Biography
Christine Todd Whitman (born September 26, 1946) is an American politician and author who served as the 50th Governor of New Jersey from 1994 to 2001.
A member of the Republican Party, she was the first woman elected Governor of New Jersey. She was also the first female Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from 2001 to 2003.
Christine Todd Whitman was born in New York City and raised in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. She graduated from Princeton University in 1968 and received her law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1971.
Christine Todd Whitman began her career as an attorney in private practice. She later served as Director of the Office of Public Affairs for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection from 1988 to 1992.
Former Governor of New Jersey
Christine Todd Whitman |
|
|---|---|
 Christine Todd Whitman: History ‧ Biography ‧ Photos |
|
| Wiki Events & About Data | |
| Full name: | Christine Todd Whitman |
| Born: | September 26, 1946 (age 77) |
| Place of birth: | New York, New York, United States |
| New Party: | Republican Party |
| Nationality: | American |
| Height: | Do not have |
| Parents: | Webster B. Todd, Eleanor Prentice Todd |
| Siblings: | Webster Todd Jr, John Todd, Kate Todd |
| Husband • Spouse: | John Whitman (married 1974–2015) |
| Boyfriend • Partner: | Do not have |
| The children: | Kate Whitman and Taylor Whitman |
| Job: | Politician • Author |
| Net worth: | 13 million dollars |
Early life and education
Christine Todd Whitman was born in New York City, United States, on September 26, 1946. She is the daughter of businessman Webster B. Todd and Eleanor Prentice Todd. Her parents were Republicans, and the Todds were wealthy and influential political families in New Jersey.
Her mother’s family was one of the first New York families to move to what would become Far Hills, New Jersey, a suburb favored by wealthy and moderate Republicans.
Reeve Schley, her maternal grandfather, was a member of Yale’s Wolf’s Head Society and a vice president of Chase Bank. He was also president of the Russian-American Chamber of Commerce for many years.
Christine Todd Whitman’s father, Webster B. Todd, built a fortune as a construction contractor for projects such as Rockefeller Center and Radio City Hall. Webster B. Todd used his fortune to support Republican politicians and eventually became an adviser to Dwight D. Eisenhower. Eleanor Prentice Todd, her mother, was a Republican national committee member and president of the New Jersey Federation of Republican Women.
Christine Todd Whitman grew up on her family’s farm in Oldwick, New Jersey, called Pontefract. She grew up on the farm, riding horses and fishing. Her brothers, Webster Todd Jr. and John Todd, were two of her three older brothers, while Kate Todd was her older sister. Her parents were involved in politics, taking Christine Todd Whitman to her first political convention in 1956 for the re-election of Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Christine Todd Whitman’s mother’s political involvement led one newspaper to predict that she would be a credible candidate for governor. However, Eleanor Prentice Todd never ran for public office. She attended Far Hills Country Day School as a child before being sent to Foxcroft, Virginia, for boarding school.
Christine Todd Whitman hated being away from home so she transferred to the Chapin School in Manhattan after a year, allowing her to visit home on weekends.
She worked on Nelson Rockefeller’s presidential campaign after graduating from Wheaton College with a bachelor of arts degree in government in 1968.
Personal life
Christine Todd Whitman had her first date with John Whitman (1944-2015), an old acquaintance she met as a student at Chapin, at Richard Nixon’s inaugural ball in 1973. The couple married the following year. John Whitman was a businessman, investment banker, and the grandson of New York Governor Charles Seymour Whitman in the early 20th century.
John Whitman’s main home while governor was Pontefract, the family property where she grew up. Whitman bought the property after her mother’s death in 1991.
Christine Todd Whitman had two children with her late husband: daughter Kate Whitman and son Taylor Whitman. Kate Whitman followed her mother into politics, including an unsuccessful run for the U.S. House of Representatives and serving as a legislative aide.
Kate Whitman was appointed executive director of her mother’s organization, the Republican Leadership Council, an organization that promotes moderate Republicanism, in 2007. Whitman has seven children.
Christine Todd Whitman’s interests range from mountain biking to football to trap shooting. She also owns a Scottish Terrier named Coors, who is the mother of former President George W. Bush’s dog Barney.
Career
Christine Todd Whitman worked for Donald Rumsfeld’s Office of Economic Opportunity in the Richard Nixon administration. She worked on aging issues for the Nixon campaign and administration and participated in national outreach for the Republican National Committee. She was also deputy director of the New York State Office in Washington.
Her husband, John Whitman, took a position at Citicorp, which forced the family to move to England for three years. Christine Todd Whitman stayed home with the couple’s two children when the family moved to the United States, while she remained involved in Somerset County Republican politics.
Christine Todd Whitman was appointed to the board of trustees of Somerset County College (later renamed Raritan Valley Community College). She was elected to the Somerset County Board of Commissioners for two years, serving as vice president and board director.
Among her accomplishments were the construction of a new county courthouse. She served as chair of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities under Governor Thomas Kean from 1988 to 1990.
Christine Todd Whitman ran for the United States Senate against incumbent Bill Bradley in 1990 but lost in a close election. She was considered the underdog against the popular Bill Bradley. During her campaign, she questioned the income tax increase proposed by then-Governor James Florio. Bill Bradley did not take a position on the issue.
Christine Todd Whitman was a founding member of the Committee for Responsible Government, a conservative advocacy group within the Republican Party. The CRG shifted its pro-choice stance and changed its name to the Republican Leadership Council in 1997.
Net worth
Christine Todd Whitman, a politician and author, has an estimated net worth of $13 million. She built her wealth through a successful political career and by writing best-selling books.
Social media
- Instagram Name: None
- Twitter Username: None
