Theodore Olson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Theodore Olson
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Official portrait, c. 2001
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| 42nd Solicitor General of the United States | |
| In office June 11, 2001 – July 10, 2004 |
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| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Seth P. Waxman |
| Succeeded by | Paul Clement |
| United States Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Counsel | |
| In office 1981–1984 |
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| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | John Harmon |
| Succeeded by | Charles Cooper |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Theodore Bevry Olson
September 11, 1940 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | November 13, 2024 (aged 84) Falls Church, Virginia, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses |
Karen Beatie
(m. 1964; div. 1987)Jolie Bales
(m. 1987; div. 1991)Lady Booth
(m. 2006) |
| Education | University of the Pacific (BA) UC Berkeley (JD) |
Theodore Bevry Olson (September 11, 1940 – November 13, 2024) was an American lawyer. He held important roles in the United States government. From 2001 to 2004, he was the 42nd Solicitor General of the United States under President George W. Bush. Before that, he served as an Assistant Attorney General from 1981 to 1984 during President Ronald Reagan's time in office. He also worked for many years as a partner at the law firm Gibson Dunn.
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Theodore Olson's Early Life and Schooling
Theodore Olson was born on September 11, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up in Mountain View, California. After finishing Los Altos High School in 1958, he went to the University of the Pacific. There, he studied communications and history. He graduated in 1962 with honors.
He then attended the UC Berkeley School of Law, where he was part of the California Law Review. He earned his law degree in 1965.
Theodore Olson's Legal Career
Starting His Law Career: 1965 to 2000
In 1965, Olson began working at the law firm Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher in Los Angeles. By 1972, he became a partner at the firm.
From 1981 to 1984, Olson served as an Assistant Attorney General in President Ronald Reagan's government. During this time, he was a legal advisor to President Reagan. Olson also worked on a case where the President wanted to keep some government documents private. This led to a review by a committee in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Olson believed that a special independent lawyer, called an Independent Counsel, had too much power. He thought this role could become too political and not answerable to anyone. However, the Supreme Court disagreed with him in a case called Morrison v. Olson.
After his government service, he returned to private law practice in Washington, D.C..
Olson handled many important cases. He argued a dozen cases before the Supreme Court before he became Solicitor General. One of his most famous cases was representing presidential candidate George W. Bush in the Supreme Court case Bush v. Gore. This case helped decide the outcome of the 2000 presidential election. Olson personally presented the arguments for Bush to the Supreme Court on December 11, 2000.
Later Law Career: After 2001
President George W. Bush chose Olson to be the Solicitor General on February 14, 2001. The United States Senate approved his nomination, and he started his new role on June 11, 2001. As Solicitor General, Olson represented the U.S. government in cases before the Supreme Court. In July 2004, Olson left his position as Solicitor General and went back to working at Gibson Dunn.
In 2009, Olson teamed up with David Boies, another famous lawyer who had been on the opposite side in the Bush v. Gore case. Together, they filed a lawsuit called Perry v. Schwarzenegger. This lawsuit challenged a California law that banned same-sex marriage. Their work on this case was highly recognized. In 2011, Olson and David Boies received the ABA Medal, which is the highest award from the American Bar Association.
Olson also represented Apple Inc. in a case against the FBI. The FBI wanted Apple to unlock an iPhone, but Olson helped Apple fight this order. The government later dropped its case.
He also represented New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in a sports dispute. The case ended with Brady accepting a suspension.
In 2017, Olson represented a group of advertisers in a lawsuit against the City of San Francisco. The city had a law requiring warnings on soda ads. Olson argued that this law limited free speech. A court agreed with Olson and stopped the city's warnings for a time.
In 2019, Olson represented young people protected by the DACA program in a Supreme Court case. The Supreme Court decided to keep the DACA program in place.
Olson was Solicitor General during the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. His wife was on one of the planes that crashed into the Pentagon. In 2023, Olson wrote that the U.S. should try to finish the legal cases for the people involved in the attacks. He suggested offering life sentences instead of continuing with very complex trials.
Theodore Olson's Personal Life
Theodore Olson was married four times. His third wife, Barbara Kay Olson, was also a lawyer and a well-known commentator. She was a passenger on American Airlines Flight 77 when it crashed into the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. This was also Olson's birthday. She had changed her travel plans to be with him on his birthday. Before the plane crashed, she called her husband to warn him.
In 2006, Olson married Lady Evelyn Booth, a lawyer from Kentucky. They were married for 18 years until his death.
Olson passed away from a stroke in a hospital in Falls Church, Virginia, on November 13, 2024. He was 84 years old.
Theodore Olson's Political Views
Olson was a founding member of the Federalist Society, a group that discusses legal ideas. He was a strong supporter of the Republican Party. He also served on the board of The American Spectator magazine.
Olson helped prepare Rudy Giuliani for his 2008 presidential campaign. In 2012, he helped Paul Ryan get ready for a vice presidential debate by pretending to be Joe Biden. Olson was also a vocal supporter of same-sex marriage within the Republican Party.
Possible Government Appointments
Olson was considered for important government jobs. He was thought of as a possible choice for a judge on the Supreme Court of the United States by President Bush. This was when Sandra Day O'Connor and later Harriet Miers left their positions.
In 2007, the Bush administration also considered Olson for the job of Attorney General. However, he was not chosen for that role.
Images for kids
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Official portrait, c. 2001
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Theodore Olson in 2010
