McConnell, wife mark expansion of their U of L archives

Mitch McConnell and Elaine Chao’s enduring status as a powerhouse couple was on display Tuesday as they reflected on their shared lives at a ceremony for the archives that will catalogue their careers.

The Kentuckians marked the expansion of the McConnell Chao Archives at McConnell’s alma mater, the University of Louisville. McConnell, the longest-serving Senate party leader in U.S. history, is in his final term after the Republican senator revealed in February that he won’t seek reelection in 2026. Chao, his wife, is a former U.S. labor and transportation secretary for Republican administrations.

“I didn’t get into this line of work to put my name on a building,” McConnell said during the campus ceremony. “We needed an archive largely because I never threw anything away.”

The collection will span their decades of public life and offer a “front-row view of how our government and institutions operate,” McConnell said in a news release.

McConnell, 83, is Kentucky’s longest-serving senator. He was first elected to the Senate in 1984 and was elected to his seventh term in 2020. His tenure as Senate party leader ended at the start of 2025. He is serving out his current term and has focused on national defense and international issues, including support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.

UofL President Gerry Bradley said the archives will be an “invaluable source” for scholars and historians by offering insights into the careers of McConnell and Chao.

“It’s not just a record of political history — it’s a living resource for students, scholars and citizens who seek to understand and engage with the democratic process,” he said.

Originally installed in 2009, the McConnell Chao Archives include a permanent gallery open to the public in UofL’s Ekstrom Library. It features exhibits, films and interactive displays about U.S. government, history and politics. 



(AP Photo Mark Humphrey)