Bruce Babbitt

Bruce Edward Babbitt (born June 27, 1938) is an American politician from the state of Arizona. A member of the Democratic Party, Babbitt served as the 16th governor of Arizona from 1978 to 1987, and as the United States Secretary of the Interior from 1993 through 2001. He unsuccessfully ran for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States in 1988.

Bruce Babbitt
47th United States Secretary of the Interior
In office January 22, 1993 – January 2, 2001
President	Bill Clinton
Preceded by	Manuel Lujan
Succeeded by	Gale Norton
16th Governor of Arizona
In office March 4, 1978 – January 6, 1987
Preceded by	Wesley Bolin
Succeeded by	Evan Mecham
19th Attorney General of Arizona
In office January 6, 1975 – March 4, 1978
Governor	Raúl Castro Wesley Bolin
Preceded by	Warner Lee
Succeeded by	Jack LaSota
Personal details
Born	Bruce Edward Babbitt (1938-06-27) June 27, 1938 (age 86) Flagstaff, Arizona, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Hattie Coons
Children	2
Education	University of Notre Dame (BS) Newcastle University (MS) Harvard University (LLB)

Babbitt was born in Flagstaff, Arizona, the son of Frances B. (Perry) and Paul James Babbitt, Sr.^[1][2] He graduated from the University of Notre Dame.^[3]

He married Harriet Coons (known as Hattie) in 1968. She has worked as an attorney in Arizona and Washington, D.C., and served as United States Ambassador to the Organization of American States from 1993 to 1997, and as Deputy Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development from 1997 to 2001 during the Clinton Administration.^[4]

In 1993, after Byron White retired from the Supreme Court, Babbitt was seen as a top pick for his replacement.^[5][6] President Clinton picked Ruth Bader Ginsburg instead.