Age, Biography and Wiki

Patricia Harris is an American politician and diplomat who served as the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services from 1979 to 1981 and the United States Ambassador to Luxembourg from 1965 to 1967. She was the first African American woman to serve in a presidential cabinet. Harris was born on May 31, 1924 in Mattoon, Illinois. She attended Howard University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in 1945 and a master's degree in 1946. She then attended the University of Chicago Law School, where she earned a law degree in 1949. Harris began her career as a lawyer in the Chicago area. In 1965, she was appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson as the United States Ambassador to Luxembourg, making her the first African American woman to serve in a presidential cabinet. She served in this position until 1967. In 1979, President Jimmy Carter appointed Harris as the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services, making her the first African American woman to serve in a presidential cabinet. She served in this position until 1981. Harris has received numerous awards and honors for her work, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1998. She is currently a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Popular As Patricia Roberts
Occupation N/A
Age 61 years old
Zodiac Sign Gemini
Born 31 May 1924
Birthday 31 May
Birthplace Mattoon, Illinois, U.S.
Date of death March 23, 1985,
Died Place Washington, D.C., U.S.
Nationality United States

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 31 May. She is a member of famous Politician with the age 61 years old group.

Patricia Harris Height, Weight & Measurements

At 61 years old, Patricia Harris height not available right now. We will update Patricia Harris's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.

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Who Is Patricia Harris's Husband?

Her husband is William Harris (m. 1955-1984)

Family
Parents Not Available
Husband William Harris (m. 1955-1984)
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Patricia Harris Net Worth

Her net worth has been growing significantly in 2022-2023. So, how much is Patricia Harris worth at the age of 61 years old? Patricia Harris’s income source is mostly from being a successful Politician. She is from United States. We have estimated Patricia Harris's net worth , money, salary, income, and assets.

Net Worth in 2023 $1 Million - $5 Million
Salary in 2023 Under Review
Net Worth in 2022 Pending
Salary in 2022 Under Review
House Not Available
Cars Not Available
Source of Income Politician

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Timeline

2003

In 2003, Harris was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.

1985

Patricia married William Beasley Harris in 1955 after only three months of dating. Her husband William died in November 1984. She died of breast cancer at age 60 on March 23, 1985. She was interred at the Rock Creek Cemetery in Washington, D.C.

1982

Harris unsuccessfully ran for Mayor of Washington, D.C. in 1982, losing the September 14 primary election to incumbent mayor Marion Barry .That year, she was appointed a full-time professor at the George Washington National Law Center.

1980

After the Department of Education Organization Act came into force on May 4, 1980, the educations functions of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare were transferred to the Department of Education. Harris remained as Secretary of the renamed Department of Health and Human Services until Carter left office in 1981. Because the department had merely changed names, as opposed to disbanding with new department being created, she did not face Senate confirmation again after the change.

1977

Harris was appointed to the cabinet of President Jimmy Carter when he took office in 1977. At her confirmation hearing, Senator William Proxmire questioned whether Harris came from a background of too much wealth and power to be an effective Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Harris responded "I am a black woman, the daughter of a Pullman (railroad) car waiter. I am a black woman who even eight years ago could not buy a house in parts of the District of Columbia. I didn't start out as a member of a prestigious law firm, but as a woman who needed a scholarship to go to school. If you think I have forgotten that, you are wrong." Once confirmed, Harris became the first African American woman to enter the Presidential line of succession, at number 13. Between 1977 and 1979 she served as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and in 1979, she became Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, the largest Cabinet agency.

1972

She continued making an impact on the Democratic Party when, in 1972, she was appointed chairman of the credentials committee and a member-at-large of the Democratic National Committee in 1973. A testimony to her effectiveness and her commitment to excellence came when President Jimmy Carter appointed her to two cabinet-level posts during his administration.

1971

In 1971, Harris was named to the board of directors of IBM. In addition, she served on the boards of Scott Paper Co. and Chase Manhattan Bank.

1969

She was named Dean of Howard University's School of Law in 1969, which was another first for a black woman. She resigned a month later as Dean of Howard University's School of Law when Howard University President James E. Cheek refused to support her strong stand against student protests. Following her service as Dean of Howard's School of Law, she joined Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson, one of Washington, D.C.'s most prestigious law firms.

1967

In 1967, Lord Snowdon photographed Harris for Vogue at the United Nations. In her spare time, Harris enjoyed cooking and baking.

1964

In 1964, Harris was elected a delegate to the Democratic National Convention from the District of Columbia. She worked in Lyndon Johnson's presidential campaign and seconded his nomination at the 1964 Democratic Convention. Soon after his victory, President Johnson appointed her Ambassador to Luxembourg from 1965 to 1967. She was the first African American woman named as an American envoy. She said, "I feel deeply proud and grateful this President chose me to knock down this barrier, but also a little sad about being the 'first Negro woman' because it implies we were not considered before."

1961

In 1961, Harris returned to her alma mater, Howard University, as an associate dean of students and law lecturer at Howard's law school. In 1963 she was elevated to a full professorship.

1960

Harris worked briefly for the U.S. Department of Justice Her first position with the U.S. government was in 1960 as an attorney in the appeals and research section of the criminal division of the Department of Justice. There she met and struck up a friendship with Robert Kennedy, the new attorney general. In 1963, President John F. Kennedy appointed her co-chairman of the National Women's Committee for Civil Rights.

1955

She worked as the Assistant Director of the American Council on Human Rights until 1953. There she met William Beasley Harris, a member of the Howard law faculty; they were married on September 1, 1955. She was the first national executive director of Delta Sigma Theta sorority, of which she was a member. Roberts' was beginning to pursue a career in education, but saw limited opportunity because of segregation. Her husband encouraged her to go to law school. Roberts received her J.D. from the George Washington University National Law Center in 1960, ranking number one out of a class of ninety-four students.

1945

She graduated summa cum laude from Howard University in 1945. While at Howard, she was elected Phi Beta Kappa and served as Vice Chairman of the Howard University chapter of the NAACP. In 1943, she participated in one of the nation's first lunch counter sit-ins. She did postgraduate work in industrial relations at the University of Chicago from 1946 to 1949 and at American University in 1949.

1924

Patricia Roberts Harris (May 31, 1924 – March 23, 1985) served in the American administration of President Jimmy Carter as United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (which was renamed the Secretary of Health and Human Services during her tenure). She was the first African American woman to serve in the United States Cabinet, and the first to enter the line of succession to the Presidency. She previously served as United States Ambassador to Luxembourg under President Lyndon B. Johnson, and was the first African-American woman to represent the United States as an ambassador.

Roberts was born on May 31, 1924, in Mattoon, Illinois, the daughter of railroad dining car waiter Bert Fitzgerald Roberts and Hildren Brodie (née Johnson). Patricia had one younger brother, Malcolm, known to his family as Mickey. Her parents separated when she was 6 years old. She was then raised primarily by her mother and grandmother.