
Anna Escobedo Cabral (born October 12, 1959) is an American politician who served as the Unit Chief for Strategic Communications in the External Relations Division of the
Inter-American Development Bank
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB or IADB) is an international development finance institution headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States of America. It serves as one of the leading sources of development financing for the countri ...
(IDB) from 2009 to 2018. Today, she and her husband serve as partners of the Cabral Group, a consulting and public policy firm. She also serves as an independent director for Navient, a member of the Comcast NBCU diversity council, and as an advisor to the Libra Group, and Valaurum. Her current nonprofit commitments include serving as chair of the BBVA Microfinance Foundation, chair of the Jessie Ball duPont Fund, Treasurer of Lideramos, a national Latino organization focused on providing leadership training to grassroots community advocates, and member of the board of governors o
Orange County Community Foundation Prior to joining the IDB, Cabral served as the 42nd
Treasurer of the United States
The treasurer of the United States is an officer in the United States Department of the Treasury who serves as the custodian and trustee of the federal government's collateral assets and the supervisor of the department's currency and coinage pr ...
from January 19, 2005, to January 20, 2009. She became the highest-ranking Latina in the
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician and businessman who was the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Bush family and the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he i ...
administration after the resignation of
Rosario Marin.
Early life
Cabral, a third-generation
Mexican-American
Mexican Americans are Americans of full or partial Mexican descent. In 2022, Mexican Americans comprised 11.2% of the US population and 58.9% of all Hispanic and Latino Americans. In 2019, 71% of Mexican Americans were born in the United State ...
, was born and raised in
San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino ( ) is a city in and the county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States. Located in the Inland Empire region of Southern California, the city had a population of 222,101 in the 2020 census, making it the List of ...
, to Francisco Escobedo and Teresa Beltran. Her father's family had come to the United States from Mexico in the early 1900s as did her maternal grandmother. Alfred Escobedo, her paternal grandfather, also participated in the
Bracero Program. Cabral's maternal grandfather was a
Native American, born and raised on a reservation in Southern California and her maternal grandmother was from Mexico.
[Committee on Finance, United States Senate]
"Nomination of Anna Escobedo Cabral to be U.S. Treasurer,"
''S. HRG. 108-811: Hearing Before the Committee on Finance, United States Senate, One Hundred Eighth Congress, Second Session'' (October 8, 2004).[Barbara Hagenbaugh]
''USA Today'' (November 14, 2006).[Fresia Rodriguez Cadavid]
''Latina Style Magazine'' (January/February 2005).
The oldest of five children, Cabral managed to attend Burbank Elementary School in the 1960s despite her family's hectic schedule: her father picked the fields of the
Santa Clara Valley
The Santa Clara Valley (Spanish language, Spanish: ''Valle de Santa Clara'') is a geologic trough in Northern California that extends south–southeast from San Francisco to Hollister, California, Hollister. The longitudinal valley is bordered ...
and both parents obtained various types of employment throughout the
San Bernardino and
Riverside counties. By the time Cabral entered high school, the family had moved 20 times.
[Rebecca Christian, "U.S. Treasurer credits a teacher for her success...", ''Telegraph-Herald'' (August 26, 2006).]
At very early ages, Cabral and her siblings had to collect scrap metal and salvage old motor parts with their father that they would then sell to help the family survive. Her father had seriously injured his back, significantly impacting his ability to provide.
["The money maker: Anna Escobedo Cabral, U.S. Treasurer'"]
''Latino Leaders'' (October 1, 2005).[Michael Hooper, "Newly minted treasurer offers recipe for success- American dream found," ''The Topeka Capital-Journal'' (September 16, 2005): 1.] Her mother worked several jobs, so, as the eldest child, Cabral often had the additional responsibility of caring for her siblings.
''Latino Leaders'' (October 1, 2004). Ferraez Publications of America Corp.
By age 16, Cabral was already on track to finishing high school early; after graduation, she intended to find a full-time job to help her parents financially. Her math teacher, Philip Lamm, convinced her instead to consider higher education. Lamm, she recalled in a later interview, "hand wrote the application. He told me that this was a better plan and found scholarship money for me to go to college." Lamm also helped her overcome her family's initial misgivings.
[
Cabral initially attended the ]University of California
The University of California (UC) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university, research university system in the U.S. state of California. Headquartered in Oakland, California, Oakland, the system is co ...
at Santa Cruz majoring in political science
Political science is the scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and Power (social and political), power, and the analysis of political activities, political philosophy, political thought, polit ...
. In her sophomore year, she met Victor Cabral, a law student at the University of California, Davis
The University of California, Davis (UC Davis, UCD, or Davis) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Davis, California, United States. It is the northernmost of the ten campuses of the University ...
; not long after this, she transferred to Davis. Between her sophomore and junior years, the couple was married and Cabral soon left school for a few years to raise a family. During this time, she also managed her husband's law firm.
Cabral eventually returned to the university and graduated in 1987 with a bachelor's degree in political science
Political science is the scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and Power (social and political), power, and the analysis of political activities, political philosophy, political thought, polit ...
. After considering several graduate schools, Cabral enrolled in a joint-degree program with Harvard Kennedy School
The John F. Kennedy School of Government, commonly referred to as Harvard Kennedy School (HKS), is the school of public policy of Harvard University, a private university in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Harvard Kennedy School offers master's de ...
at Harvard University
Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...
and the Boalt Hall School of Law at UC Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, Berkeley, Cal, or California), is a public land-grant research university in Berkeley, California, United States. Founded in 1868 and named after the Anglo-Irish philosopher George Berkele ...
. She and her family moved to Massachusetts
Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...
. However, halfway through the program, Cabral decided to withdraw from the law school component in order to take care of family needs. In 1990, she obtained her Master of Public Administration
A Master of Public Administration (MPA) is a specialized professional graduate degree in public administration that prepares students for leadership roles, similar or equivalent to a Master of Business Administration but with an emphasis on the ...
degree from Harvard.[ She eventually completed her ]Juris Doctor
A Juris Doctor, Doctor of Jurisprudence, or Doctor of Law (JD) is a graduate-entry professional degree that primarily prepares individuals to practice law. In the United States and the Philippines, it is the only qualifying law degree. Other j ...
degree at George Mason University School of Law in 2008.
Public career
In 1990, Cabral's husband obtained a job with the Justice Department; the rest of the family moved with him to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...
[ The following year, Ms. Cabral went to work for Senator Orrin G. Hatch, as Executive Staff Director of the Task Force on Hispanic Affairs in the Senate Republican Conference which he chaired. In this capacity, she managed a caucus of 25 U.S. senators working on issues related to the ]Hispanic
The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...
community.[Office of Public Affairs, U.S. Department of the Treasury]
"Anna Escobedo Cabral Sworn in as U.S. Treasurer,"
(press release) ''JS-2203'' (January 19, 2005).
In 1993, in addition to her work with the Republican Conference, Cabral assumed the post of Deputy Staff Director for the US Senate Judiciary committee for Senator Hatch, helping it to oversee federal judicial nominations as well as various Justice-related legislation.
After several years, Cabral left government service but remained in the public sector. In 1999, she was hired as president and CEO of Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility. A Washington, D.C.–based nonprofit coalition of 16 of the largest Hispanic organizations in the nation, HACR worked with Fortune 500
The ''Fortune'' 500 is an annual list compiled and published by ''Fortune (magazine), Fortune'' magazine that ranks 500 of the largest United States Joint-stock company#Closely held corporations and publicly traded corporations, corporations by ...
companies to increase Hispanic representation in employment, procurement, philanthropy
Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives for the Public good (economics), public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private goo ...
, and governance. Under Cabral's leadership, HACR published a best practices series, and instituted a partnership with Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School (HBS) is the graduate school, graduate business school of Harvard University, a Private university, private Ivy League research university. Located in Allston, Massachusetts, HBS owns Harvard Business Publishing, which p ...
to provide executive training programs in ''Corporate Governance Best Practices'' to community leaders.[Hispanic PR Wire-US Newswire]
"Smithsonian Names Anna Escobedo Cabral Director of the Institution's Center for Latino Initiatives,"
''HispanicBusiness.com'' (June 9, 2003).
Cabral participated on a number of advisory panels during this time. In 2002, she was appointed by President George W. Bush to his Council on the 21st Century Workplace, providing guidance to the White House and the Department of Labor on work-related issues. That same year, she was named to a two-year term on the Diversity Council of the Premier Automotive Group, an outreach effort of the Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company (commonly known as Ford) is an American multinational corporation, multinational automobile manufacturer headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, United States. It was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. T ...
. She also served on the boards of the Sewall–Belmont House and Museum, a historic center commemorating women's suffrage
Women's suffrage is the women's rights, right of women to Suffrage, vote in elections. Several instances occurred in recent centuries where women were selectively given, then stripped of, the right to vote. In Sweden, conditional women's suffra ...
, and Martha's Table, a nonprofit that assists the less fortunate to better themselves through volunteer activities.[
In 2003, Cabral was named Director of the Center for Latino Initiatives at the ]Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution ( ), or simply the Smithsonian, is a group of museums, Education center, education and Research institute, research centers, created by the Federal government of the United States, U.S. government "for the increase a ...
. While at the center, she led a pan-institutional effort to improve Latino representation in exhibits and public programming among the Institution's 19 museums, five research centers, and the National Zoo.[
Cabral was nominated for the post of U.S. Treasurer by President Bush on July 22, 2004, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on November 20.][
]
U.S. Treasurer
Cabral was sworn in on January 19, 2005, becoming the highest-ranking Latina in the Bush administration and ending a seventeen-month vacancy in the office brought about by the resignation of Rosario Marin.[ John W. Snow, the ]Secretary of the Treasury
The United States secretary of the treasury is the head of the United States Department of the Treasury, and is the chief financial officer of the federal government of the United States. The secretary of the treasury serves as the principal a ...
, presided over the ceremony together with Senator Orrin G. Hatch, which was also attended by Alberto Gonzales, the chief White House Counsel
The White House Counsel is a senior staff appointee of the president of the United States whose role is to advise the president on all legal issues concerning the president and their administration. The White House counsel also oversees the Off ...
who had just been nominated as the first Hispanic Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general (: attorneys general) or attorney-general (AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have executive responsibility for law enf ...
. The first currency with Cabral's signature was printed in April the same year.
While Treasurer, Cabral oversaw the latest infusion of new currency designed to defeat counterfeiting efforts. She also served during the Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina was a powerful, devastating and historic tropical cyclone that caused 1,392 fatalities and damages estimated at $125 billion in late August 2005, particularly in the city of New Orleans and its surrounding area. ...
incident along the southern coast. In the wake of the disaster, Cabral dedicated much of her time in developing methods to help people affected in rebuilding and managing their financial well-being. She also provided advice and counsel to the Treasury Department in its efforts to provide economic assistance to devastated areas.[
Despite a heavy work schedule and numerous speaking engagements, Cabral returned to school in order to obtain her ]Juris Doctor
A Juris Doctor, Doctor of Jurisprudence, or Doctor of Law (JD) is a graduate-entry professional degree that primarily prepares individuals to practice law. In the United States and the Philippines, it is the only qualifying law degree. Other j ...
. She was inspired in this move by her mother, who returned to school at age 52 to get her high school diploma. In 2003, she began taking night courses at the Arlington campus of the George Mason University School of Law. In her second year, her daughter Catalina was a fellow George Mason graduate student.[
Cabral's expertise in financial education was also tapped by the Treasury Department. In 2007, she was named by Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson as his representative to the Community Development Advisory Board. The Board's purpose is to advise the department on the use of funds, tax credits, and investment capital in distressed communities across the nation. In June of that year, Cabral co-hosted the ]
Pathways to Hispanic Family Learning
' conference with Secretary of Education
An education ministry is a national or subnational government agency politically responsible for education. Various other names are commonly used to identify such agencies, such as Ministry of Education, Department of Education, and Ministry of Pub ...
Margaret Spellings. The meeting resulted in a new program, led by the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans, that developed tools for financial literacy and provided resources to Hispanic families seeking academic success for their children.
When Cabral was appointed Treasurer the banknote series was changed from series 2003 to series 2003A to indicate that a new Treasurer had been appointed, but not a new Secretary of the Treasury. Her signature appeared on all of the series 2003A and series 2006 banknotes which began production in May 2005. While her 5-year term as Treasurer ended on January 20, 2009, with the beginning of the Obama administration
Barack Obama's tenure as the 44th president of the United States began with his first inauguration on January 20, 2009, and ended on January 20, 2017. Obama, a Democrat from Illinois, took office following his victory over Republican nomine ...
, her signature continued to appear on the series 2006A $100 banknote, which was printed until May 2013, pending the resolution of production problems with the new color $100 banknote.
After leaving Treasury, Cabral went to work with the Inter-American Development Bank
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB or IADB) is an international development finance institution headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States of America. It serves as one of the leading sources of development financing for the countri ...
as a senior advisor.
Family
Cabral is married to Victor G. Cabral. After working with the Justice Department, Victor had been vice president for government and Hispanic relations with Verizon
Verizon Communications Inc. ( ), is an American telecommunications company headquartered in New York City. It is the world's second-largest telecommunications company by revenue and its mobile network is the largest wireless carrier in the ...
and, from 2003 to 2009, senior counsel for NBC Universal
NBCUniversal Media, LLC (abbreviated as NBCU and doing business as NBCUniversal or Comcast NBCUniversal since 2013) is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate that is a subsidiary of Comcast and headquartered at 30 ...
/Telemundo
Telemundo (; formerly NetSpan) is an American Spanish-language terrestrial television network owned by NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises, a division of NBCUniversal, which in turn is a wholly owned subsidiary of Comcast. It provides content ...
in the Government Relations department. Today he is a partner in Energy Capital Group, a solar energy company.
Cabral began her family while still in college, causing her to delay her education by several years. She had her first child, Raquel, by the age of 20 with the remainder coming in the following five years. When she returned to school and to work, Cabral brought some of her children along. She recalls that while on Capitol Hill, her kids would fish for loose change at the vending machines: "They'd routinely come up with $20 or $30." At Harvard, her son Victor—then three years old—would ask her professor questions despite her best efforts to quiet him.[
Cabral is also an accomplished seamstress, having sewed her children's clothes when younger in order to save money. She made the gowns for her three daughters' and her daughter-in-law's weddings (prominent Republican consultant Leslie Sanchez did the flower arrangements) for the eldest two daughters' weddings.][Bree Hocking]
"From Republican Insider to Martha Stewart Confidant?"
''Roll Call'' (September 13, 2005).
The Cabrals have four children: Raquel Cabral Terry (married to Adam Terry), Viana Cabral Greene, Catalina Cabral McCarthy (married to Brendan McCarthy), and Victor Christopher Cabral (married to Charmi Oza). Additionally, they have six grandchildren, Lilyana Cabral Greene, Joseph Milton Greene IV, Vivienne Holland Greene, Henry Matthew Sours, Ava Grace Terry and Maya Victoria Cabral.
Three of Cabral's daughters have followed her into government service. In 2005, Raquel Cabral served in the Bush White House, the Department of Energy, and the United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice (DOJ), also known as the Justice Department, is a United States federal executive departments, federal executive department of the U.S. government that oversees the domestic enforcement of Law of the Unite ...
and in July 2008, she became the deputy director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans, while Viana Greene worked for the Senate Judiciary Committee
The United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, informally known as the Senate Judiciary Committee, is a Standing committee (United States Congress), standing committee of 22 U.S. senators whose role is to oversee the United States Departm ...
and Catalina Cabral worked at both the Bush White House and the Department of Justice.["Raquel Cabral Sours,"]
(archived) ''White House Initiative Staff''. Accessed on July 27, 2009. Her son, Victor Cabral, graduated from MIT with a degree in Nuclear Engineering and has consulted on a number of software engineering contracts with the federal government.
See also
* List of Hispanic and Latino Republicans
Notes
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cabral, Anna Escobedo
1959 births
California Republicans
George Mason University alumni
Antonin Scalia Law School alumni
Harvard Kennedy School alumni
Living people
American politicians of Mexican descent
Politicians from San Bernardino, California
Treasurers of the United States
University of California, Davis alumni
Women in California politics
Hispanic and Latino American women in politics
Latino conservatism in the United States
George W. Bush administration personnel
UC Berkeley School of Law alumni
21st-century American women politicians