Elaine Chao is married to Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who has been the Senate Majority Leader since January 3, 2015.
--- immigrant to cabinet seat... an amazing country we live in...---
An immigrant to this country, Elaine L. Chao arrived in this country at the age of eight, speaking no English. Her parents are Americans of Chinese descent who lived through the turmoil and tragedy that was 20th century China. Her father, Dr. James S. C. Chao, was born in a small farming village in Jiading District outside Shanghai. His parents emphasized the value of education. An able student, Dr. Chao won many scholarships. He was also a popular student leader and an outstanding athlete. Her mother, Ruth Mulan Chu, was born in Anhui province, to a distinguished and progressive family that believed in the education of women. Ruth and her sisters were educated at the well-known Ming De Christian Middle School for Girls in Nanjing. Both her parents grew up in an era marked with political turmoil, societal upheaval, foreign invasions and civil war where life was fraught with hardships, instability, and uncertainty. All they sought was peace and safety. The war destroyed everything.
--- immigrant to cabinet seat... an amazing country we live in...---
An immigrant to this country, Elaine L. Chao arrived in this country at the age of eight, speaking no English. Her parents are Americans of Chinese descent who lived through the turmoil and tragedy that was 20th century China. Her father, Dr. James S. C. Chao, was born in a small farming village in Jiading District outside Shanghai. His parents emphasized the value of education. An able student, Dr. Chao won many scholarships. He was also a popular student leader and an outstanding athlete. Her mother, Ruth Mulan Chu, was born in Anhui province, to a distinguished and progressive family that believed in the education of women. Ruth and her sisters were educated at the well-known Ming De Christian Middle School for Girls in Nanjing. Both her parents grew up in an era marked with political turmoil, societal upheaval, foreign invasions and civil war where life was fraught with hardships, instability, and uncertainty. All they sought was peace and safety. The war destroyed everything.