Clare Boothe Luce
Clare Boothe Luce (née Ann Clare Boothe; March 10, 1903 – October 9, 1987) was an American writer, politician, U.S. ambassador, and public conservative figure. A versatile author, she is best known for her 1936 hit play The Women, which had an all-female cast. Her writings extended from drama and screen scenarios to fiction, journalism, and war reportage. She was married to Henry Luce, publisher of Time, Life, Fortune, and Sports Illustrated.
Clare Boothe Luce | |
|---|---|
| United States Ambassador to Italy | |
| In office May 4, 1953 – December 27, 1956 | |
| President | Dwight D. Eisenhower |
| Preceded by | Ellsworth Bunker |
| Succeeded by | James David Zellerbach |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Connecticut's 4th district | |
| In office January 3, 1943 – January 3, 1947 | |
| Preceded by | Le Roy D. Downs |
| Succeeded by | John Lodge |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ann Clare Boothe March 10, 1903 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | October 9, 1987 (aged 84) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 1 |
| This article is part of a series on |
| Conservatism in the United States |
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Politically, Luce was a leading conservative in later life and was well known for her anti-communism. In her youth, she briefly aligned herself with the liberalism of President Franklin Roosevelt as a protégé of Bernard Baruch but later became an outspoken critic of Roosevelt. Although she was a strong supporter of the Anglo-American alliance in World War II, she remained outspokenly critical of British colonialism in India.
Known as a charismatic and forceful public speaker, especially after her conversion to Catholicism in 1946, she campaigned for every Republican presidential candidate from Wendell Willkie to Ronald Reagan.