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BumRushDaShow

(165,657 posts)
Sat Mar 22, 2025, 10:14 AM Mar 2025

Kitty Dukakis, former first lady of Massachusetts and outspoken wife of presidential candidate, dies at 88

Source: CBS News

Updated on: March 22, 2025 / 10:49 AM EDT


Kitty Dukakis, the former first lady of Massachusetts and the outspoken wife of 1988 Democratic presidential nominee Michael Dukakis, has died, her family confirmed to WBZ-TV. She was 88 years old.

Dukakis was first lady of Massachusetts from 1975 to 1979 and then from 1983 to 1991 while her husband served three terms as governor. They were longtime residents of Brookline.

On the 1988 campaign trail, Dukakis revealed that she had an addiction to diet pills. After her husband's loss in the general election, she published a memoir about her struggle with alcohol.

In 2017, Dukakis spoke to "60 Minutes" about using electroconvulsive therapy to treat her chronic depression. She was one of the most high-profile supporters of the controversial treatment known as shock therapy.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kitty-dukakis-dies-massachusetts/



Wow. I lost track of the Dukakis family. He is still around (91 years old) but R.I.P. to Kitty and condolences to the family.

I know I had voted for Jesse Jackson during that 1988 primary as a note, but obviously gave it my best shot for the general to keep Poppy out but alas.
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Kitty Dukakis, former first lady of Massachusetts and outspoken wife of presidential candidate, dies at 88 (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Mar 2025 OP
That's some history there... I actually thought Michael Dukakis had passed prior... hlthe2b Mar 2025 #1
Yes, that's for sure, Butterflylady Mar 2025 #4
That SOB has his own private room in hell shotten99 Mar 2025 #8
Guessing that public apology to the guv didn't work BaronChocula Mar 2025 #9
... littlemissmartypants Mar 2025 #2
... MassLiberal Mar 2025 #3
I did vote for him. William769 Mar 2025 #5
I met her very briefly a long time ago... Grumpy Old Guy Mar 2025 #6
If only we had a smarter electorate. She would have been a great First Lady. Sorry to hear of your loss Dukakis family. Evolve Dammit Mar 2025 #7
I was fortunate to meet and chat with our state's First Lady at a conference. Kitty was the nicest... FailureToCommunicate Mar 2025 #10

hlthe2b

(112,793 posts)
1. That's some history there... I actually thought Michael Dukakis had passed prior...
Sat Mar 22, 2025, 10:16 AM
Mar 2025
She dealt with a lot of political "crap," that's for sure.

Butterflylady

(4,584 posts)
4. Yes, that's for sure,
Sat Mar 22, 2025, 10:33 AM
Mar 2025

I remember my mom saying that if Dukakis won he would let all murders out of prison and we wouldn't be safe. Kitty Dukakis would be running around the White House naked and screaming. That was Lee Atwater doings.

Grumpy Old Guy

(4,219 posts)
6. I met her very briefly a long time ago...
Sat Mar 22, 2025, 12:41 PM
Mar 2025

...back in my days as a Hollywood stage manager. She was a guest on a show I was stage managing. She seemed very nice.

Evolve Dammit

(21,495 posts)
7. If only we had a smarter electorate. She would have been a great First Lady. Sorry to hear of your loss Dukakis family.
Sat Mar 22, 2025, 12:48 PM
Mar 2025

FailureToCommunicate

(14,582 posts)
10. I was fortunate to meet and chat with our state's First Lady at a conference. Kitty was the nicest...
Sat Mar 22, 2025, 02:55 PM
Mar 2025

person you could imagine. May she Rest In Peace.

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