Addison Mitchell McConnell III, widely known as Mitch McConnell, is a prominent American politician and former attorney with an extensive career in public service.
He has been representing Kentucky as its senior United States senator since 1985, making him the longest-serving senator in history.
McConnell has held various leadership positions within the Senate, including minority leader from 2021, majority leader from 2015 to 2021, and minority leader from 2007 to 2015.
Additionally, he served as majority whip from 2003 to 2007 and has been leading the Senate Republican Conference since 2007, establishing himself as the longest-serving Senate party leader in American history.
Profile
- Full name: Addison Mitchell McConnell III
- Stage name: Mitch McConnell
- Born: February 20, 1942
- Age: 82 years old.
- Birthplace: Sheffield, Alabama, United States
- Nationality: American
- Profession: Politician
- Height: 1.75m
- Parents: Julia Odene “Dean” (née Shockley) and Addison Mitchell “A.M.” McConnell II
- Siblings: N/A
- Spouse: Elaine Chao (m. 1993), Sherrill Redmon (m. 1968–1980)
- Children: Elly McConnell, Porter McConnell, Claire McConnell
- Relationship: Married
- Net worth: $35 million
Early Life & Education
Born on February 20, 1942, in Sheffield, Alabama, Mitch McConnell was the son of Julia Odene and Addison Mitchell McConnell II.
Growing up in Athens, Alabama, he was surrounded by family history, as his grandfather and great-uncle owned a funeral home.
McConnell’s roots are in Scots-Irish and English descent, with an ancestor who fought in the American Revolutionary War on the American side.
In 1944, Mitch McConnell’s life drastically changed when he was two. A polio attack left his upper left leg paralyzed, threatening to disable him for life.
Thanks to treatment at the Roosevelt Warm Springs Institute for Rehabilitation, McConnell was able to regain the use of his leg and avoid a permanent disability.
However, the financial burden of his illness nearly bankrupted his family. In 1950, McConnell’s family moved to Augusta, Georgia, where his father was stationed at Fort Gordon in the Army.
In 1956, Mitch McConnell’s family relocated to Louisville, Kentucky, prompting him to enrol at duPont Manual High School.
During his time there, McConnell secured the position of student council president in his junior year, showcasing his leadership skills and dedication to serving his peers.
After graduating with honours from the University of Louisville in 1964 with a B.A. in political science as a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, McConnell continued to excel academically and socially by being actively involved in the Student Council of the College of Arts and Sciences and joining the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity.
Career
In March 1967, just before his educational draft deferment was set to expire upon completing law school, Mitch McConnell enlisted as a private in the U.S. Army Reserve in Louisville, Kentucky.
This move was advantageous because reserve units were not typically deployed to combat zones during the Vietnam War.
McConnell began his training on July 9, 1967, at Fort Knox, Kentucky, only two days after he took the bar exam. He completed his training on August 15, 1967.
After he arrived, a diagnosis of optic neuritis led to his medical disqualification from military service and subsequent honourable discharge.
Critics have frequently questioned the brevity of his time in the military throughout his political campaigns.
Upon returning to Washington in October 1974, Mitch McConnell took on the Deputy Assistant Attorney General role under President Gerald Ford.
Working closely with esteemed figures such as Robert Bork, Laurence Silberman, and Antonin Scalia, McConnell gained valuable experience in navigating the intricate world of government affairs.
His contributions were recognized when he was appointed as acting United States Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legislative Affairs in 1975, during President Ford’s administration.
In 1977, Mitch McConnell secured victory in the Jefferson County judge/executive election, a significant political position in Jefferson County, Kentucky.
He defeated the incumbent Democrat Todd Hollenbach, III, with a vote percentage of 53% against 47%. McConnell’s success continued as he was re-elected in 1981 after defeating Jefferson County Commissioner Jim “Pop” Malone with a vote percentage of 51% against 47%, despite being outspent by Malone at a ratio of 3 to 1. McConnell held onto this position until his successful bid for the U.S. Senate in 1984.
Throughout his political career in Kentucky, Mitch McConnell became a pragmatic and moderate Republican.
However, as time passed, he underwent a significant ideological shift towards the right and adopted more conservative stances.
This transformation from a moderate who once supported abortion rights and public employee unions to a staunch advocate of partisan obstructionism and conservative principles has been well-documented by biographers.
McConnell’s reputation as an obstructionist figure in politics has only grown over the years, solidifying his role as a key player in shaping conservative policies on Capitol Hill.
Throughout his tenure, Senator McConnell has been known for securing earmarks to benefit various businesses and institutions in his home state of Kentucky. However, this practice stopped in 2010 when Congress banned earmarks.
Despite this, McConnell has faced backlash for his approach to healthcare funding in Kentucky. Critics accuse him of providing short-term solutions instead of supporting more comprehensive national programs like Obamacare and Medicaid expansion.
This ongoing debate highlights the complexities of balancing local interests with broader policy initiatives in healthcare reform.
Personal Life
Mitch McConnell, a devout Southern Baptist, was baptized at age 8. His first marriage to Sherrill Redmon lasted from 1968 to 1980, during which they were blessed with three daughters: Porter, Eleanor (Elly), and Claire.
Porter McConnell serves as the campaign director for Take on Wall Street, a progressive advocacy coalition.
After her divorce from McConnell, Sherrill Redmon pursued a career in academia and feminism.
She ultimately became a respected feminist scholar at Smith College and the director of the prestigious Sophia Smith Collection.
In 1993, Mitch McConnell married his second wife, Elaine Chao, who has served as Secretary of Labor under President George W. Bush and Secretary of Transportation under President Donald Trump.
Interestingly, McConnell’s brother-in-law, Gordon Hartogensis, who is married to Chao’s sister Grace, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in May 2019 as director of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), a division of the Labor Department. McConnell himself voted to confirm his brother-in-law for this position.
Social Media
- Instagram handle: @leaderMcConnell
- Facebook handle: Senator Mitch McConnell
- Twitter handle: @leaderMcConnell
Net Worth
It has been estimated that McConnell’s total assets amount to a significant $35 million. Additionally, he holds a mortgage on his home in Kentucky.
This suggests that McConnell’s diverse financial portfolio includes real estate investments.
