Carla Anderson Hills
A pioneering Republican lawyer who broke barriers as the first woman to lead two major U.S. departments, shaping trade policy and housing law with formidable skill.
Born 1934 (age 92)·American lawyer and public servant·Birthday: January 3·The Silent Generation
Biography
Carla Anderson Hills entered the legal profession when few women did, graduating from Yale Law School and swiftly building a reputation in antitrust law. Her ascent in Washington was marked by a series of firsts. Appointed by President Gerald Ford, she became the first woman to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development, tackling the complex challenges of urban policy. Over a decade later, President George H.W. Bush named her U.S. Trade Representative, another first for a woman, placing her at the center of global economic negotiations during a period of tectonic shifts. In this role, she was a principal architect of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), a deal that reshaped continental commerce. Hills operated with a cool, analytical precision that commanded respect across the political aisle, embodying a brand of pragmatic, results-oriented governance. Her long career has made her a foundational figure for women in law and international trade.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Carla was born in 1934, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Carla Was Born
The biggest hits of 1934
#1 Movie
It Happened One Night
Best Picture
It Happened One Night
Carla's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1934Born
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1939Started school
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1947Became a teenager
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1950Could drive
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1952Could vote
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1955Turned 21
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1964Turned 30
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1974Turned 40
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1984Turned 50
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1994Turned 60
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 70
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 80
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2026Age 92 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as the first female U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Gerald Ford.
- Appointed as the first female U.S. Trade Representative, serving under President George H.W. Bush.
- Was a chief negotiator for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
- Became the third woman in U.S. history to hold a cabinet-level position.
Did You Know?
She was one of only 12 women in her class of over 300 at Yale Law School.
She served as Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Division of the Justice Department before her cabinet posts.
She has co-chaired the Council on Foreign Relations alongside former political opponents.
As of 2024, she is the earliest-serving living former U.S. Cabinet member.
“Trade is not an abstraction; it's jobs, farms, and factories.”
