Paul Cellucci

**Argeo Paul Cellucci** (April 24, 1948 – June 8, 2013) was an American politician and diplomat. He was the 69th Governor of Massachusetts and United States Ambassador to Canada.

## Early life

Cellucci was born on April 24, 1948 in Hudson, Massachusetts. He studied at Boston College Law School and the private Hudson Catholic High School. Cellucci was married to Jan Cellucci until his death in 2013. They had two children.

## Career

On November 3, 1998, Paul Cellucci was elected as Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, narrowly defeating Democratic attorney general Scott Harshbarger. He had successfully fought off a challenge from State Treasurer Joe Malone in the September primary. He was sworn in as the 69th Governor of Massachusetts on January 7, 1999.

On April 10, 2001, Cellucci resigned to become U.S. Ambassador to Canada, being appointed by President George W. Bush. This made him the second consecutive Massachusetts governor to resign in order to assume an ambassadorship: his predecessor William Weld resigned after being nominated to be Ambassador to Mexico by President Bill Clinton. (Weld was never confirmed by the United States Senate, however, and hence never was Ambassador.)

In 2008, Cellucci has said that after thirty-five years in public service he had no intention of seeking further office, and that while he had no interest in serving as Vice President, he did not exclusively rule it out. He supported John McCain's candidacy for president in 2008.

## Death

On January 6, 2011, Cellucci announced his amyotrophic lateral sclerosis diagnosis, and that it was progressing relatively slowly. Cellucci died on June 8, 2013 in Hudson, Massachusetts from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, aged 65.

## Other websites

- Official Commonwealth of Massachusetts Governor Biography
- Cato Institute, Fiscal Policy Report Card on America's Governors: 2000, Cato Institute, Policy Analysis no. 391, February 12, 2001
- CBC news story of Cellucci's appointment as Ambassador, _CBC_, February 13, 2001
- CBC news story about Cellucci's planned departure from Canada, _CBC_, January 4, 2005
- Former U.S. ambassador Paul Cellucci joins Magna Entertainment, _CBC_, March 18, 2005

## Infobox (officeholder)

- **name**: Paul Cellucci
- **image**: cellucci_paul.jpg
- **caption**: Argeo P. Cellucci
- **birth place**: Hudson, Massachusetts, Hudson, Massachusetts
- **death place**: Hudson, Massachusetts
- **spouse**: Jan Cellucci
- **residence**: Hudson, Massachusetts
- **party**: United States Republican Party, Republican
- **ambassador from**: United States
- **country**: Canada
- **term start**: April 17, 2001
- **term end**: March 25, 2005
- **predecessor**: Gordon Giffin
- **successor**: David Wilkins
- **president**: George W. Bush
- **office2**: 69th Governor of Massachusetts
- **term start2**: January 7, 1999
- **term end2**: April 10, 2001
<small>Acting (law), Acting: July 29, 1997 - January 7, 1999</small>
- **predecessor2**: William Weld
- **successor2**: Jane M. Swift (Acting)
 Mitt Romney
- **office3**: 68th Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts
- **term start3**: January 3, 1991
- **term end3**: January 7, 1999
- **governor3**: William Weld
- **predecessor3**: Evelyn Murphy
- **successor3**: Jane M. Swift
- **office4**: Member of the
 Massachusetts Senate
 from the Middlesex and Worcester District
- **term start4**: 1985
- **term end4**: 1991
- **predecessor4**: Chester G. Atkins
- **successor4**: Robert Durand
- **office5**: Member of the
 Massachusetts House of Representatives
 from the 3rd Middlesex District
- **term start5**: 1979
- **term end5**: 1985
- **predecessor5**: Charles Flaherty
- **successor5**: Patricia Walrath
- **office6**: Member of the
 Massachusetts House of Representatives
 from the 51st Middlesex District
- **term start6**: 1977
- **term end6**: 1979
- **predecessor6**: Wilfred Balthazar
- **successor6**: District abolished