Chris Dodd is a prominent American lawyer, lobbyist, and politician who served as a Democratic United States Senator from Connecticut from 1981 to 2011. During his tenure in the Senate, Dodd was a key figure in the enactment of several important pieces of legislation, including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, which was passed in response to the 2008 financial crisis.

While Chris Dodd has had a long and distinguished career in public service, his personal life has also attracted media attention, particularly his marriage to his wife, Jackie Clegg Dodd. Jackie Clegg Dodd is an accomplished businesswoman and lobbyist in her own right, having worked for several high-profile companies and organizations throughout her career.

Who is Jackie Clegg Dodd?

Jackie Clegg Dodd was born on March 23, 1955, in Washington, D.C. She grew up in a family of lawyers and politicians; her father, James R. Clegg, was a prominent attorney and a member of the Democratic National Committee, while her mother, Margaret Snyder Clegg, was a political activist and feminist who served as an advisor to several U.S. presidents.

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Jackie Clegg attended Georgetown University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing in 1977. She went on to work as a registered nurse at several hospitals in the Washington, D.C., area before embarking on a career in politics and public policy.

In the 1980s, Jackie Clegg worked as a staff assistant for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where she met Chris Dodd. The two were married in 1999, and they have two daughters together, Grace and Christina.

Throughout her career, Jackie Clegg has held several high-profile positions in the private sector and in government. In the 1990s, she worked as a lobbyist for the American Hospital Association and the Health Insurance Association of America, two powerful healthcare industry groups.

In 2001, Jackie Clegg was appointed to the U.S. Export-Import Bank by President Bill Clinton, where she served as Vice Chairman and then as Chairman until 2008. The Export-Import Bank is a government agency that provides financing and insurance to U.S. businesses that export goods and services overseas.

After leaving the Export-Import Bank, Jackie Clegg became a senior advisor and lobbyist for APCO Worldwide, a global public relations and lobbying firm. In this role, she advised clients on issues related to healthcare, financial services, and technology, among other areas.

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In addition to her work in business and politics, Jackie Clegg has been active in several philanthropic organizations. She served on the board of trustees of the National Symphony Orchestra, and she was a founding board member of the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

While Jackie Clegg’s professional accomplishments are impressive, her personal life has not been without controversy. In 2009, she was accused of receiving preferential treatment from Countrywide Financial, a mortgage lender that was at the center of the subprime mortgage crisis. Dodd and his wife were reportedly granted a VIP loan by Countrywide, which offered favorable terms to influential politicians and businesspeople.

The allegations against Jackie Clegg were investigated by the Senate Ethics Committee, which ultimately cleared her of any wrongdoing. However, the controversy surrounding the Countrywide loan contributed to Dodd’s decision not to seek re-election in 2010.

Today, Jackie Clegg Dodd continues to be an influential figure in the world of business and politics. She is a frequent speaker at conferences and events, where she shares her insights on a wide range of issues, including healthcare, finance, and women’s leadership. Her career serves as an inspiration to women who aspire to succeed in traditionally male-dominated fields.