Rosalie (Ricky) Gaull Silberman
Encyclopedia
Ricky Silberman was an American
conservative
activist who, with Barbara Olson
, co-founded the Independent Women's Forum
.
, she studied government studies, graduating with honors from Smith College
in 1958. She met her husband-to-be, future federal Judge Laurence H. Silberman
, in 1955 during summer school at Harvard University
.
during the 1960s, but she also worked as a teacher in suburban Washington before getting involved in politics and public affairs.
President Richard Nixon
appointed her to the Presidential Commission for the Education of Disadvantaged Children, and she worked as a press secretary for U.S. Sen. Robert Packwood (R-Oregon). When the Silbermans moved to San Francisco in 1979, she did development work for the San Francisco Conservatory.
In 1984, President Ronald Reagan
appointed her to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
(EEOC), where she served until 1995, rising to the positions of vice-chair and commissioner.
Her support of Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas
led to the formation of the Independent Women's Forum
(IWF), which had its origins in 1991-92, when Mrs. Silberman and friends, Barbara Olson
, Barbara Ledeen and Anita Blair, started an informal network of women who supported the Thomas nomination despite allegations of sexual harassment by Anita Hill
, a former colleague at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. She had worked with Thomas at the commission and was a close friend. During his contentious confirmation, she spoke out on his behalf and helped edit The Real Anita Hill, a book by David Brock
that savaged Hill and portrayed her charges as a political dirty trick.
From 1995 to 2000, Silberman was executive director of the Office of Congressional Compliance, an independent authority established by Congress to oversee the new law requiring that Congress abide by many of the same workplace regulations that covered the rest of the nation.
In 2002, Donald Rumsfeld
appointed her to the Defense Department Advisory Commission on the Status of Women (DACOWITS), where she
served as Boardmember, and, later, Chairperson Emeritus until her death five years later.
on Sunday, February 18, 2007 at Georgetown University Hospital
, Washington, D.C.
, at the age of 69. She was survived by her husband of 49 years; three children and, at the time of her death, eight grandchildren. Through the auspices of her son Robert, D.C. Prep, a Washington Charter School, dedicated a campus in Silberman's memory.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
activist who, with Barbara Olson
Barbara Olson
Barbara Olson was a lawyer and conservative American television commentator who worked for CNN, Fox News Channel, and several other outlets...
, co-founded the Independent Women's Forum
Independent Women's Forum
The Independent Women's Forum is an American conservative, non-profit, non-partisan research and educational institution focused on domestic and foreign policy issues of concern to women...
.
Biography
Born as Rosalie Gaull in Jackson, MichiganJackson, Michigan
Jackson is a city located along Interstate 94 in the south central area of the U.S. state of Michigan, about west of Ann Arbor and south of Lansing. It is the county seat of Jackson County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 33,534...
, she studied government studies, graduating with honors from Smith College
Smith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
in 1958. She met her husband-to-be, future federal Judge Laurence H. Silberman
Laurence H. Silberman
Laurence Hirsch Silberman is a senior federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. He was appointed in October 1985 by Ronald Reagan and took senior status on November 1, 2000. He continues to serve on the court...
, in 1955 during summer school at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.
Career
Ricky Silberman raised three children while the family lived in HawaiiHawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
during the 1960s, but she also worked as a teacher in suburban Washington before getting involved in politics and public affairs.
President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
appointed her to the Presidential Commission for the Education of Disadvantaged Children, and she worked as a press secretary for U.S. Sen. Robert Packwood (R-Oregon). When the Silbermans moved to San Francisco in 1979, she did development work for the San Francisco Conservatory.
In 1984, President Ronald 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....
appointed her to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is an independent federal law enforcement agency that enforces laws against workplace discrimination. The EEOC investigates discrimination complaints based on an individual's race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, perceived intelligence,...
(EEOC), where she served until 1995, rising to the positions of vice-chair and commissioner.
Her support of Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas
Clarence Thomas
Clarence Thomas is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Succeeding Thurgood Marshall, Thomas is the second African American to serve on the Court....
led to the formation of the Independent Women's Forum
Independent Women's Forum
The Independent Women's Forum is an American conservative, non-profit, non-partisan research and educational institution focused on domestic and foreign policy issues of concern to women...
(IWF), which had its origins in 1991-92, when Mrs. Silberman and friends, Barbara Olson
Barbara Olson
Barbara Olson was a lawyer and conservative American television commentator who worked for CNN, Fox News Channel, and several other outlets...
, Barbara Ledeen and Anita Blair, started an informal network of women who supported the Thomas nomination despite allegations of sexual harassment by Anita Hill
Anita Hill
Anita Faye Hill is an American attorney and academic—presently a professor of social policy, law and women's studies at Brandeis University's Heller School for Social Policy and Management. She became a national figure in 1991 when she alleged that U.S. Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas had...
, a former colleague at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. She had worked with Thomas at the commission and was a close friend. During his contentious confirmation, she spoke out on his behalf and helped edit The Real Anita Hill, a book by David Brock
David Brock
David Brock is an American journalist and author, the founder of the media watchdog group, Media Matters for America, and a Democratic political operative...
that savaged Hill and portrayed her charges as a political dirty trick.
From 1995 to 2000, Silberman was executive director of the Office of Congressional Compliance, an independent authority established by Congress to oversee the new law requiring that Congress abide by many of the same workplace regulations that covered the rest of the nation.
In 2002, Donald Rumsfeld
Donald Rumsfeld
Donald Henry Rumsfeld is an American politician and businessman. Rumsfeld served as the 13th Secretary of Defense from 1975 to 1977 under President Gerald Ford, and as the 21st Secretary of Defense from 2001 to 2006 under President George W. Bush. He is both the youngest and the oldest person to...
appointed her to the Defense Department Advisory Commission on the Status of Women (DACOWITS), where she
served as Boardmember, and, later, Chairperson Emeritus until her death five years later.
Death
Silberman died from complications from breast cancerBreast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
on Sunday, February 18, 2007 at Georgetown University Hospital
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, at the age of 69. She was survived by her husband of 49 years; three children and, at the time of her death, eight grandchildren. Through the auspices of her son Robert, D.C. Prep, a Washington Charter School, dedicated a campus in Silberman's memory.