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William Barr (politician)
Encyclopedia
William Pelham Barr is an American attorney who served as the 77th Attorney General of the United States.
Barr, the son of Mary and Donald Barr, Columbia University faculty members, was born in New York City
and grew up on the Upper West side of Manhattan
, attended Catholic parochial school Corpus Christi School and Horace Mann School
, and received his bachelor's degree
in government and a master's degree in government and Chinese studies, in 1971 and 1973 respectively, from Columbia University
. He received his J.D.
with highest honors in 1977 from The George Washington University Law School
. From 1973 to 1977, he was employed by the Central Intelligence Agency
. Barr was a law clerk
to Judge Malcolm Wilkey of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit from 1977 through 1978. He served on the domestic policy staff at the Reagan
White House from 1982 to 1983. He was also in private practice for nine years with the Washington law firm
of Shaw, Pittman, Potts & Trowbridge.
In 1989, at the outset of his administration, President George H.W. Bush appointed Barr to the U.S. Department of Justice as Assistant Attorney General
for the Office of Legal Counsel
, an office which functions as the legal advisor to the President and executive branch agencies. Barr was known as a strong defender of Presidential power and wrote advisory opinions justifying the U.S. invasion of Panama
and arrest of Manuel Noriega
, and a controversial opinion that the F.B.I. could enter onto foreign soil without the consent of the host government to apprehend fugitives wanted for terrorism or drug-trafficking.
, the official responsible for day-to-day management of the Department. According to media reports, Barr generally got high marks for his professional running of the Department.
In August 1991, when then-Attorney General Richard Thornburgh resigned to run for the Senate, Barr was named Acting Attorney General. Three days after Barr moved into that position, 121 Cuban inmates, awaiting deportation to Cuba as extremely violent criminals, seized 9 hostages at the Talladega federal prison. Barr directed the F.B.I.'s Hostage Rescue Team to carry out an assault on the prison, which resulted in rescuing all hostages without loss of life. It was reported that President Bush was impressed with Barr's handling of the hostage crisis, and weeks later, President Bush nominated him as Attorney General.
The media described Barr as staunchly conservative. The New York Times described the "central theme" of his tenure to be: "his contention that violent crime can be reduced only by expanding Federal and state prisons to jail habitual violent offenders." At the same time, reporters consistently describe Barr as affable with a dry, self-deprecating wit.
After leaving the Department of Justice, Barr spent over 14 years in senior corporate positions. At the end of 2008 he retired from Verizon Communications, having served as Executive Vice President and General Counsel
of GTE Corporation from 1994 until that company merged with Bell Atlantic to become Verizon. During his corporate tenure, Barr led a successful litigation campaign by the local phone industry to achieve deregulation by scuttling a series of FCC rules, personally arguring several key cases in the federal courts of appeals and the Supreme Court. Barr currently serves on several corporate boards.
In his home state of Virginia, Barr was appointed in 1994 by then-Governor George Allen to co-chair a commission to reform the criminal justice system and abolish parole in the state. He also served on the Board of Visitors of the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg from 1997 to 2005.
Barr is an avid bagpiper, an avocation
he began at the age of 8, and has played competitively in Scotland with a leading American pipe band.
Barr is a Roman Catholic. He married Christine Moynihan in June 1973, and they have three grown daughters.
Barr, the son of Mary and Donald Barr, Columbia University faculty members, was born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and grew up on the Upper West side of Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, attended Catholic parochial school Corpus Christi School and Horace Mann School
Horace Mann School
Horace Mann School is an independent college preparatory school in New York City, New York, United States founded in 1887 known for its rigorous course of studies. Horace Mann is a member of the Ivy Preparatory School League, educating students from all across the New York tri-state area from...
, and received his bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in government and a master's degree in government and Chinese studies, in 1971 and 1973 respectively, from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. He received his J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
with highest honors in 1977 from The George Washington University Law School
The George Washington University Law School
The George Washington University Law School, commonly referred to as GW Law, is the law school of The George Washington University. It was founded in 1825 and is the oldest law school in Washington, D.C. The school is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a charter member of the...
. From 1973 to 1977, he was employed by the Central Intelligence Agency
Central Intelligence Agency
The Central Intelligence Agency is a civilian intelligence agency of the United States government. It is an executive agency and reports directly to the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for providing national security intelligence assessment to senior United States policymakers...
. Barr was a law clerk
Law clerk
A law clerk or a judicial clerk is a person who provides assistance to a judge in researching issues before the court and in writing opinions. Law clerks are not court clerks or courtroom deputies, who are administrative staff for the court. Most law clerks are recent law school graduates who...
to Judge Malcolm Wilkey of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit from 1977 through 1978. He served on the domestic policy staff at the Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
White House from 1982 to 1983. He was also in private practice for nine years with the Washington law firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
of Shaw, Pittman, Potts & Trowbridge.
In 1989, at the outset of his administration, President George H.W. Bush appointed Barr to the U.S. Department of Justice as Assistant Attorney General
United States Assistant Attorney General
Many of the divisions and offices of the United States Department of Justice are headed by an Assistant Attorney General.The President of the United States appoints individuals to the position of Assistant Attorney General with the advice and consent of the Senate...
for the Office of Legal Counsel
Office of Legal Counsel
The Office of Legal Counsel is an office in the United States Department of Justice that assists the Attorney General in his function as legal adviser to the President and all executive branch agencies.-History:...
, an office which functions as the legal advisor to the President and executive branch agencies. Barr was known as a strong defender of Presidential power and wrote advisory opinions justifying the U.S. invasion of Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
and arrest of Manuel Noriega
Manuel Noriega
Manuel Antonio Noriega Moreno is a Panamanian politician and soldier. He was military dictator of Panama from 1983 to 1989.The 1989 invasion of Panama by the United States removed him from power; he was captured, detained as a prisoner of war, and flown to the United States. Noriega was tried on...
, and a controversial opinion that the F.B.I. could enter onto foreign soil without the consent of the host government to apprehend fugitives wanted for terrorism or drug-trafficking.
Background
In May 1990, Barr was appointed Deputy Attorney GeneralUnited States Deputy Attorney General
United States Deputy Attorney General is the second-highest-ranking official in the United States Department of Justice. In the United States federal government, the Deputy Attorney General oversees the day-to-day operation of the Department of Justice, and may act as Attorney General during the...
, the official responsible for day-to-day management of the Department. According to media reports, Barr generally got high marks for his professional running of the Department.
In August 1991, when then-Attorney General Richard Thornburgh resigned to run for the Senate, Barr was named Acting Attorney General. Three days after Barr moved into that position, 121 Cuban inmates, awaiting deportation to Cuba as extremely violent criminals, seized 9 hostages at the Talladega federal prison. Barr directed the F.B.I.'s Hostage Rescue Team to carry out an assault on the prison, which resulted in rescuing all hostages without loss of life. It was reported that President Bush was impressed with Barr's handling of the hostage crisis, and weeks later, President Bush nominated him as Attorney General.
The media described Barr as staunchly conservative. The New York Times described the "central theme" of his tenure to be: "his contention that violent crime can be reduced only by expanding Federal and state prisons to jail habitual violent offenders." At the same time, reporters consistently describe Barr as affable with a dry, self-deprecating wit.
After leaving the Department of Justice, Barr spent over 14 years in senior corporate positions. At the end of 2008 he retired from Verizon Communications, having served as Executive Vice President and General Counsel
General Counsel
A general counsel is the chief lawyer of a legal department, usually in a corporation or government department. The term is most used in the United States...
of GTE Corporation from 1994 until that company merged with Bell Atlantic to become Verizon. During his corporate tenure, Barr led a successful litigation campaign by the local phone industry to achieve deregulation by scuttling a series of FCC rules, personally arguring several key cases in the federal courts of appeals and the Supreme Court. Barr currently serves on several corporate boards.
In his home state of Virginia, Barr was appointed in 1994 by then-Governor George Allen to co-chair a commission to reform the criminal justice system and abolish parole in the state. He also served on the Board of Visitors of the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg from 1997 to 2005.
Barr is an avid bagpiper, an avocation
Avocation
An avocation is an activity that one engages in as a hobby outside one's main occupation. There are many examples of people whose professions were the ways that they made their livings, but for whom their activities outside of their workplaces were their true passions in life...
he began at the age of 8, and has played competitively in Scotland with a leading American pipe band.
Barr is a Roman Catholic. He married Christine Moynihan in June 1973, and they have three grown daughters.