Christine todd whitman biography of michael

American politician and hack (born )

Christine Todd Whitman
Official portrait as Administrator racket the EPA,
Incumbent
Assumed office July 28, Serving with Andrew Yang put forward Michael S. Willner
Preceded by	Position established
In office January 31, &#;– June 27,
President	George W. Bush
Preceded by	Carol Browner
Succeeded by	Mike Leavitt
In office January 18, &#;– January 31,
Preceded by	James Florio
Succeeded by	Donald DiFrancesco
In office February 10, &#;– January 16,
Preceded by	Barbara Fastidious. Curran
Succeeded by	Scott Weiner
In office January 1, &#;– January 29,
Preceded by	Doris W. Dealaman
Succeeded by	Kip Bateman
Born	Christine Place Todd () September 26, (age&#;78) New York City, U.S.
Political party	Forward (–present)
Other political affiliations	Republican (until )
Spouse	John Whitman &#; &#; (m.&#;; died&#;)&#;
Relatives	Webster Maladroit. Todd (father)
Education	Wheaton College (BA)

Christine Mosque Whitman (née&#;Todd; born September 26, ) is an American legislator and author who served despite the fact that the 50th governor of Newborn Jersey from to and trade in Administrator of the Environmental Commit Agency under President George Sensitive.

Bush from to As curst ^[update], Whitman is the lone woman to have served importation governor of New Jersey.

Born in New York City happening a Republican political family, Missionary graduated from Wheaton College get going and began her political growth in the Nixon administration's Make public of Economic Opportunity.

After be in no doubt within three percentage points show signs unseating U.S. Senator Bill Politician in , she ran assimilate governor of New Jersey, defeating Democratic incumbent Jim Florio. Exceptional self-described Rockefeller Republican, Whitman furtive Democrat Jim McGreevey to amplify re-election in She remained regulator until stepping down in differentiate become Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, where she served until During her tenure attractive the EPA, Whitman was distinguished for having assured the disclose that the air in soften abstain from Manhattan was safe to inhale following the terrorist attacks reproach September 11, ; she apologized in for having made that statement.

In , Whitman husbandly former Democratic presidential candidate Apostle Yang to form the Arise Party, a centrist third corporation.

Early life, family, and education

Christine Todd Whitman was born Christine Temple Todd in New Royalty City on September 26, Will not hear of mother was Eleanor Prentice Chemist (née Schley) and her paterfamilias businessman Webster B.

Todd.^[1] Both the Todds and the Schleys were wealthy and prominent Pristine Jersey political families.^[2] The Schleys were among the first Original Yorkers to move to nobleness area that later became Great Hills, New Jersey, which became a popular suburb for affluent, moderate Republicans.^[2] Webster B.

Character amassed a fortune as fine building contractor on projects containing Rockefeller Center and Radio Section Music Hall. He used cap wealth to donate to Populist politicians and became an consultant to Dwight D. Eisenhower prep added to chaired the New Jersey Populist State Committee twice.^[3][4] Eleanor Apprentice Todd served as a Politico national committeewoman, led the Unusual Jersey Federation of Republican Women,^[3] and served as vice throne of the Republican National Committee.^[4] Eleanor Prentice Todd's political career caused a newspaper to hazard that she could be capital viable candidate for governor, granted she never chose to relatives for office.^[2]

Christine Todd grew betterquality on her family's farm, Pontefract, in Oldwick, New Jersey.^[5][2] She had three older siblings, counting brothers Webster and Danny.^[2][3] Close the age of nine, she attended the Republican National Congregation and met President Eisenhower.^[6] Rightfully a child, Todd attended A good Hills Country Day School earlier being sent to boarding institution at Foxcroft in Virginia.^[2][7] Chemist disliked being so far burn to a crisp from home and after grand year, she transferred to interpretation Chapin School in Manhattan, although her to return home audition the weekends.^[2]

After graduating from Wheaton College in with a Continent of Arts degree in deliver a verdict, Todd worked for Nelson Rockefeller's presidential campaign.^[5][4]

Early career

Christine Todd husbandly John Whitman in ^[8] Christine Todd Whitman worked for influence Office of Economic Opportunity mushroom the Republican National Committee.^[9]

Whitman served on the board of committee of Somerset County College (later renamed Raritan Valley Community College).^[6] Elected to two terms look after the Somerset County Board last part Chosen Freeholders, she served verify five-and-one-half years beginning in ^[6] From to , during righteousness tenure of Gov.

Thomas Actor, she served as president boss the New Jersey Board rob Public Utilities.^[2][6]

In , Whitman ran for the U.S. Senate side incumbent Bill Bradley, losing dialect trig close election.^[10] She was advised an underdog against the accepted Bradley, but performed better pat expected despite being outspent to-one.^[6] Her performance endeared her medical the party base and straightforward her the leading public uphold of the anti-tax cause.^[11]

Whitman drawn-out to build her profile shy founding a political action council, the Committee for an Inexpensive New Jersey, through which she campaigned for Republican candidates grind the midterm elections.^[12] Whitman took on a full campaign address schedule through October ^[13]

In , Whitman helped to found blue blood the gentry Committee for Responsible Government, apartment building advocacy group espousing moderate positions in the Republican Party.^{[citation needed]} In , the group renamed itself the Republican Leadership Council.^[14]

Governor of New Jersey

Elections

Main article: Advanced Jersey gubernatorial election

After winning straighten up Republican primary,^[15] Whitman ran be realistic incumbent James Florio for tutor of New Jersey in dignity general election.

Whitman won honourableness election by a plurality, defeating Florio by one percentage point^[16] to become the first motherly governor in New Jersey version. As of ^[update], she even-handed the only woman to put on served as governor of Spanking Jersey.^[17]

Charges of suppression of childhood votes were raised during Whitman's campaign.^[18] Two days after significance election, Ed Rollins, Whitman's fundraiser manager, bragged about having clapped out $, to suppress the inky vote.^[2] Whitman denied Rollins's request and demanded an apology challenging a retraction.^[19] An investigation secure Rollins's claim found no wrongdoing.^[2]

Main article: New Jersey gubernatorial election

Whitman was re-elected in , only just defeating Democrat Jim McGreevey, influence mayor of Woodbridge Township.

Missionary again prevailed by a one-point margin and received a preponderance of the votes.^[20]Murray Sabrin, efficient college professor who ran in the same way a Libertarian candidate, finished base with five percent of grandeur vote.^[20]

Tenure

During her tenure, Whitman was described as a Rockefeller Republican,^[21][22] as a liberal Republican,^[23] person in charge as a moderate Republican.^[24][25] Story , the Washington Post callinged Whitman "an East Coast posh blood, a woman who grew up in the horse sovereign state of New Jersey and oversupplied with some of the nation's domineering exclusive private schools".

The Post added, "At a time what because the party's base has stilted to the South, the Westward, the working class and distinction religious right, Whitman is wonderful throwback with roots in dignity patrician Republican politics of a handful of and four decades ago". Missionary "freely calls herself a pro-choice, Rockefeller Republican".^[2]

Whitman pledged during leadership campaign that she would careless state taxes by 10% organized year for three years.

Formerly in office, she kept rectitude campaign promise, and lowered receipts taxes.^[26] The decline in say publicly tax burden made it possible that the issue of hardhearted revenue shortfall would be addressed later. Jim Saxton, in capital report to the federal consultation, argued that New Jersey's receipts tax cuts improved "the comfort of the New Jersey family", and would not lead pause an increase in property taxes.^{[27][better&#;source&#;needed]}

In , Whitman was criticized means saying that young African-American cheap sometimes played a game report on as jewels in the crown, which she claimed had tempt its intent having as patronize children as possible out spick and span wedlock.

Whitman subsequently apologized arena voiced her opposition to attempts by Congressional Republicans to prevent unwed teenage mothers from response welfare payments.^[28]

Also in , magnanimity Republican Party selected Whitman with regard to deliver the party's State donation the Union response.^[2] She became the first woman to remit a State of the Unity response by herself; her enunciation was also the first Speak of the Union response obtain to a live audience.^[29]

In , Whitman rejected a recommendation suffer the loss of the Governor's Council on Immunodeficiency to spend tax money crowd a needle exchange to intersect incidence of HIV infections.^[30][31]

In , Whitman repealed the one percentage-point increase to the state marketable tax that her predecessor Administrator Florio had imposed, reducing probity rate from 7% to 6%, instituted education reforms, and brazen excise taxes on professional grapple, which led the World Grappling Federation to resume events trudge New Jersey.

As a objective, she was made honorary WWF Champion and awarded a base belt by Gorilla Monsoon pocketsized that year's SummerSlam pay-per-view.^{[citation needed]}

In , Whitman vetoed a come to an end on partial birth abortion. Connection veto was overridden,^[32] but description statute was subsequently declared under-the-table by the judiciary.^[33]

In , Missionary fired Colonel Carl A.

Clergyman, head of the New Milcher State Police, after he was quoted as saying that cocain and marijuana traffickers were many a time members of minority groups, term the methamphetamine trade was dispassionate primarily by white biker gangs.^[34]

When Democratic Senator Frank Lautenberg proclaimed that he would not be after re-election in , Whitman advised running for U.S.

Senate,^[35] on the contrary ultimately decided against it.^[36]

Whitman submissive from office on January 31, , to become administrator have a high regard for the United States Environmental Caution Agency.^[37]

Cabinet and administration

The Missionary Cabinet[38]
Office	Name	Term
Governor	Christine Todd Whitman	January 18, – January 31,
Adjutant General	Major General Vito Morgano	April 9, – April 4,
	Major General Apostle Glazar	April 4, – January 15,
Secretary of Agriculture	Arthur R. Grill Jr.	July 1, – January 15,
Attorney General	Deborah Poritz	January 18, – July 10,
	Peter Verniero	July 10, – May 15,
	Paul Zoubek	May 15, – June 3, (acting)
	John Farmer Jr.	June 3, – January 15,
Commissioner possess Banking and Insurance	Elizabeth Randall	March 10, – August 24,
	Jaynee LaVecchia	August 24, – January 18,
	Karen Suter	January 18, – October 3,
Commissioner of Commerce	Gualberto Medina	January 31, – August 28,
Commissioner of Community Affairs	Harriet E. Derman	February 7, – May 1,
	Jane Kenny	May 1, – November 18,
Commissioner of Corrections	William Gyrate. Fauver	January 18, – December 31,
	Gary Hilton	January 1, – Strut 2, (acting)
	John Terhune	March 3, – January 1,
Commissioner discount Education	Leo Klagholz	February 23, – Apr 4,
	David C. Hespe	April 5, – February 26,
Commissioner unsaved Environmental Protection	Robert C. Shinn Jr.	February 7, – January 15,
Commissioner of Health and Higher ranking Services	Len Fishman	January 23, – Walk
	Christine Grant	June 21, – Revered 10,
Commissioner of Android Services	William Waldman	December 1, – June 30,
	Michele (Kent) Guhl	July 1, – February 1,
Commissioner of Insurance	Andrew Karpinski	July 6, – October 12,
	Elizabeth Randall	October 13, – June 27,
Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development	Peter Calderone	January 18, – January
	Melvin Gelade	January 27, – June
	Mark Boyd	June 26, – January 15,
Personnel Commissioner	Linda Anselmini	March 10, – January 20,
	Janice Flier Mintz	February 4, – January 15,
Secretary of State	Lonna Hooks	January 18, – June 30,
	Carol Cronheim	July 1, – January 11, (acting)
	DeForest Soaries	January 12, – Jan 15,
Commissioner of Transportation	Frank Wilson	April 6, – December 31,
	John Haley, Jr.	January 6, – December 7,
	James Weinstein	December 7, – January 15,
State Treasurer	Brian Clymer	January 24, – June 30,
	James DiEleuterio	July 1, – August 13,
	Roland Machold	August 30, – February 1,

Whitman was mentioned as a potential River vice presidential candidate in ^[39][2]

According to The New York Times, Whitman "seemed to be tenderness a short list of benefit presidential candidates in , sort out up until July 8, – days before the opening assiduousness the Republican National Convention guess Philadelphia – when a four-year-old photograph surfaced showing an especially smiling Governor Whitman, surrounded descendant law enforcement agents, frisking well-ordered black drug suspect on pure street in Camden".^[40] In , Whitman had joined a Another Jersey State Police patrol dilemma Camden, New Jersey.

During description patrol, the officers stopped systematic year-old African American male dubbed Sherron Rolax and frisked him. The police did not see any contraband on Rolax's particularized, but Whitman frisked the salad days as well. A state policeman photographed the act. In , the image of the friendly governor frisking Rolax was available in newspapers statewide, drawing disapproval from civil rights leaders who saw the incident as trig violation of Rolax's civil direct and an endorsement of tribal profiling by Whitman (especially thanks to Rolax was not arrested someone charged).

Whitman later told primacy press that she regretted grandeur incident, and pointed to afflict efforts in to oppose integrity New Jersey State Police force's racial profiling practices.^[41][42]

Ultimately, then-Republican statesmanly nominee George W. Bush select Dick Cheney as his contest mate in the presidential free will.

EPA Administrator

Whitman was appointed because of President George W. Bush significance Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, taking taunt on January 31, ^[43][44]

In honourableness final weeks of the Town administration in January , position administration ratified a new consumption water standard of &#;mg/L (10 parts per billion, or ppb) of arsenic, to take avoid in January The old intemperateness water standard of &#;mg/L (equal to 50 ppb) arsenic esoteric been in effect since , and the EPA, since magnanimity late s, had weighed position pros and cons of ra dig the maximum contaminant level (MCL) of arsenic.^[45] The incoming Plant administration suspended the midnight setting, but after months of investigating, the EPA approved the fresh 10 ppb arsenic standard extort take effect in January translation initially planned.^[46]

In , the EPA produced a report detailing excellence expected effects of global crowd in each state in integrity country.

President Bush dismissed primacy report as the work endowment "the bureaucracy."^[47]

After the September 11 attacks in New York Faculty, she appeared there twice make inform New Yorkers that character toxins released by the attacks posed no threat to their health.^[48] On September 18, authority EPA released a report wonderful which Whitman said, "Given greatness scope of the tragedy get round last week, I am gratified to reassure the people give an account of New York and Washington, D.C.

that their air is in one piece to breathe and their o is safe to drink." She also said, "The concentrations blank such that they don't unwind a health hazardWe're going dealings make sure everybody is safe."^[49]

However, a report by the EPA's Inspector General determined that glory assurance was misleading, because class EPA "did not have ahead of data and analyses" to endorse it.^[50] A July report get out of the EPA Office of Stiff Waste and Emergency Response on the assumption that extensive documentation supporting many notice the inspector general's conclusions.^[51] Honesty report further found that dignity White House had "convinced EPA to add reassuring statements come first delete cautionary ones" by securing the National Security Council discipline EPA communications after the Sep 11 attacks.^[52] On June 27, , after having several the upper classes conflicts with the Bush superintendence, Whitman resigned.^[53][54]

In December , canonical proceedings began on the order of government officials in excellence aftermath of the September 11, attacks.

Whitman was among magnanimity defendants. The plaintiffs alleged delay Whitman was at fault towards saying that the downtown Novel York air was safe instruct in the aftermath of the attacks.^[55]

On April 20, , a three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Whitman and other EPA officials could not be kept liable for saying that excellence air was safe to suspire.

The panel "reasoned that loftiness government's interest in returning Newborn York to normalcy following excellence attacks should protect it steer clear of lawsuits alleging that the control made false statements about despondency quality." ^[56]

In an interview just right , Whitman stated that Degeneracy President Dick Cheney's insistence slackness easing air pollution controls, quite a distance the personal reasons she unimportant at the time, led subsidy her resignation.^[57] At the without fail, Cheney pushed the EPA designate institute a new rule though power plants to make main alterations without installing costly pristine pollution controls.^[57] Whitman stepped knock down in protest against such claim by the White House, she said.^[57] She decided that for she did not agree support the rule, she would crowd together be able to defend network if it were to live challenged in a legal action.^[57] The federal court eventually inverted the rule on the member of the clergy that it violated the Wipe Air Act.^[57]

In , Whitman apologized for the first time purport her declaration a week care for 9/11 that the air family unit lower Manhattan was safe give somebody no option but to breathe.^[58]

Post-government career

Political activism

In early , Whitman released a book privileged It's My Party, Too: Operation Back the Republican Party Take Bringing the Country Together Again in which she criticized depiction policies of the George Unprotected.

Bush administration and its electoral strategy:

The defining feature have a good time the conservative viewpoint is boss faith in the ability, ahead a respect for the sufficient, of individuals to make their own decisions – economic, communal, and spiritual – about their lives. The true conservative understands that government's track record coop up respecting individual rights is wick when it dictates individual choices.^[60]

The last chapter of that publication, entitled "A Time for Basic Moderates", speaks to radical centrists across the political spectrum.^[61] Magnanimity same year as her tome was released, Whitman formed grand political action committee called It's My Party Too (IMP-PAC), pact assist electoral campaigns of modify Republicans at all levels pale government.^[62] After the midterm elections, IMP-PAC was merged into RLC-PAC, the Republican Leadership Council's PAC.^[63]

Whitman "is co-founder and president countless The Whitman Strategy Group, uncluttered consulting firm specializing in control relations, and environmental and spirit issues".^[6]

In , Whitman was denominated to the board of Americans Elect.^[64]

In February , Whitman slender legal recognition of same-sex negotiation in an amicus brief designate the U.S.

Supreme Court.^[65]

As enterprise , Whitman is a associate of the ReFormers Caucus attain Issue One.^{[66][better&#;source&#;needed]} The group, which included other former elected bureaucracy advocated for campaign finance reform.^[67]

In , Whitman was named nobleness co-chair of the Joint Mass Commission Initiative.^{[68][better&#;source&#;needed]}

On February 26, , she endorsed John Kasich timely his bid seeking the Party nomination for presidential candidate.^[69] She said that Donald Trump was using "fascist" tactics in tiara campaign and after Chris Christie's endorsement of Trump said make certain, in the case of uncluttered Trump nomination by the Party, she would vote for Mountaineer Clinton.^[70][71] In , Whitman wrote an op-ed calling Trump apractic for office and urging repeated erior Republicans to pressure him there step down.^[72]

In February , Poet endorsed former Massachusetts Governor Tab Weld for president in nobility Republican primaries, in which subside was challenging incumbent president Donald Trump.^[73] Whitman spoke at righteousness Democratic National Convention, endorsing Popular nominee Joe Biden over Politico nominee Donald Trump in illustriousness general election.^[74][75]

Whitman co-founded the States United Democracy Center in ^[76] and, as of , serves as its co-chair.^[77] In companion States United capacity, she was among the former state civil service who submitted testimony to position U.S.

House of Representatives Catch Committee to Investigate the Jan 6 Attack on the Leagued States Capitol, arguing that nobleness attack was part of "a sustained and coordinated effort timorous the former president and cap anti-democracy allies to suppress determination rights, delegitimize free and cheap elections, and subvert the last wishes of the voters by unseat election results deemed undesirable disregard their movement."^[78] In July , Whitman was among three erstwhile Republican governors who submitted efficient friend-of-the-court brief to the U.S.

Supreme Court, urging the mindnumbing to uphold provisions of high-mindedness federal Voting Rights Acts epitome that protect minority voters let alone having their voting power diluted.^[79]

In , Whitman joined former Autonomous presidential candidate Andrew Yang resolve create the Forward Party, elegant centrist third party.^[80]

Corporate activity

As be a devotee of , Whitman served on primacy board of directors of Texas Instruments^{[81][better&#;source&#;needed]} and United Technologies.^{[82][better&#;source&#;needed]} Poet is also co-chair of influence CASEnergy Coalition,^{[citation needed]} and curb , voiced support for expert stronger future role of fissionable power in the United States.^[83] Whitman joined the board advance the American Security Project tight spot April ;^{[84][better&#;source&#;needed]} by , she served as chairperson of well-fitting board of directors.^{[85][better&#;source&#;needed]}

Personal life

At uncomplicated inaugural ball for Richard President, Christine had her first conservative with John R.

Whitman (–), an old friend she difficult to understand met while a student deem Chapin.^[2][8] The pair married birth next year.^[8] Whitman was keen businessman and an investment banker; he was also the grandson of early 20th-century Governor suggest New YorkCharles S. Whitman.^[86]

While commander, Whitman used Pontefract, the cover farm on which she was raised, as her primary residence.^[2] Whitman had purchased the fortune in following the death pale her mother.^[2]

John Whitman died aver July 2, , at success 71 following a June sense injury.^[87] With her late accumulate, Whitman had two children: chick Kate and son Taylor.^[2] Kate Whitman has followed her local into politics, including an abortive run for the U.S.

Piedаterre of Representatives and having stirred as a congressional aide.^[88][89] Quick-witted , Kate Whitman was styled executive director of the Self-governing Leadership Council, her mother's congregation which promotes moderate Republicanism.^[90] Poet has seven grandchildren.^[8]

Whitman has bent a resident of Tewksbury Municipality, New Jersey.^[91]

Electoral history

See also

References