Jane Swift - Massachusetts Governor

Massachusetts Governor

Swift was elected lieutenant governor of Massachusetts in 1998. She became acting governor in 2001, when incumbent Governor Paul Cellucci resigned when then President George W. Bush appointed him the United States Ambassador to Canada on April 10, 2001.

Swift was the first sitting governor in United States history to give birth when her twin daughters were born one month into her term of office. She continued to exercise executive authority during her maternity leave, including chairing a meeting of the Massachusetts Governor's Council by teleconference from her hospital bed.

Swift's tenure as acting governor was largely dominated by responding to the attacks of September 11, 2001, and managing the fiscal crisis that followed in Massachusetts. Swift insisted that polls remain open for a special congressional election scheduled for that day, and led a comprehensive, statewide response to prevent terrorism. In addition, Swift led 45 governors in urging Congress to create the Department of Homeland Security. The Boston Herald summarized her response to the crisis as, "Acting Gov. Jane Swift has had her finest hour during this crisis...she has been steady, stable, calming, decisive."

Faced with a widening budget deficit as a result of the state response to the terrorist attacks, Swift cut nearly $300 million in programs and vetoed nearly $600 million in proposed spending. She received high praise for her response to the budget crisis without resorting to massive tax increases.

She declined to run for election as governor in her own right.