Evelyn May Lieberman ( Simonowitz; July 9, 1944 – December 12, 2015) was an American public affairs professional who, during the
Clinton administration
Bill Clinton's tenure as the 42nd president of the United States began with his first inauguration on January 20, 1993, and ended on January 20, 2001. Clinton, a Democrat from Arkansas, took office following his victory over Republican in ...
, became the first woman to serve as
White House Deputy Chief of Staff
The White House Deputy Chief of Staff is officially the top aide to the White House Chief of Staff, White House chief of staff, who is the senior aide to the president of the United States. The deputy chief of staff usually has an office in the Wh ...
, and was the first United States
.
From 2002 to 2015, Lieberman worked for 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 ...
, most recently as Senior Advisor and Assistant to the Secretary for external relations.
Life and career
Lieberman was press secretary to Senator
Joe Biden
Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. (born November 20, 1942) is an American politician who was the 46th president of the United States from 2021 to 2025. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, he served as the 47th vice p ...
(D-DE) from 1988 to 1993; Director of Public Affairs for the
Children's Defense Fund
The Children's Defense Fund (CDF) is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., that focuses on child advocacy and research. It was founded in 1973 by Marian Wright Edelman.
History
The CDF was founded in 1973, ci ...
; and Communications Director for the
National Urban Coalition
National may refer to:
Common uses
* Nation or country
** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen
Places in the United States
* National, Maryland, ce ...
. She was also a director of the Trust for Early Education, an advocacy group devoted to ensuring that children in America receive pre-Kindergarten preparation for education.
Lieberman first joined the White House in 1993 as Assistant to
First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton ( Rodham; born October 26, 1947) is an American politician, lawyer and diplomat. She was the 67th United States secretary of state in the administration of Barack Obama from 2009 to 2013, a U.S. senator represent ...
's Chief of Staff. She rose to the rank of Deputy Assistant to the President with the job title of Deputy Press Secretary. On January 10, 1996, Chief of Staff
Leon Panetta
Leon Edward Panetta (born June 28, 1938) is an American retired politician and government official who has served under several Democratic administrations as secretary of defense (2011–2013), director of the CIA (2009–2011), White House chi ...
announced her appointment as Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff.
While another Deputy Chief of Staff managed policy and politics, Lieberman oversaw White House operations and administrative functions: the Office of Scheduling and Advance, the Office of Management and Administration, the Office of Presidential Personnel, and the Office of the Staff Secretary, as well as Director of Oval Office Operations. She focussed on bringing discipline to the young, energetic White House staff; in announcing her appointment, Panetta said that "she brings the perfect mixture of chicken soup and a kick in the butt that we need in this job."
While serving as Deputy Chief of Staff, Lieberman, with the approval of Panetta, transferred
Monica Lewinsky
Monica Samille Lewinsky (born July 23, 1973) is an American activist. Lewinsky became internationally known in the late 1990s after U.S. President Bill Clinton admitted to having had an affair with her during her days as a White House intern ...
— the former intern later found to have had an inappropriate relationship with the President—out of the White House into the
United States Defense Department
The United States Department of Defense (DoD, USDOD, or DOD) is an executive department of the U.S. federal government charged with coordinating and supervising the six U.S. armed services: the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Space Force, t ...
Public Affairs office. In subsequent
grand jury
A grand jury is a jury empowered by law to conduct legal proceedings, investigate potential criminal conduct, and determine whether criminal charges should be brought. A grand jury may subpoena physical evidence or a person to testify. A grand ju ...
testimony, Lieberman recalled removing Lewinsky for "spending too much time around the
West Wing
The West Wing of the White House is the location of the office space of the president of the United States. The West Wing contains the Oval Office, the Cabinet Room (White House), Cabinet Room, the White House Situation Room, Situation Room, a ...
".
The story of Lewinsky's firing reportedly contributed to Lieberman's "cult status" as a tough enforcer among the Hillary Clinton supporters collectively known as "
Hillaryland
Hillaryland was the self-designated name of a group of core advisors to Hillary Clinton, when she was First Lady of the United States and again when, as United States Senator, she was one of the Democratic Party candidates for president in the 20 ...
". "If Lieberman invites you for a walk", Hillaryland members joked, "don't go. It means you're fired."
At the beginning of Clinton's second administration, Lieberman wanted to return to public affairs, and Clinton appointed her director of the
Voice of America
Voice of America (VOA or VoA) is an international broadcasting network funded by the federal government of the United States that by law has editorial independence from the government. It is the largest and oldest of the American internation ...
. When VOA's parent organization, the
U.S. Information Agency
The United States Information Agency (USIA) was a United States government agency devoted to propaganda which operated from 1953 to 1999.
Previously existing United States Information Service (USIS) posts operating out of U.S. embassies wor ...
, was folded into the
State Department
The United States Department of State (DOS), or simply the State Department, is an executive department of the U.S. federal government responsible for the country's foreign policy and relations. Equivalent to the ministry of foreign affairs o ...
in 1999 (minus VOA, which became a unit of the separate
Broadcasting Board of Governors
The United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM), known as the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) from 1994 to 2018, is an independent agency of the United States government that broadcasts news and information for regions of the world wi ...
) she was appointed senior adviser to the
United States Secretary of State
The United States secretary of state (SecState) is a member of the executive branch of the federal government of the United States and the head of the U.S. Department of State.
The secretary of state serves as the principal advisor to the ...
. She was then nominated by the President and confirmed by the
Senate
A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...
as
, overseeing the Department's spokesman, its international public information operations, and its education and cultural programs. Her overall mission was improving the image of the United States internationally.
She served as Director of Communications and Public Affairs 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 ...
from 2002 - early 2015,
taking time off to serve as chief operating officer of
Hillary Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton ( Rodham; born October 26, 1947) is an American politician, lawyer and diplomat. She was the 67th United States secretary of state in the administration of Barack Obama from 2009 to 2013, a U.S. senator represent ...
's presidential campaign.
Personal life
Lieberman, a native New Yorker, graduated from
Buffalo State College
The State University of New York Buffalo State University (colloquially referred to as Buffalo State University, SUNY Buffalo State, Buffalo State, or simply Buff State) is a public college, public university in Buffalo, New York. It is part of ...
in 1966. She delivered the commencement address at Buffalo State in 2014 and was presented with an honorary degree from the college.
She was married to attorney Edward H. Lieberman.
On December 12, 2015, she died of
pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer arises when cell (biology), cells in the pancreas, a glandular organ behind the stomach, begin to multiply out of control and form a Neoplasm, mass. These cancerous cells have the malignant, ability to invade other parts of ...
.
''New York Times'', Evelyn Lieberman, aide who moved Monica Lewinsky from White House dies at 71
/ref>
References
External links
Statement by the Vice President and Dr. Jill Biden On the Passing of Evelyn Lieberman
, -
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lieberman, Evelyn S.
1944 births
2015 deaths
Buffalo State College alumni
Deaths from cancer in Washington, D.C.
Clinton administration personnel
Deaths from pancreatic cancer in Washington, D.C.
Clinton–Lewinsky scandal
People from Brooklyn
Smithsonian Institution people
United States under secretaries of state
White House deputy chiefs of staff
Women government officials
20th-century American Jews
Voice of America people
21st-century American Jews