Margaret F. McGovern (1924-2009) was an American attorney and political candidate who was one of the first female candidates to seek statewide office in Massachusetts.

Early life

McGovern was born in Boston in 1924. Her parents, Joseph and Adele McGovern, both graduated from Boston University School of Law. McGovern graduated from Notre Dame Academy in Roxbury in 1942. She attended Emmanuel College for two years before entering an accelerated program at Boston University School of Law.

Legal career

McGovern graduated from law school in 1946 and was the only woman in her graduating class. She then joined the family firm. In 1947, she was admitted to practice law before the

United States Supreme Court The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all U.S. federal court cases, and over state court cases that involve a point o ...

. In 1956, Mayor John Hynes appointed McGovern to the position of assistant corporation counsel for the city of Boston. She left the city law department following Hynes' departure in 1960. McGovern practiced law for over 60 years, working mainly in family law.

Political campaigns

On May 26, 1960, McGovern announced her candidacy for Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In the Democratic primary she received 24% of the vote to Kevin White's 39% and Francis X. Ahearn 37%. In 1962, she was a candidate for

Massachusetts Attorney General The Massachusetts Attorney General is an elected constitutionally defined executive officer of the Massachusetts Government. The officeholder is the chief lawyer and law enforcement officer of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The officeholder ...

. She finished third in the Democratic primary behind Francis E. Kelly and James R. Lawton.

Personal life and death

McGovern was married twice. Both ended in divorce. She had two daughters with her first husband. McGovern died on February 21, 2009, at her daughter's home in Mill Valley, California.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:McGovern, Margaret 1924 births 2009 deaths Emmanuel College (Massachusetts) alumni Boston University School of Law alumni Lawyers from Boston Massachusetts Democrats 20th-century American politicians 20th-century American lawyers