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Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: E24 0806 USHA VANCE PROFILE
HEADLINE: Who is Usha Vance, wife of Republican vice presidential nominee?
TEASER: Mother of three, Yale graduate of Indian descent leaves law firm
PUBLISHED: 08/05/2024 at
BYLINE: Dora Mekouar
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Washington
VIDEOGRAPHER: Adam Greenbaum
PRODUCER: Dora Mekouar
SCRIPT EDITORS: Stearns, Mia Bush
VIDEO SOURCE (S): Original VOA, AP, Reuters
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB__ TV _X_ RADIO _X_
TRT: 2:45
VID APPROVED BY: Jepsen
NOTE: ))
((INTRO)) In the U.S. presidential election, likely Democratic candidate Kamala Harris is expected to announce her running mate Tuesday. Republican candidate Donald Trump last month chose Ohio Senator JD Vance. Vance went to law school at Yale, where he met his wife, Usha. She is a first-generation daughter of Indian immigrants who recently left her job at a top Washington, D.C., and California law firm. VOA’s Dora Mekouar {meh-kwar} has more about her.]]
((NARRATOR))
Thirty-eight-year-old Usha Vance entered the national spotlight when she introduced her husband, JD Vance, at the Republican National Convention.
((Usha Vance, Wife of JD Vance))
"I met JD in law school when he was fresh out of Ohio State.”
((NARRATOR))
The daughter of Indian immigrants, Usha Chilukuri was born in California and raised Hindu. She and Vance married in an interfaith ceremony in 2014.
((Usha Vance, Wife of JD Vance))
"I grew up in San Diego in a middle-class community, with two loving parents, both immigrants from India.”
((NARRATOR))
Usha Vance’s parents are academics. As is her great aunt, a physics professor in India, where there is a lot of pride in Usha Vance’s accomplishments.
((Radio: C. Santhamma is her great aunt.))
((C. Santhamma, Great Aunt))
“I felt very proud of the situation because from my family such a great intellectual has risen.
((NARRATOR))
Her former law firm profile says Usha Vance participated in a media freedom access clinic at Yale. She also worked at an Iraqi refugee assistance project there. She clerked for both Supreme Court Justice John Roberts and for Justice Brett Kavanaugh when he was at the Court of Appeals.
Anita McBride, who once served as first lady Laura Bush’s chief of staff, says people who know Usha Vance speak highly of her.
((Anita McBride, American University))
“Super smart, very collegial, got along with everyone and just is a hard worker and a nice person. And you want to hear things like that about people that are maybe in public life. You know, I think it says something about their character that they're well- liked.”
((NARRATOR))
Usha Vance’s status as the child of immigrants could help voters from marginalized groups to see her husband in a new light.
((Usha Vance, Wife of JD Vance))
“He adapted to my vegetarian diet and learned to cook food for my mother. Indian food.”
((Radio: Kelly Dittmar is at Rutgers University’s Center for American Women and Politics))
((Kelly Dittmar, Rutgers University)) ((Courtesy: Zoom))
“She's validating, and serves as a validator for him, with different potentially different communities who might not think that JD Vance would understand them or perhaps, you know, support or advocate for them.”
((NARRATOR))
What can the mother of three expect now that she’s been thrust into the national spotlight?
((Radio: Again, Antia McBride))
((Anita McBride, American University))
“Really picking apart your background, your heritage, your education, the jobs that you've chosen. It’s all now fair game.”
((NARRATOR))
JD Vance says his wife is “not a very political person.” She is out on the campaign trail with him after resigning from her law firm when her husband became Donald Trump’s running mate.
((Dora Mekouar, VOA News, Washington))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
Subtitles / Dubbing AvailableNo
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateAugust 5, 2024 09:59 EDT
BylineDora Mekouar
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English, US Agency for Global Media
