Kitty Dukakis, the former first lady of Massachusetts and wife of 1988 Democratic presidential nominee Michael Dukakis, has died at age 88, her family confirmed.John Dukakis confirmed his mother died overnight. Katharine Dickson was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1936 and was the daughter of Pops conductor Harry Ellis Dickson. She married Michael Dukakis in 1963, forming an unusual pair: Kitty Dukakis was Jewish and emotional, while her Greek Orthodox husband was cool and reserved. Their strong bond helped them through difficult times.When Gov. Dukakis became the Democratic nominee for president in 1988, his wife was a poised and energetic public speaker on the campaign trail.Kitty Dukakis urged her husband to be more aggressive when the Bush campaign called him too liberal.After losing the race, Michael Dukakis finished his third term as governor and stepped down.During the campaign, Kitty Dukakis admitted she was once addicted to diet pills. A long battle against depression now steered her toward alcohol.Kitty Dukakis would later say it was for the best that her husband lost the presidential bid because a crisis would have sent her out of control. She wrote two books — tell-all tales about her addictions and depression. In her book “Now You Know,” she wrote about her hospitalization in 1989 after drinking rubbing alcohol. Years later, she wrote how electronic shock treatments saved her from depression.Despite her inner battles, Kitty Dukakis made valuable contributions. She served on the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council and advocated for immigrants and refugees. In 2007, the Kitty Dukakis Treatment Center for Women was established in Boston in honor of her advocacy work.
Kitty Dukakis, the former first lady of Massachusetts and wife of 1988 Democratic presidential nominee Michael Dukakis, has died at age 88, her family confirmed.
John Dukakis confirmed his mother died overnight.
Katharine Dickson was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1936 and was the daughter of Pops conductor Harry Ellis Dickson. She married Michael Dukakis in 1963, forming an unusual pair: Kitty Dukakis was Jewish and emotional, while her Greek Orthodox husband was cool and reserved. Their strong bond helped them through difficult times.
When Gov. Dukakis became the Democratic nominee for president in 1988, his wife was a poised and energetic public speaker on the campaign trail.
Kitty Dukakis urged her husband to be more aggressive when the Bush campaign called him too liberal.
After losing the race, Michael Dukakis finished his third term as governor and stepped down.
During the campaign, Kitty Dukakis admitted she was once addicted to diet pills. A long battle against depression now steered her toward alcohol.
Kitty Dukakis would later say it was for the best that her husband lost the presidential bid because a crisis would have sent her out of control. She wrote two books — tell-all tales about her addictions and depression. In her book “Now You Know,” she wrote about her hospitalization in 1989 after drinking rubbing alcohol. Years later, she wrote how electronic shock treatments saved her from depression.
Despite her inner battles, Kitty Dukakis made valuable contributions. She served on the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council and advocated for immigrants and refugees. In 2007, the Kitty Dukakis Treatment Center for Women was established in Boston in honor of her advocacy work.
