Elizabeth
Dole
Class of 1993
Background:
Elizabeth Dole was born July 29, 1936, in Salisbury, North
Carolina, USA. She graduated with distinction from Duke University.
She received her law degree from Harvard Law School, and holds
a masters degree in education and government from Harvard,
as well.
Professional
Experience:
After completing her education, Ms. Dole moved to Washington,
D.C., where she served at the Department of Health, Education
and Welfare. She planned the first-ever national conference
on education of the deaf. She next served in the White House,
on Consumer Affairs, under both President Lyndon Johnson and
President Richard Nixon. It was there where she began a career-long
dedication to public safety. Ms. Dole served five years as
a member of the Federal Trade Commission and two years as
Assistant for Public Liaison to President Ronald Reagan. In
February 1983, she joined President Reagan's Cabinet as Secretary
of Transportation -- the first woman to hold that position.
Ms. Dole was sworn in by President George Bush as the nation's
20th Secretary of Labor in January 1989. As Labor Secretary,
she served as the President's chief advisor on labor and workforce
issues as well as key economic policy advisor. In 1991 she
became president of the American Red Cross, where she directed
the 31,000 staff members and more than 1.5 million volunteers
who comprise the world's foremost humanitarian organization.
Career
Highlights:
Elizabeth Dole helped establish the National Commission Against
Drunk Driving and vigorously led the efforts to eliminated
the drunk driving problem nationally. During her 4 1/2 years
as Secretary of Transportation, the United States enjoyed
the safest years in its history in all three transportation
areas -- rail, air and highway. Elizabeth Dole led efforts
to make airbags and automatic seatbelts mandatory in all new
passenger cars.
As Secretary
of Labor, she revitalized the Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA), enhancing the agency's professionalism,
expediting the promulgation of crucial safety and health standards
to protect workers, and securing additional enforcement personnel
to carry out its crucial life-saving mission.
In 1989
Elizabeth Dole received the highest honor awarded by the National
Safety Council, the Distinguished Service to Safety Award.
At the
American Red Cross, Elizabeth Dole led massive humanitarian
relief efforts during the Gulf War, Hurricane Andrew, Hurricane
Iniki and conflict in Somalia. She was firmly committed to
strengthening the Red Cross' health and safety courses and
programs.
In 1991,
Elizabeth Dole moved swiftly and decisively to ensure the
continued safety of more than one-half of the nation's blood
supply by moving the Red Cross blood services program into
the 21st century. She announced a complete transformation
of the way the Red Cross collects, processes and distributes
blood.
Throughout
her years of distinguished government and humanitarian service,
Elizabeth Dole made safety and health her top priority. Her
extraordinary commitment to safety and her personal compassion
saved thousands of lives and prevented countless injuries
and illnesses.
