Clare Boothe Luce.

Name: Twenty Best Plays of the Modern American Theatre
Author: Clare Boothe Luce

Ann Clare Boothe

Born 10 Mar 1903 New York City, United States

Died 9 Oct 1987 Washington, United States

Citizenship United States

Would Be 123 yr If Living

9 min read

Reading time

1,620

Words

Mar 5, 2026

Published

Books

Awards

TL;DR

Clare Boothe Luce wrote The Women 1936, a comedy that ran 657 performances on Broadway. She served as a U.S. Congresswoman from Connecticut from 1943 to 1947. President Eisenhower appointed her U.S. Ambassador to Italy in 1953. She conceived Life magazine and alerted the FBI about the Pearl Harbor attack.

Identity & family.

KIN · 5

Names, aliases, and relatives of Clare Boothe Luce — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Birth Name Ann Clare Boothe

Aliases Clare Boothe, Claire Boothe Luce

PARENTS: Anna Snyder William Franklin Boothe
SPOUSES: Henry Luce George Tuttle Brokaw
CHILDREN: Ann Clare Brokaw

At a glance.

STATS

Clare Boothe Luce by the numbers — life, work, and family.

84 Years lived

2 Books

5 Awards

2 Marriages

1 Child

Who was Clare Boothe Luce?

BIOGRAPHY

Clare Boothe Luce — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

Ann Clare Boothe was born on March 10, 1903 in New York City to Anna Snyder and William Franklin Boothe. After her parents divorced, she lived with her mother and attended Ward–Belmont College. At 16, she left high school and found a job with a paper novelties company, launching her independent career.

Career

Clare Boothe Luce’s play The Women opened on Broadway in 1936, a satirical comedy that ran 657 performances and was adapted into a 1939 film. She wrote Margin for Error 1939, a political thriller about a Nazi diplomat’s murder. During World War II, she reported for Time magazine as a war correspondent. In 1942, she won election to the U.S. House of Representatives as a Republican from Connecticut, serving until 1947. President Dwight D. Eisenhower appointed her U.S. Ambassador to Italy in 1953, a post she held until 1956. She conceived Life magazine, which her husband Henry Luce launched.

Personal life

Clare Boothe married George Tuttle Brokaw in 1923; the couple divorced in 1929. They had one daughter, Ann Clare Brokaw. In 1935, she married Henry Luce, the founder and publisher of Time, Fortune, and Life magazines. With financier Bernard Baruch, she carried on a lifelong love affair. A convert to Roman Catholicism, she enjoyed doing jigsaw puzzles as a hobby.

Legacy

Clare Boothe Luce received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1983. The Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame inducted her in 1994. The Women continues to be revived on Broadway and has been adapted into multiple films. Her warnings to the FBI about Pearl Harbor and her private surveillance that discovered Soviet missiles in Cuba are hallmarks of her influence.

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 5

Every award, honor, and recognition received by Clare Boothe Luce — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

Presidential Medal of Freedom
Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame
Horatio Alger Award
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
Laetare Medal

Bibliography.

BOOKS · 2

Clare Boothe Luce's bibliography — every authored, edited, and co-written book, ranked by edition count.

Amazon

Twenty Best Plays of the Modern American Theatre

by John Gassner et al.
Amazon

Saints for Now

by Clare Boothe Luce

Notable quotes.

QUOTES · 1

A wall of memorable lines from Clare Boothe Luce — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.

All History Shows That the Hand That Cradles the Rock Has Ruled the World, Not the Hand That Rocks the Cradle.

Did you know?

FACTS · 17

Little-known facts about Clare Boothe Luce — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

Was managing editor of Vanity Fair magazine from 1932 to 1934.
She conceived Life magazine, which her husband Henry Luce published.
Warned the FBI about the Pearl Harbor attack, but they did not believe her.
Appointed U.S. Ambassador to Italy by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953, serving until 1956.
She discovered Soviet missiles in Cuba in 1962 through private surveillance.
Husband Henry Luce was the founder and publisher of Time magazine.
Served as a Republican U.S. Representative from Connecticut from January 3, 1943 to January 3, 1947, and did not seek renomination in 1946.
Had a lifelong love affair with Bernard Baruch.
Her hobby was doing jigsaw puzzles.
Was a war correspondent for Time magazine during World War II.
After graduating from high school at 16, she left home and took a job with a company that manufactured paper novelties.
Announcing the nominees for Best Director at the Oscars in 1952, she did not know how to pronounce John Huston’s name, saying: and – and – is it John Huss-ton or John Hoo-ston?.
Biography appears in The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Volume Two, 1986-1990, pages 557-559.
Inducted into the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame in 1994.
Convert to Roman Catholicism.
A fictionalized portrayal of her appears in the musical Little Shop of Horrors during the song Meek Shall Inherit.
She wrote the black comedy Margin for Error 1939, about the murder of a Nazi diplomat; the play is both a whodunit and political satire.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 50

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Clare Boothe Luce.

When was Clare Boothe Luce born?

Clare Boothe Luce was born Ann Clare Boothe on March 10, 1903 in New York City.
Where was Clare Boothe Luce born?

She was born in New York City, New York, USA.
When did Clare Boothe Luce die?

Clare Boothe Luce died on October 9, 1987 in Washington, D.C.
How old was Clare Boothe Luce when she died?

She was 84 years old at death, from brain cancer.
Where did Clare Boothe Luce die?

She died in Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
How did Clare Boothe Luce die?

She died of brain cancer.
What was Clare Boothe Luce's birth name?

Her birth name was Ann Clare Boothe.
What did Clare Boothe Luce do for a living?

She was a writer, actor, and stunt performer, as well as a U.S. Congresswoman and diplomat.
What nationality was Clare Boothe Luce?

She was an American.
What language did Clare Boothe Luce speak?

Her native language was English.
Who were Clare Boothe Luce's parents?

Her parents were Anna Snyder and William Franklin Boothe.
Who was Clare Boothe Luce married to?

She married George Tuttle Brokaw from 1923 to 1929, and Henry Luce from 1935 until his death in 1967.
Did Clare Boothe Luce have children?

Yes, she had one daughter, Ann Clare Brokaw, from her first marriage.
Where did Clare Boothe Luce go to school?

She attended Ward–Belmont College. She left high school at 16 to work.
What awards did Clare Boothe Luce win?

She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame induction, the Horatio Alger Award, the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, and the Laetare Medal.
How many awards did Clare Boothe Luce win?

She won at least five major awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
What other names did Clare Boothe Luce use?

She was also known as Clare Boothe and Claire Boothe Luce.
What is Clare Boothe Luce best known for?

Her play The Women 1936, her service as a U.S. Congresswoman, and her role as U.S. Ambassador to Italy are her most notable achievements.
Was Clare Boothe Luce a member of Congress?

Yes, she served as a Republican U.S. Representative from Connecticut from January 3, 1943 to January 3, 1947.
Did Clare Boothe Luce serve as an ambassador?

Yes, she was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Italy by President Eisenhower, serving from 1953 to 1956.
Did Clare Boothe Luce work for Vanity Fair?

Yes, she was managing editor of Vanity Fair magazine from 1932 to 1934.
Did Clare Boothe Luce conceive Life magazine?

Yes, she conceived the idea for Life magazine, which her husband Henry Luce published.
Did Clare Boothe Luce warn about Pearl Harbor?

Yes, she warned the FBI about the attack on Pearl Harbor, but they did not believe her.
Did Clare Boothe Luce discover missiles in Cuba?

She discovered Soviet missiles in Cuba in 1962 through private surveillance.
What was Clare Boothe Luce's relationship with Bernard Baruch?

She had a lifelong love affair with Bernard Baruch, a financier and presidential advisor.
Did Clare Boothe Luce have any hobbies?

She enjoyed doing jigsaw puzzles.
Was Clare Boothe Luce a war correspondent?

Yes, she served as a war correspondent for Time magazine during World War II.
What play did Clare Boothe Luce write?

She wrote The Women 1936, a satirical comedy, and Margin for Error 1939, a political thriller.
Did Clare Boothe Luce appear in movies?

She is credited as a writer and actress in films like Come to the Stable 1949 and The Opposite Sex 1956.
What was Clare Boothe Luce's religion?

She was a convert to Roman Catholicism.
Did Clare Boothe Luce receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom?

Yes, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1983 by President Ronald Reagan.
When was Clare Boothe Luce inducted into the Connecticut Women's Hall of Fame?

She was inducted in 1994.
Does a fictionalized Clare Boothe Luce appear in Little Shop of Horrors?

Yes, a fictionalized portrayal appears in the musical Little Shop of Horrors during the song Meek Shall Inherit.
What is the play Margin for Error about?

Margin for Error is a black comedy about the murder of a Nazi diplomat, serving as both a whodunit and political satire.
Did Clare Boothe Luce win any awards for her writing?

She received the Laetare Medal and the Horatio Alger Award, but specific writing awards are not listed in her biography.
What was Clare Boothe Luce's role in the 1952 Oscars?

She announced the Best Director nominees and famously mispronounced John Huston’s name.
How did Clare Boothe Luce start her career?

After leaving high school at 16, she worked for a paper novelties company, then moved into publishing and writing.
Was Clare Boothe Luce a stunt performer?

Yes, she is listed as a stunt performer in her occupations, though specific details are scarce.
Is there a biography of Clare Boothe Luce?

Yes, her biography appears in The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives, Volume Two 1999.
Did Clare Boothe Luce have any political opponents?

She did not seek renomination in 1946, but her political career involved typical partisan conflicts.
What was Clare Boothe Luce's relationship with her daughter?

She had one daughter, Ann Clare Brokaw; details of their relationship are not extensively documented.
Did Clare Boothe Luce ever run for office again?

After her congressional term, she did not run for office again, but remained active in politics and diplomacy.
What is the legacy of The Women?

The Women is a classic of American theater, known for its all-female cast and satirical take on wealthy women.
Was Clare Boothe Luce a feminist?

While not explicitly labeled, her achievements as a woman in male-dominated fields align with feminist ideals.
Did Clare Boothe Luce write any novels?

No novels are listed; her main works are plays and magazine editing.
What was Clare Boothe Luce's net worth?

Net worth is not provided in the source; she lived comfortably due to her marriage and career.
How tall was Clare Boothe Luce?

Height is not listed in the source.
What is Clare Boothe Luce's zodiac sign?

She was born on March 10, making her a Pisces.
Where is Clare Boothe Luce buried?

Burial location is not specified in the source.
Did Clare Boothe Luce have siblings?

Sibling information is not provided in the source.

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Audited & updated by

Michael is the last person to read a profile before it goes live, which makes him the one who catches what everyone else missed. 5 years as a copy editor has given him a sharp sense for what's off. A wrong year, a vague credit, a sentence that almost makes sense but doesn't quite. He's especially thorough with filmographies. He'll tell you that's where most of the errors hide. He's right.

Published on March 5, 2026

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