Hazel R. O'Leary facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hazel O'Leary
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| 7th United States Secretary of Energy | |
| In office January 22, 1993 – January 20, 1997 |
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| President | Bill Clinton |
| Deputy | Bill White Charles B. Curtis |
| Preceded by | James D. Watkins |
| Succeeded by | Federico Peña |
| 14th President of Fisk University | |
| In office July 13, 2004 – January 31, 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Carolynn Reid-Wallace |
| Succeeded by | James Williams |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Hazel Reid
May 17, 1937 Newport News, Virginia, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses | Carl Rollins (divorced) Max Robinson (divorced) John O'Leary
(m. 1980; died 1987) |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | Fisk University (BA) Rutgers University, Newark (LLB) |
Hazel Reid O'Leary (born May 17, 1937) is an American lawyer and politician. She made history as the 7th United States Secretary of Energy. She held this important job from 1993 to 1997. As a member of the Democratic Party, O'Leary was the first woman and the first African American to serve in this role.
After her time in government, she became the 14th president of Fisk University. This is a historically black college and was also her own college. She led Fisk University from 2004 to 2013. During her time there, she helped the school through some tough financial times. She worked to increase the number of students. She also used the school's art collection to help raise money.
Early Life and School
Hazel Reid was born in Newport News, Virginia. Her parents, Russel E. Reid and Hazel Reid, were both doctors. They separated when she was very young. Hazel and her older sister, Edna, were raised by their father and stepmother, Mattie Pullman Reid. They grew up mostly in the East End neighborhood.
Hazel went to schools that were separated by race for eight years in Newport News. Later, she and her sister moved to live with an aunt in Essex County, New Jersey. There, they attended Arts High School, which was a school for all students.
College and Law School
Hazel earned her first college degree from Fisk University in Nashville in 1959. After that, she got married and had a son. She then went back to school to study law. In 1966, she earned her law degree from Rutgers Law School in Newark.
Her Career Journey
Starting Out in Law
O'Leary began her career as a prosecutor in New Jersey. She worked on cases involving organized crime. Later, she became an assistant attorney general for the state. In 1969, O'Leary moved to Washington, D.C. She joined a company called Coopers & Lybrand, which helped businesses with advice and accounting.
During the time of President Jimmy Carter, O'Leary joined the government. She worked in the new Department of Energy. There, she met John F. O'Leary, who was the Deputy Secretary of Energy. They got married in 1980.
Working in Energy Companies
After President Carter's term ended, Hazel and John O'Leary started their own consulting company. It was called O'Leary & Associates. Hazel was a vice president and the main lawyer for the company. After John passed away in 1987, she moved to Minnesota.
From 1989 to 1993, O'Leary worked as an executive for the Northern States Power Company. This company provided electricity and gas to people.
Becoming Secretary of Energy
On December 21, 1992, President-elect Bill Clinton announced that he wanted Hazel O'Leary to be his Secretary of Energy. The Senate approved her nomination very quickly. She officially started her job on January 22, 1993.
Hazel O'Leary was the first woman and the first African American to hold this important position. She was also the first Secretary of Energy who had worked for an energy company before. The Department of Energy had a large budget and many employees when she led it.
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Changing the Department of Energy
O'Leary wanted to change how the Department of Energy worked. She felt it focused too much on nuclear weapons. During her time, the department became smaller. She also moved resources to focus more on clean and renewable energy sources. This was a goal of President Clinton.
Revealing Secret Information
One of her big achievements was making old government documents public. These documents were from the Cold War era. They showed that the U.S. government had done secret tests on American citizens. These tests looked at the effects of radiation without people knowing.
President Clinton then created a committee to prevent such things from happening again. O'Leary also announced that money would be given to the families of people affected by these past radiation experiments. She also worked to stop nuclear weapons testing in the United States.
Facing Challenges
During her time as Secretary, O'Leary faced some criticism. There were questions about how much money was spent on her international trips. She apologized to Congress for spending more than allowed for travel.
O'Leary left her position on January 20, 1997. She said she did not want to stay in the job for more than four years.
After Government Service
Leading Fisk University
After leaving the government, O'Leary returned to her consulting firm. She also served on the boards of different companies. On July 13, 2004, she became the president of Fisk University. This was her old college.
When O'Leary became president, Fisk University was having financial problems. It also needed more students. By 2011, the number of students at Fisk had improved. However, the school was still facing financial challenges.
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Art Collection and Fundraising
To help the university, O'Leary decided to use its art collection. The school had a valuable collection of art given by Alfred Stieglitz. She wanted to sell some of the art to raise money for new buildings and to help the school's savings.
This decision led to a long legal battle. The family of the artist and the state of Tennessee did not want the art sold. After seven years, a deal was made. Fisk University would share the art collection with the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Arkansas. O'Leary said this agreement was very important for keeping the university open.
In 2012, O'Leary announced she would retire. Her retirement from Fisk University was effective on January 31, 2013.
Other Groups and Boards
Hazel O'Leary has also been a director for several companies. She has served on the boards of many non-profit groups. These include the World Wildlife Fund and the Arms Control Association. She also helped lead boards for colleges like Morehouse College.
Personal Life
Hazel O'Leary has been married three times. She had a son named Carl from her first marriage. He also became a lawyer. She was briefly married to news anchor Max Robinson. In 1980, she married John F. O'Leary. They were married until his death in 1987.
In 1997, O'Leary joined a Presbyterian Church. She is also a member of The Links, a group for African American women.
See also
In Spanish: Hazel R. O'Leary para niños
- List of African-American United States Cabinet members
- List of female United States Cabinet members
