Jean Spencer Ashbrook

Jean Ashbrook
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Ohio's 17th district
In office
June 29, 1982 – January 3, 1983
Preceded byJohn M. Ashbrook
Succeeded byLyle Williams
Personal details
BornEmily Jean Spencer
(1934-09-21) September 21, 1934
Newark, Ohio, U.S.
PartyRepublican
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1974; died 1982)​
EducationOhio State University (BS)

Emily Jean Ashbrook (née Spencer; born September 21, 1934)[1] is a former American politician. She is the widow of Congressman John M. Ashbrook, a Republican from Ohio. She then completed her late husband's final term of office, also as a Republican.

Biography

Ashbrook was born Emily Jean Spencer on September 21, 1934, in Cincinnati, Ohio.[2] She attended Central School in Newark, Ohio, and graduated from Newark High School in 1952. She went on to graduate with a bachelor's degree from Ohio State University, where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta,[3] in 1956.[1]

Congress

She married John M. Ashbrook in 1974. After her husband's death on April 24, 1982, she won the special election for the seat in Congress he had occupied.[4] She served for the remainder of the 97th Congress and represented Ohio's 17th congressional district from June 29, 1982 to January 3, 1983.[1] Because the district was eliminated by reapportionment after January 1983, the district not longer existed.[5]

Her election brought the total number of women appointed to the House of Representatives to 20 for the first time.[5]

During her term, her only ambition was "to carry on John's conservative philosophy." She was a supporter of the Reagan administration and served on the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries. She did speak out for her views including introducing a bill that would have denied federal law enforcement jurisdiction to implement gun control ordinances; a bill to prescribe mandatory minimum sentences for federal felonies against senior citizens; supported the Enterprise Zone Tax Act of 1982; and backed a bill to educate citizens on the dangers of communism and promote democracy abroad.[2]

She currently resides in Newark, Ohio.[2]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "ASHBROOK, Jean Spencer - Biographical Information". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 "ASHBROOK, Jean Spencer | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives". history.house.gov. Retrieved 2015-12-21.
  3. ↑ "Notable Thetas - Heritage - Kappa Alpha Theta". www.kappaalphatheta.org. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  4. ↑ "AROUND THE NATION: Widow of Congressman To Complete His Term". The New York Times. 1982-06-30. Retrieved 2026-07-15.
  5. 1 2 Roberts, Steven V. (1982-09-06). "NEW MEMBERS REFLECT DIVERSITY OF THE HOUSE". The New York Times. Retrieved 2026-07-15.
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