Evelyn S. Lieberman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Evelyn S. Lieberman
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| Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs | |
| In office October 1, 1999 – January 20, 2001 |
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| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Charlotte Beers |
| White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations | |
| In office January 11, 1996 – January 20, 1997 |
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| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Erskine Bowles |
| Succeeded by | John Podesta |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Evelyn May Simonowitz
July 9, 1944 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Died | December 12, 2015 (aged 71) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Domestic partner | Edward Lieberman |
| Education | Buffalo State College (BA) |
Evelyn May Lieberman (born July 9, 1944 – died December 12, 2015) was an important American public affairs expert. She made history during President Bill Clinton's time in office. She was the first woman to be a White House Deputy Chief of Staff. She also became the first Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs for the United States.
Later, from 2002 to 2015, she worked at the Smithsonian Institution. There, she helped with how the Smithsonian connected with people outside the organization.
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Early Career and Public Service
Evelyn Lieberman had many important jobs early in her career. From 1988 to 1993, she was the press secretary for Senator Joe Biden. A press secretary helps share information with news reporters.
She also worked as the Director of Public Affairs for the Children's Defense Fund. This group helps protect children's rights. She was also Communications Director for the National Urban Coalition. This group works to improve cities.
Lieberman also helped a group called the Trust for Early Education. This group wanted to make sure young children got ready for school.
Working in the White House
Lieberman first joined the White House team in 1993. She worked for Hillary Clinton, who was the First Lady at the time. She started as an assistant to Hillary Clinton's Chief of Staff.
She then became a Deputy Press Secretary. This meant she helped the President's main spokesperson. On January 10, 1996, she got a very important job. She was named Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff.
First Woman Deputy Chief of Staff
Evelyn Lieberman was the first woman to hold the job of White House Deputy Chief of Staff. This was a big step for women in government. While another Deputy Chief of Staff handled policy, Lieberman managed how the White House ran every day.
She oversaw many important offices. These included scheduling, managing staff, and handling presidential appointments. She made sure everything ran smoothly. She was known for being very organized and disciplined.
Handling Staff Matters
While working as Deputy Chief of Staff, Lieberman made a tough decision. She moved a former intern, Monica Lewinsky, out of the White House. This intern was later found to have had an inappropriate relationship with the President.
Lieberman said she moved Lewinsky because she was "spending too much time around the West Wing". This decision showed that Lieberman was a strong leader. People who supported Hillary Clinton often joked about Lieberman's strictness. They would say, "If Lieberman invites you for a walk, don't go. It means you're fired."
Leading Public Diplomacy
After her time as Deputy Chief of Staff, Lieberman wanted to work in public affairs again. President Clinton appointed her to lead the Voice of America (VOA). The VOA shares news and information around the world.
In 1999, the VOA's parent organization joined the State Department. Lieberman then became a senior advisor to the United States Secretary of State.
Under Secretary of State
Later, President Clinton nominated her for an even higher role. She was confirmed by the Senate as the Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. This was another historic first for her.
In this role, she oversaw how the State Department communicated with the public. She managed international information programs. She also looked after education and cultural exchange programs. Her main goal was to improve how the United States was seen around the world.
Later Work and Education
From 2002 to early 2015, Evelyn Lieberman worked at the Smithsonian Institution. She was the Director of Communications and Public Affairs. She took a break from this job to help with Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. She was the chief operating officer for the campaign.
Lieberman was born in New York. She graduated from The State University of New York at Buffalo in 1966. In 2014, she gave a speech at her old university. She also received an honorary degree from them.
Personal Life
Evelyn Lieberman was married to Edward H. Lieberman, who was an attorney. She passed away on December 12, 2015. She died from pancreatic cancer.
