Carla Anderson Hills

Carla Anderson Hills is an American attorney, public official, and trade negotiator who served in two presidential cabinets. A prominent figure in international economic policy, she was the United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Gerald Ford and the United States Trade Representative under President George H. W. Bush. Her tenure as Trade Representative was marked by major negotiations, including the Uruguay Round that created the World Trade Organization and the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Early life and education

Carla Anderson was born in Los Angeles and attended Harvard School for Girls before enrolling at Stanford University. She graduated with a degree in history and was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa Society. She then attended Yale Law School, where she was an editor of the Yale Law Journal and one of only a few women in her class. She earned her Juris Doctor in 1958 and was admitted to the State Bar of California.

Legal and government career

After law school, she worked as an attorney in Los Angeles and later served as an assistant United States Attorney for the Central District of California. In 1974, President Gerald Ford appointed her as the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division of the United States Department of Justice. The following year, Ford nominated her to lead the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, making her, at the time, the third woman to hold a cabinet-level position. During her tenure, she focused on issues like community development and urban revitalization.

U.S. Trade Representative (1989–1993)

Appointed by President George H. W. Bush, she served as the United States Trade Representative with the rank of Ambassador. Her term was defined by ambitious multilateral and regional negotiations. She was a principal architect and fierce advocate for the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico. Simultaneously, she led the U.S. delegation in the pivotal Uruguay Round of talks under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, which established the framework for the World Trade Organization. She also addressed contentious bilateral trade issues with Japan and the European Community.

Post-government career and corporate boards

Following her government service, she co-founded and chairs Hills & Company, an international consulting firm. She has served on numerous corporate boards, including those of American Airlines, Chevron Corporation, and IBM. She has also held leadership roles in prominent think tanks and policy organizations, such as the Council on Foreign Relations, the Peterson Institute for International Economics, and the Center for Strategic and International Studies. She remains a frequent commentator on global trade and international relations.

Personal life and legacy

She married attorney Roderick M. Hills in 1958, who later served as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. They have four children. Her legacy is that of a trailblazer in both domestic policy and international economic diplomacy. She received the Secretary of State's Distinguished Service Award and is widely recognized for her pivotal role in shaping the modern architecture of global trade through her work on NAFTA and the World Trade Organization.

Category:1934 births Category:Living people Category:United States Trade Representatives Category:United States Secretaries of Housing and Urban Development