Argeo Paul Cellucci (April 24, 1948 June 8, 2013[1]) was an American politician and diplomat. He was the 69th Governor of Massachusetts and United States Ambassador to Canada.

Quick Facts United States Ambassador to Canada, President ...
Paul Cellucci
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Argeo P. Cellucci
United States Ambassador to Canada
In office
April 17, 2001  March 25, 2005
PresidentGeorge W. Bush
Preceded byGordon Giffin
Succeeded byDavid Wilkins
69th Governor of Massachusetts
In office
January 7, 1999  April 10, 2001
Acting: July 29, 1997 - January 7, 1999
Preceded byWilliam Weld
Succeeded byJane M. Swift (Acting)
Mitt Romney
68th Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
In office
January 3, 1991  January 7, 1999
GovernorWilliam Weld
Preceded byEvelyn Murphy
Succeeded byJane M. Swift
Member of the
Massachusetts Senate
from the Middlesex and Worcester District
In office
1985–1991
Preceded byChester G. Atkins
Succeeded byRobert Durand
Member of the
Massachusetts House of Representatives
from the 3rd Middlesex District
In office
1979–1985
Preceded byCharles Flaherty
Succeeded byPatricia Walrath
Member of the
Massachusetts House of Representatives
from the 51st Middlesex District
In office
1977–1979
Preceded byWilfred Balthazar
Succeeded byDistrict abolished
Personal details
Born(1948-04-24)April 24, 1948
Hudson, Massachusetts
DiedJune 8, 2013(2013-06-08) (aged 65)
Hudson, Massachusetts
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Jan Cellucci
ResidenceHudson, Massachusetts
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Early life

Cellucci was born on April 24, 1948 in Hudson, Massachusetts. He studied at Boston College Law School and the private Hudson Catholic High School. Cellucci was married to Jan Cellucci until his death in 2013. They had two children.

Career

On November 3, 1998, Paul Cellucci was elected as Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, narrowly defeating Democratic attorney general Scott Harshbarger. He had successfully fought off a challenge from State Treasurer Joe Malone in the September primary. He was sworn in as the 69th Governor of Massachusetts on January 7, 1999.

On April 10, 2001, Cellucci resigned to become U.S. Ambassador to Canada, being appointed by President George W. Bush. This made him the second consecutive Massachusetts governor to resign in order to assume an ambassadorship: his predecessor William Weld resigned after being nominated to be Ambassador to Mexico by President Bill Clinton. (Weld was never confirmed by the United States Senate, however, and hence never was Ambassador.)

In 2008, Cellucci has said that after thirty-five years in public service he had no intention of seeking further office, and that while he had no interest in serving as Vice President, he did not exclusively rule it out. He supported John McCain's candidacy for president in 2008.

Death

On January 6, 2011, Cellucci announced his amyotrophic lateral sclerosis diagnosis, and that it was progressing relatively slowly. Cellucci died on June 8, 2013 in Hudson, Massachusetts from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, aged 65.[1]

References

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