Kitty Dukakis, the former first lady of Massachusetts and the outspoken wife of 1988 Democratic presidential nominee Michael Dukakis, has died, her family said. She was 88 years old.
Dukakis died on Friday night surrounded by her family, her son, John Dukakis, said. She fought to make the world better, “sharing her vulnerabilities to help others face theirs,” her family said in a statement.
“She was loving, feisty and fun, and had a keen sensitivity to people from all walks of life,” the family said. “She and our dad, Michael Dukakis, shared an enviable partnership for over 60 years and loved each other deeply.”
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.
Kitty Dukakis detailed struggles with addiction
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.
Keller: Kitty Dukakis courageously challenged stereotypes as a political spouse
Former President Jimmy Carter appointed Dukakis to serve on the President’s Commission on the Holocaust, and she was a founding member of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
Dukakis won high marks as a political campaigner during her husband’s 1988 presidential efforts, stumping tirelessly for him. She was called a key influence in his decision to seek the presidency.
She even figured in the opening question of a 1988 presidential debate, when her husband was asked: “Governor, if Kitty Dukakis were raped and murdered, would you favor an irrevocable death penalty for the killer?” Dukakis said he would not, and his unemotional response was widely criticized.
“A force for good”
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey called Dukakis “a force for good in public life and behind the scenes.”
“She was a strong advocate for children, women and refugees, while also taking a leadership role in ensuring that the horrors of the Holocaust are never forgotten. She spoke courageously about her struggles with substance use disorder and mental health, which serves as an inspiration to us all to break down stigma and seek help,” Healey said in a statement. “My heart is with Governor Dukakis and their loved ones during this difficult time.”
Kitty Dukakis, who was divorced and had a 3-year-old son, married Michael Dukakis in 1963, and they had two children, Andrea and Kara.
