Harriet "Hattie" Coons Babbitt (born November 13, 1947) is an attorney and former U.S. government official, who served as
from 1993 to 1997, and as Deputy Administrator of the
United States Agency for International Development
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is an independent agency of the U.S. federal government that is primarily responsible for administering civilian foreign aid and development assistance. With a budget of over $27 bi ...
from 1997 to 2001 during the
Clinton Administration
Bill Clinton's tenure as the 42nd president of the United States began with his first inauguration on January 20, 1993, and ended on January 20, 2001. Clinton, a Democrat from Arkansas, took office following a decisive election victory over Re ...
. In addition to her government service, she has also practiced as an attorney in both Arizona and Washington, D.C, most recently working at the law office of Jennings Strouss since July, 2006. She is also Vice Chair of the
National Democratic Institute for International Affairs
The National Democratic Institute (NDI), or National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, is a non-profit American NGO that works with partners in developing countries to increase the effectiveness of democratic institutions. The NDI's ...
, and previously served on the organization's Board of Directors from 1988 to 1993.
Harriet Coons was born in
Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston is the capital and List of cities in West Virginia, most populous city of West Virginia. Located at the confluence of the Elk River (West Virginia), Elk and Kanawha River, Kanawha rivers, the city had a population of 48,864 at the 20 ...
, and subsequently moved to
Brownsville, Texas
Brownsville () is a city in Cameron County in the U.S. state of Texas. It is on the western Gulf Coast in South Texas, adjacent to the border with Matamoros, Mexico. The city covers , and has a population of 186,738 as of the 2020 census. It ...
where she graduated from Brownsville High School in 1965. She graduated from
Arizona State University
Arizona State University (Arizona State or ASU) is a public research university in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Founded in 1885 by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, ASU is one of the largest public universities by enrollment in the ...
with a B.A. in Spanish in 1969, and a J.D. in 1972. Following graduation from
law school
A law school (also known as a law centre or college of law) is an institution specializing in legal education, usually involved as part of a process for becoming a lawyer within a given jurisdiction.
Law degrees Argentina
In Argentina, ...
she clerked for Arizona Supreme Court Justice
Jack D. H. Hays.
While a student at ASU in 1968, she married
Bruce Babbitt
The English language name Bruce arrived in Scotland with the Normans, from the place name Brix, Manche in Normandy, France, meaning "the willowlands". Initially promulgated via the descendants of king Robert the Bruce (1274−1329), it has been a ...
, who served as
Governor of Arizona
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
from 1978 to 1987, and as
United States Secretary of the Interior
The United States secretary of the interior is the head of the United States Department of the Interior. The secretary and the Department of the Interior are responsible for the management and conservation of most federal land along with natural ...
in the Cabinet of President
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson Clinton ( né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He previously served as governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and agai ...
from 1993 to 2001. They have two sons, Christopher and T.J.
A train line temporarily serving the
Phoenix metropolitan area
The Phoenix Metropolitan Area – also the Valley of the Sun, the Salt River Valley, or Metro Phoenix (known by most locals simply as “the Valley”) – is the largest metropolitan area in the Southwestern United States, centered on the city ...
was named for her. After a series of floods in February 1980 damaged many bridges crossing the
Salt River, traffic was in a state of gridlock. In response, a temporary commuter train line was started between the cities of
Phoenix
Phoenix most often refers to:
* Phoenix (mythology), a legendary bird from ancient Greek folklore
* Phoenix, Arizona, a city in the United States
Phoenix may also refer to:
Mythology
Greek mythological figures
* Phoenix (son of Amyntor), a ...
,
Tempe, and
Mesa
A mesa is an isolated, flat-topped elevation, ridge or hill, which is bounded from all sides by steep escarpments and stands distinctly above a surrounding plain. Mesas characteristically consist of flat-lying soft sedimentary rocks capped by ...
. It used existing freight track and
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Trade name, doing business as Amtrak () , is the national Passenger train, passenger railroad company of the United States. It operates inter-city rail service in 46 of the 48 contiguous United Stat ...
trains, operating for about two weeks. The train line was named the "Hattie B." in honor of the governor and first lady's involvement. The line was cancelled as soon as bridges were restored, but it was credited with creating more interest in public transit for the Phoenix area.
Did You Know: Hattie B. Rail Named After Arizona First Lady
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References
External links
*
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Babbitt, Harriet C.
Babbitt, Harriet C.
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Babbitt, Harriet C.
Babbitt, Harriet C.
Babbitt, Harriet C.
Babbitt, Harriet C.
Babbitt, Harriet C.
Babbitt, Harriet C.
Babbitt, Harriet C.
Babbitt, Harriet C.
Babbitt, Harriet C.
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American women lawyers
Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law alumni
21st-century American women