Jean Westwood (politician)

Jean Westwood

Jean Westwood was born in Price, Utah on November 22, 1923. She was the daughter of Francis Marion and Nettie Potter Miles. In 1941, she was married to Richard Westwood. The couple started a mink ranch and owned Westwood Mink Farms. Jean Westwood was secretary of the Utah Mink Show from 1951 to 1954. She was the publisher of the American Fur Breeder from 1957 to 1962.

Jean became an active participant in the Utah Democratic Party in the 1950s. She was a staff member for U.S. Congressman David S. King from 1965 to 1966. She also served as a national delegate and as the Utah national committeewoman in the 1960s. She was the coordinator for the Utah Humphrey-for-President campaign in 1968 and later the vice-chair for the McGovern-for-President committee.

Democratic presidential candidate, George McGovern, appointed Jean Westwood as the first female chair of the National Democratic Party on July 14, 1972. Mrs. Westwood has been serving as McGovern's campaign manager. She served in the position until just after the election, when she was replaced by Robert Strauss.

Between 1976 and 1988, Westwood worked for the presidential campaigns of Terry Sanford, Gary Hart, and Bruce Babbitt. In 1982 she was a consultant to Peterson Zah, who was campaigning to become tribal chairman of the Navajo.