Jean Westwood (politician)

{{Short description|American politician}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Jean Westwood

|office = Chair of the Democratic National Committee

|term_start = July 14, 1972

|term_end = December 9, 1972

|predecessor = Larry O'Brien

|successor = Robert Strauss

|birth_date = {{birth date|1923|11|22}}

|birth_place = Price, Utah, U.S.

|death_date = {{death date and age|1997|8|18|1923|11|22}}

|death_place = American Fork, Utah, U.S.

|party = Democratic

}}

Jean Miles Westwood (November 22, 1923 – August 18, 1997) was an American political figure. She was appointed the first female chair of the Democratic National Committee by Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern on July 14, 1972. Between 1976 and 1988, Westwood worked for the presidential campaigns of Terry Sanford, Edward Kennedy, Gary Hart, and Bruce Babbitt.

Born Jean Miles in Price, Utah, she married Richard E. Westwood in 1941. They started a mink farm together in 1951.

Westwood was one of McGovern's advisors who recommended dropping Thomas F. Eagleton from the ticket.New York Times, Aug. 23, 1997