Joseph A. Califano Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joe Califano
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Califano in 2008
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| 12th United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare | |
| In office January 25, 1977 – August 3, 1979 |
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| President | Jimmy Carter |
| Preceded by | F. David Mathews |
| Succeeded by | Patricia Roberts Harris |
| White House Domestic Affairs Advisor | |
| In office July 26, 1965 – January 20, 1969 |
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| President | Lyndon B. Johnson |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Pat Moynihan (Urban Affairs) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Joseph Anthony Califano Jr.
May 15, 1931 Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Hilary Byers
(m. 1983) |
| Children | 5 |
| Education | College of the Holy Cross (BA) Harvard University (LLB) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1955–1958 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
Joseph Anthony Califano Jr. (born May 15, 1931) is an American lawyer, teacher, and public servant. He is famous for helping to shape important government programs in the United States. He worked for Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Jimmy Carter. He also served as the United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare during President Carter's time in office.
Califano founded and chaired The National Center on Addiction and ... at Columbia University (CASAColumbia). This group does research to help people with addiction. It is now called the Partnership to End Addiction, where Califano is the Chair Emeritus. He has also taught public health at Columbia University Medical School. He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine.
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Early Life and Education
Joseph Anthony Califano Jr. was born in Brooklyn, New York, on May 15, 1931. His parents were Joseph Anthony Califano and Katherine (Gill) Califano. He went to St. Gregory's Elementary School and Brooklyn Preparatory School in Brooklyn.
Califano earned his first college degree, a Bachelor of Arts, from the College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts in 1952. He then went to Harvard Law School and received his law degree in 1955. While in law school, he worked for the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau. He was also an editor for the Harvard Law Review, a respected legal journal.
Serving the Country: Military and Government Roles
In 1955, Califano joined the United States Navy. He became an ensign in November 1955. For three years, he worked in the Navy's legal office in Washington, D.C.. He left active duty in 1958 as a lieutenant. After his military service, he worked for a law firm in New York City until 1961.
Working for the Department of Defense
In April 1961, Califano began working for the U. S. Department of Defense. He became a special assistant to the General Counsel. In 1962, he was appointed Special Assistant to the United States Secretary of the Army. By 1963, he was the Army's General Counsel, which means he was the main legal advisor.
He also helped oversee the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' projects. He was part of the President's Appalachian Regional Commission. This group worked to help the Appalachian region. In 1964, Califano was the main legal advisor for the U.S. team investigating riots in Panama. He also presented the U.S. case to the International Commission of Jurists. For his excellent work, he received the Distinguished Civilian Service Medal. This is the Army's highest award for civilians.
In 1964, Califano became a Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense. He helped the Department of Defense work with the President's office. He also worked on committees about supersonic planes and the economic effects of defense. He received the Defense Distinguished Service Medal for his work.
Helping with Civil Rights
From March 21 to 25, 1965, Califano helped monitor the historic Selma to Montgomery marches. These marches were very important for civil rights. His work helped lead to the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This law made it easier for all citizens to vote.
Working for President Johnson
On July 26, 1965, Califano became a Special Assistant to President Lyndon B. Johnson. In this role, he was President Johnson's main advisor on domestic issues. He helped create the President's plans for new laws. He also helped manage the country's economy and deal with problems at home. He worked on many important issues like jobs, healthcare, education, and civil rights. He stayed in this position until January 1969. The New York Times even called him "The Deputy President for Domestic Affairs."
Later Career: Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare
After leaving the White House, Califano worked at law firms in Washington D.C.
In January 1977, Califano became the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW). This was a very important job in the President's Cabinet. He was in charge of many government programs related to health, education, and social welfare. He served in this role until August 1979.
Important Decisions and Changes
As Secretary, Califano supported policies that helped people get fair opportunities. He pushed for stronger policies to end segregation. However, he first hesitated to sign important rules for Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This law was the first U.S. federal civil rights protection for people with disabilities.
Because of this, protests happened in ten U.S. cities on April 5, 1977. One major protest was the 504 Sit-in at the HEW offices in San Francisco. This sit-in, led by Judith Heumann, lasted for 25 days. More than 150 people refused to leave the building. It is the longest non-violent sit-in at a federal building in U.S. history. Califano finally signed the updated rules on April 28, 1977.
Califano also helped fund the nation's first special care center for people who are very ill, called a hospice. He made it possible for Medicare to help pay for hospice care. In 1979, he directed the United States Public Health Service to change its official view that being homosexual was a "mental disease or defect." This change helped people who had been denied entry to the U.S. because of their sexual orientation.
In 1979, Califano led a U.S. group to China. This trip helped create long-lasting connections between the two countries in health and education.
Disagreements with President Carter
Even with his achievements, Califano and President Jimmy Carter had disagreements. Califano's policies often required more government spending. This went against Carter's promise to reduce the national debt. Califano also disagreed with Carter's plan to create a separate Department of Education. He believed education funding was safer within the larger Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.
Because of these disagreements, President Carter dismissed Califano on July 19, 1979. He was replaced by Patricia Roberts Harris. After Califano's firing, Congressman Charlie Wilson famously said, "Good grief! He's cut down the tall trees and left the monkeys." Ralph Nader compared it to "firing Mickey Mantle because he couldn't get along with the bat boy."
Life After Government Service
In 1980, Califano started his own law firm in Washington, D.C. From 1983 to 1992, he was a senior partner at another law firm, Dewey Ballantine LLP.
In 1987, New York governor Mario Cuomo asked Califano to lead a commission on government honesty. He was replaced a few months later because he no longer lived in New York.
Califano has written many articles for well-known newspapers and magazines. These include The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal. He also wrote for medical journals like the Journal of the American Medical Association.
He was the first Chairman of the Board for the Institute for Social and Economic Policy in the Middle East at Harvard University. Califano has also served on the boards of many important organizations. These include CBS Corporation, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, and the Urban Institute. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Awards
Califano's organization, the Partnership to End Addiction, has a research team that has published many articles. They have written over 190 articles or book chapters in professional journals. This includes 121 articles in respected medical journals like the Journal of the American Medical Association and the New England Journal of Medicine.
Books by Joseph Califano
Joseph Califano has written fourteen books. Some of his notable works include:
- Our Damaged Democracy (2018)
- Inside: A Public and Private Life (2004)
- The Triumph and Tragedy of Lyndon Johnson: The White House Years (1991)
In 1969, he traveled the world to study youth movements. He wrote about his experiences in his book, The Student Revolution: A Global Confrontation. His book Governing America: An Insider's Report from the White House and the Cabinet (1981) shares insights from his time as Secretary of HEW. He also wrote America's Health Care Revolution: Who Lives? Who Dies? Who Pays? (1986), which looked at the future of healthcare.
