December 21

BHT

Patricia Roberts Harris Becomes Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)

Patricia R. Harris official portrait
Patricia R. Harris
Patricia Roberts Harris was appointed to her first cabinet post in the Carter Administration on December 21, 1976 as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  She served in this position from 1977 to 1979.  She was later appointed by President Jimmy Carter as U.S. Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare on July 19, 1979. She was the first African American woman to become a Cabinet Member, U.S. Ambassador and lead a law school. Harris was born on May 31, 1924 in Mattoon, Illinois. She graduated summa cum laude from Howard University. While a student at Howard, Harris participated in one of the first restaurant sit-ins. She received her law degree from George Washington University National Law Center where she was ranked out of a class of 94 students number one. Harris became the first national executive director of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority in 1953 and served in this position until 1959. She received an appointment by President John F. Kennedy to co-chair the National Women's Committee for Civil Rights in 1963. President Lyndon Johnson appointed her Ambassador to Luxembourg in 1965. She served as dean of Howard University Law School from 1969 to 1972. In 1982 Harris accepted a position of professor at George Washington University Law School. She worked at George Washington University Law School until she succumbed to breast cancer on March 23, 1985.
NIH Director Fredrickson and DHHS Secretary Roberts. 1980
DHHS Secretary Patricia Roberts Harris is introduced by NIH Director Dr. Donald S. Fredrickson. Lister Hill Auditorium, August 8, 1980.

Words That Matter

Patricia Roberts Harris

“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.”

American Rental Cars

Navigation

BlackHistory,Today Word of Today 2
Black History Today Nations Best Hotels
Myrtle Beach Hotels

For The New BHT Discovery Videos. Subscribe Free Below To The New BHT YouTube Channel.

American Rental Cars 2023
Black History Today Carolina Beach Hotels

Be Prepared For Storms And Hurricanes With A Solar Generator | Power Stations Starting Now At only $299.99 | No Gas Needed! | Fast And Free Delivery | Click Below!

Generators Solar
Generators Solar
Black History Today Myrtle Beach House Rentals 2
Destin Florida Hotels
Honolulu
Washington DC Hotels

Enjoy A Safer Spring or Summer Vacation In A RV

Be Encouraged By Today’s Bible Verse | WordofToday.com

Please follow & like us 🙂

Skip to content