Tucker Carlson is an American journalist, diplomat, and lobbyist who served as the director of the Voice of America from 1986 to 199. Delving into his family background, let’s explore more about his parents.
Tucker Carlson Parents: Meet Richard Warner Carlson and Lisa McNear
Tucker McNear Carlson, now known as Tucker Carlson, was born on May 16, 1969, at the Children’s Hospital in San Francisco, California, to Lisa McNear and Dick Carlson. His mother, an artist from San Francisco, and his father, a former “gonzo reporter” turned diplomat and communications executive, raised Carlson alongside his younger brother, Buckley Peck Carlson.
Carlson’s paternal grandparents, Richard Boynton and Dorothy Anderson, placed his father in foster care at The Home for Little Wanderers orphanage during their teenage years. He was later adopted by the Carlsons, an affluent New England family.
On his maternal side, Carlson is descended from Henry Miller, known as the “Cattle King,” and Cesar Lombardi, who immigrated from Switzerland in 1860. He also has distant connections to Massachusetts politicians Ebenezer R. Hoar and George M. Brooks. Carlson’s own name pays homage to his ancestors Dr. J. C. Tucker and George W. McNear, reflecting his rich familial history, which includes Italian-Swiss ancestry.
After his parents’ divorce in 1976, Carlson and his brother were raised by their father in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, California. He attended La Jolla Country Day School, growing up in a privileged environment overlooking the beach. Despite familial wealth and political connections, Carlson’s upbringing was marked by challenges, including his mother’s departure to France when he was six, never to return.
In 1979, Carlson’s father married Patricia Caroline Swanson, an heiress to Swanson Enterprises. Though Patricia was a beneficiary of the family fortune, the Swansons had sold their brand to Campbell Soup Company in 1955. This marriage marked a new chapter for Carlson, as he and his brother were legally adopted into the Swanson family.
Tucker Carlson Education
Carlson’s educational journey took him across borders and through various institutions. Initially, he attended Collège du Léman, a boarding school in French-speaking Switzerland, but his time there was short-lived as he later remarked that he was “kicked out”.
Subsequently, he pursued his secondary education at St. George’s School in Middletown, Rhode Island, where he formed a significant connection by dating Susan Andrews, the daughter of the school’s headmaster.
Moving on to higher education, Carlson spent four years at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. His time at Trinity is marked by an intriguing footnote in his yearbook, where he is noted as a member of the “Dan White Society,” an allusion to the infamous American political figure who assassinated San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk.
Despite being affiliated with the class of 1992, Carlson did not fulfill the requirements for graduation and thus did not receive a diploma.
Following his college years, Carlson sought a different path, attempting to join the Central Intelligence Agency. However, his application was rejected. Undeterred, he pivoted towards journalism, a career path he pursued with the encouragement of his father, who assured him that “they’ll take anybody” in the field. This transition marked the beginning of Carlson’s journey into the world of media and news reporting.