Maria Owings Shriver was born on November 6, 1955, to Sargent Shriver and Eunice Kennedy Shriver. Her father was a career politician who was responsible for being an integral part in the creation of the Peace Corps, Head Start, and the Special Olympics. Her mother was a member of America’s political royalty, the Kennedy family. She was the sister of President John F Kennedy.
Many of Maria Shriver’s relatives are famous themselves. Her cousins include the late John F Kennedy Jr., and his sister Caroline Kennedy. She is also cousins with actor Christopher Lawford, son of Peter Lawford, a member of the Rat Pack.
Despite her strong political upbringing, Maria Shriver did not choose to go into politics herself. Instead, she chose to study American Studies at Georgetown University. Upon her graduation in 1977 she began her journalism career at a local Philadelphia news station. In 1983 Shriver became a national reporter for CBS news, later moving to NBC.
In 1989 Maria Shriver became a contributing anchor to NBC’s nighttime news program Dateline NBC. She is currently on a leave of absence from her journalism duties so she can concentrate on her duties as first lady of California. In 2003, her husband Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected governor of California.
Maria Shriver met Schwarzenegger in 1977 when NBC news anchorman Tom Brokaw introduced the two during a charity tennis tournament. They married in 1986. The couple has four children – Katherine, born in 1989; Christina, born in 1991; Patrick, born in 1993; and Christopher, born in 1997.
Being first lady to a Republican governor must prove to be a challenge to a woman who was raised as a staunch Democrat. Also highly supportive of her husband’s career, at times Shriver remained silent on issues that go against Democratic values.
Maria Shriver seems to making the most of her role as first lady of California. Her agenda includes addressing the problems of the working poor, the challenges of childhood obesity, working with people living with disabilities, supporting military families, promoting disaster preparedness, and extolling the accomplishments of women.
In addition to her roles as journalist, first lady of California, wife, and mother, Maria Shriver is a best selling author. Her books include And One More Thing Before You Go, Ten Things I Wish I Knew Before I Went out in the Real World, What’s Wrong with Timmy, What’s Heaven, and What’s Wrong with Grandpa.
YUDDY
