Princess Rita Boncompagni-Ludovisi, Princess of Piombino

Rita Jenrette (née Carpenter) is an American actress, television journalist, and real estate executive. Education Jenrette earned her Bachelor's degree in history, cum laude, from the University of Texas in 1971. Career Politics In 1973, she became the director of research for the Republican Party of Texas. In 1974, Jenrette was a visiting lecturer at the Taft Political Institute at Trinity University. In 1975, she was Opposition research Director of the Republican National Committee, under the chairmanship of Mary Louise Smith. On September 10, 1976, she married freshman Democratic whip John Jenrette (of ABSCAM notoriety) of South Carolina, 18 months after meeting him on Capitol Hill.