Carla Anderson Hills facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Carla Hills
10th United States Trade Representative
In office February 6, 1989 – January 20, 1993
President	George H. W. Bush
Preceded by	Clayton Yeutter
Succeeded by	Mickey Kantor
5th United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
In office March 10, 1975 – January 20, 1977
President	Gerald Ford
Preceded by	James Thomas Lynn
Succeeded by	Patricia Roberts Harris
20th United States Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division
In office 1973–1975
President	Richard Nixon Gerald Ford
Preceded by	Harlington Wood Jr.
Succeeded by	Rex E. Lee
Co-Chair of the Council on Foreign Relations
In office June 30, 2007 – July 1, 2017 Serving with Robert Rubin
President	Richard N. Haass
Preceded by	Peter G. Peterson
Succeeded by	David Rubenstein
Personal details
Born	Carla Anderson (1934-01-03) January 3, 1934 (age 91) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Roderick M. Hills ​ ​ (m. 1958; his death 2014)​
Children	4
Education	Stanford University (BA) St Hilda's College, Oxford Yale University (LLB)

Carla Anderson Hills (born January 3, 1934) is an American lawyer and former government official. She is a member of the Republican Party. She served as the 5th United States secretary of housing and urban development under President Gerald Ford from 1975 to 1977. Later, she was the 10th United States trade representative under President George H. W. Bush from 1989 to 1993.

Carla Hills made history as the first woman to hold each of these important government jobs. She was also the third woman ever to be part of a presidential cabinet. She was the first woman to be appointed to both cabinet and cabinet-rank positions. She is the earliest-serving living former U.S. Cabinet member.

Early Life and Education

Carla Anderson was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1934. Her parents were Carl H. Anderson and Edith A. Hume. She went to Stanford University and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree. She also studied at St Hilda's College, Oxford in England. In 1958, she earned her law degree (LL.B.) from Yale Law School. That same year, she married Roderick M. Hills.

Carla and Roderick Hills had four children together. Their names are Laura, Roderick Jr., Megan, and Alison.

Carla Hills' Career in Law and Government

Carla Hills being sworn in as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in 1975.

Carla Hills with President Gerald Ford in 1977.

Carla Hills became a lawyer in California in 1959. She worked as an Assistant United States Attorney in Los Angeles from 1959 to 1961. From 1962 to 1974, she and her husband started their own law firm called Munger, Tolles & Hills. She also taught at UCLA in 1972. Carla Hills was an expert in federal law and rules about fair competition. She wrote books on these topics. She also served as the president of the National Association of Women Lawyers.

Working for the Justice Department

Before becoming a cabinet secretary, Carla Hills worked for the U.S. Department of Justice. She was a United States Assistant Attorney General, leading the Civil Division. This division handles legal matters for the U.S. government. She was offered this job in 1973 and started in 1974.

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development

In 1975, President Gerald Ford chose Carla Hills to lead the HUD Department. This department helps people find good housing and build strong communities. Some people questioned her experience for this role. However, President Ford later said that Hills was very good at her job. She fought for HUD's budget and often won. She was even considered as a possible Supreme Court Justice.

U.S. Trade Representative

Official portrait of Carla Hills.

Carla Hills with President George H. W. Bush during the NAFTA signing ceremony.

From 1989 to 1993, Carla Hills served as the U.S. Trade Representative under President George H. W. Bush. In this role, she was the main person in charge of trade talks for the United States. She had to make sure other countries traded fairly with the U.S. She was known for being a tough negotiator.

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

Carla Hills strongly believed in free trade, which means countries can trade goods and services without many restrictions. She was the lead U.S. negotiator for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). This agreement created a large free-trade zone between the United States, Canada, and Mexico. In 2000, Mexico honored her with the Order of the Aztec Eagle. This is the highest award Mexico gives to people who are not Mexican citizens.

Global Trade Talks (GATT)

Another major goal for the Bush administration was to complete the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) talks. These talks, called the Uruguay Round, involved 97 countries. Their goal was to lower tariffs (taxes on imported goods) and remove other barriers to trade around the world. Carla Hills played a key role in these important global trade discussions.

After Government Service

Since 1993, Carla Hills has worked as a consultant and public speaker. She founded her own company, Hills & Company International Consultants, which later joined another firm. She has served on the boards of many large companies, including American International Group, The Coca-Cola Company, and J.P. Morgan Chase. She also works with organizations that focus on international relations and business, like the U.S.-China Business Council.

In 2008, Yale University gave her an honorary degree. She has received similar honors from other universities as well. Carla Hills also helped start the Forum for International Policy, where she is a trustee. In 2020, she joined many other former Republican officials in supporting Joe Biden for president. In 2022, she helped create a group of U.S. business and policy leaders who want to improve relations between the U.S. and China.

North American Community Ideas

In 2005, Carla Hills was part of a group called the Task Force on the Future of North America. This group wrote a report called Building a North American Community. The report suggested ways to make trade easier and build better connections between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. For example, it recommended helping schools teach about North America. It also suggested teacher exchange programs to help students learn different languages, like Spanish in the U.S. and Canada.

Awards and Recognition

• In 1979, Carla Hills was featured on a Supersisters trading card. This set of cards celebrated important women.
• In 1993, she received the U.S. Senator John Heinz Award. This award recognizes great public service by elected or appointed officials.

See also

In Spanish: Carla Anderson Hills para niños

• List of female United States Cabinet members
• Gerald Ford Supreme Court candidates