Carla Anderson Hills facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carla Hills
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10th United States Trade Representative | |
In office February 6, 1989 – January 20, 1993 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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
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President | Richard N. Haass |
Preceded by | Peter G. Peterson |
Succeeded by | David Rubenstein |
Personal details | |
Born |
Carla Anderson
January 3, 1934 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse |
Roderick M. Hills
(m. 1958; |
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 a former important government official. She is a member of the Republican Party. Carla Hills was the 5th Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for President Gerald Ford from 1975 to 1977. Later, she became the 10th United States Trade Representative for President George H. W. Bush from 1989 to 1993.
Carla Hills made history by being the first woman to hold both of these high-level positions. She was also one of the first women to serve in a president's top team, called the Cabinet.
Contents
Early Life & 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 first degree there. She also studied at St Hilda's College, Oxford in England. In 1958, she earned her law degree from Yale Law School. That same year, she married Roderick M. Hills. They had four children together: Laura, Roderick Jr., Megan, and Alison.
Government Career & Public Service
Carla Hills became a lawyer in California in 1959. She worked as an Assistant United States Attorney in Los Angeles from 1959 to 1961. For many years, she also worked in private law firms. She even taught as a professor at UCLA. She is an expert in federal law and rules about fair business practices.
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Before becoming a Cabinet member, Hills worked for the U.S. Department of Justice. She led the Civil Division as an Assistant Attorney General.
In 1975, President Gerald Ford chose her to lead the HUD Department. This department helps with housing and city development. Some people were surprised by her nomination because she didn't have much direct experience in housing. However, President Ford later said she was very good at her job. She fought hard for HUD's budget and often won.
U.S. Trade Representative
From 1989 to 1993, Carla Hills served as the United States Trade Representative for President George H. W. Bush. In this role, she was in charge of trade deals between the U.S. and other countries. She worked to make trade fair for the U.S.
She was a strong supporter of free trade, which means countries can trade goods without many taxes or rules. A very important part of her job was negotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). This agreement created a large free-trade zone between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
In 2000, Mexico gave her a special award called the Order of the Aztec Eagle. This is the highest honor Mexico gives to people who are not Mexican citizens. It showed how much they appreciated her work on NAFTA.
She also played a key role in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT). This was a big effort to lower trade taxes and remove barriers for trade among many countries around the world.
Later Career & Activities
After leaving government in 1993, Carla Hills became a consultant and public speaker. She worked with her own company, Hills & Company International Consultants. She also served on the boards of several large international companies.
In 2008, Yale University gave her an honorary degree, which is a special award for her achievements. She has received similar honors from other schools too.
Carla Hills is also involved in groups that focus on international policy and relations. For example, she helped start the Forum for International Policy. She also works with groups that try to improve relations between the U.S. and China.
North American Community
In 2005, Carla Hills was part of a group that looked at the future of North America. This group suggested ways to make trade and cooperation stronger between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. They recommended things like making trade more efficient and helping schools teach about North America. This could include teacher exchange programs to help students learn different languages.
Awards and Honors
- In 1979, Carla Hills was featured on a "Supersisters" trading card. This set celebrated important women.
- In 1993, she received the U.S. Senator John Heinz Award for Greatest Public Service. This award recognizes excellent public officials.
See also
In Spanish: Carla Anderson Hills para niños
- List of female United States Cabinet members