votes, including whether to end filibusters.
In 2006, she was named one of America's Top Ten Senators by Time Magazine.
Snowe was born Olympia Jean Bouchles in Augusta, Maine, the daughter of G...
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Olympia Jean Snowe McKernan (born February 21, 1947), née Bouchles, is the senior United States Senator from Maine. She is a Republican and a leading moderate within the party. Snowe has become widely known for her ability to influence the outcome of close votes, including whether to end filibusters.
In 2006, she was named one of America's Top Ten Senators by Time Magazine.
Snowe was born Olympia Jean Bouchles in Augusta, Maine, the daughter of Georgia Goranites and George John Bouchles. Her father immigrated to the United States from Sparta, Greece. She is a member of the Greek Orthodox Church.
Snowe's early life had its share of tragedies; her mother died of breast cancer when she was eight, and her father died of heart disease barely a year later. Orphaned, she was moved to Auburn, Maine, to be raised by her aunt and uncle, a textile mill worker and a barber, respectively, along with their five other children. Her brother John was raised separately, by other family members. Within...
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