List of Columbia University people in politics, military and law explained
This is a partially sorted list of notable persons who have had ties to Columbia University.This partial list does not include all of the numerous Columbia alumni and faculty who have served as the heads of foreign governments, in the U.S. Presidential Cabinet, the U.S. Executive branch of government, the Federal Courts, or as U.S. Senators, U.S. Congresspersons, Governors, diplomats, mayors (or other notable local officials), or as prominent members of the legal profession or the military.
Presidents
- Dwight D. Eisenhower (President of Columbia University 1948–1953) – 34th President of the United States (1953–1961)
- Barack Obama (B.A. 1983) – 44th President of the United States (2009–2017), U.S. Senator from Illinois (2005–2008)
- Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Law 1904–1907; posthumous J.D., class of 1907) – 32nd President of the United States (1933–1945)
- Theodore Roosevelt (Law 1880–1881; posthumous J.D., class of 1882) – 26th President of the United States (1901–1909) 25th Vice-President of the United States (1901)
Cabinet Secretaries
- Madeleine Albright(Ph.D. 1976, LL.D. (hons.) 1995) Presidential Medal of Freedom (2012); 64th United States Secretary of State under President Bill Clinton (1997–2001), the first female Secretary of State[1]
- Michael Armacost(Ph.D.) Acting United States Secretary of State (1989); U.S. Ambassador to Japan (1989–1993); U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines (1982–1984)
- Antony Blinken (J.D. 1988)United States Deputy National Security Advisor (2013–2015); 71st United States Secretary of State (2021–)
- Harold Brown(B.A. 1945, M.A. 1946, Ph.D. 1949), 14th United States Secretary of Defense (1977–81)
- Elaine Chao(graduate study) 24th United States Secretary of Labor (2001–2009); Deputy Secretary of Labor; former director, Peace Corps
- Bainbridge Colby(J.D. 1891) 43rd United States Secretary of State; founder, 1912 Progressive Party
- Jacob M. Dickinson(Law, attended) 44th United States Secretary of War (1909–1911)
- Hamilton Fish(B.A. 1827), 26th United States Secretary of State (1869–1877)
- Charles Forbesfirst Director (Secretary) of the U.S. Veterans' Bureau (predecessor of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs) (1921–1923)
- James Rudolph Garfield(J.D. 1888) 23rd United States Secretary of the Interior (1907–09), United States Civil Service Commission (1902–1903)
- George Graham(B.A. 1790) United States Secretary of War ad interim (1816–1817) under Presidents James Madison and James Monroe
- John Graham(B.A. 1790) Acting United States Secretary of State (1817)
- Alexander Haig(CBS 1955) 59th United States Secretary of State in Ronald Reagan's administration
- Alexander Hamilton(1774 matriculated, studies interrupted by Revolutionary War) First United States Secretary of Treasury (1789–1795); co-author of The Federalist Papers
- James Alexander Hamilton(B.A.) Acting United States Secretary of State to President Andrew Jackson
- Charles Evans Hughes(J.D. 1884), 44th United States Secretary of State (1921–1925), Associate and Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court
- John Jay(B.A. 1764) Acting United States Secretary of State (1789–90); Sixth President of the Continental Congress (1778–1779); Second United States Secretary of Foreign Affairs (1784–89); Acting United States Secretary of Foreign Affairs (1789); co-author of The Federalist Papers
- Jeh Johnson(J.D.) United States Secretary of Homeland Security (2013–2017)
- Robert R. Livingston(B.A. 1765) First United States Secretary of Foreign Affairs (1781–1783)
- Franklin MacVeagh(J.D. 1864) 45th United States Secretary of the Treasury (1909–13)
- F. David Mathews(Ph.D. 1975) 11th Secretary of United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare under Gerald Ford (1975–1977); President, University of Alabama
- Rogers Morton(VP&S, attended) Special Counselor to President Gerald Ford (with Cabinet rank); 39th United States Secretary of the Interior (1971–1975); 22nd United States Secretary of Commerce (1975–1976); chairman of the Republican National Committee
- Jim Nicholson(M.A.) 5th United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs (2005–2007) under George W. Bush
- David Pekoske(M.I.A.) Acting United States Secretary of Homeland Security (2021)
- Frances Perkins(M.A. 1910), 4th United States Secretary of Labor (1933–1945), first female cabinet member; United States Civil Service Commission (1946–1953)
- Frank Polk(LL.B. 1897) Acting United States Secretary of State (1920); Under Secretary of State (1919–1920); headed American Commission to Negotiate Peace (1919)
- Maurice H. Stans(1928–30) 19th United States Secretary of Commerce (1969–72); Director, Office of Management and Budget (Cabinet rank) (1958–1961)
- Walter Stoessel(graduate study) Acting United States Secretary of State; 7th United States Deputy Secretary of State (February 11, 1982 – September 22, 1982)
- Oscar S. Straus(B.A. 1871, J.D.1873) 3rd United States Secretary of Commerce and Labor (1906–09), the first Jewish Presidential Cabinet Secretary
- William H. Woodin(B.A. 1890) 51st United States Secretary of the Treasury under Franklin Roosevelt; directed Administration's declaration and enforcement of a "Bank Holiday" and taking U.S. off international gold standard
Attorneys General
Cabinet-level officers
- Madeleine Albright(Certificate in Russian language, M.A., Ph.D.) United States Ambassador to the United Nations (Cabinet rank) (1997–2001); Presidential Medal of Freedom
- Arthur Frank Burns(B.A. 1925, M.A. 1925, Ph.D. 1934) Austrian-born U.S. economist; Chairman, Council of Economic Advisers (Cabinet rank) (1953–56)
- Alan Greenspan (studied for a Ph.D. in economics)Chairman, Council of Economic Advisers (1974–1977); Presidential Medal of Freedom
- Alexander Haig(M.B.A. 1955) twice White House Chief of Staff (Cabinet rank) under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford
- Avril Haines 7th Director of National Intelligence, research scholar and deputy director for the Columbia World Projects[2]
- Fred Hochberg(M.B.A.) Administrator of the Small Business Administration (Cabinet rank) (2009–)
- Leon Keyserling(A.B. 1928) Chairman (1950–1953), Acting Chairman (1949), Council of Economic Advisers under President Harry S. Truman; helped draft major New Deal legislation, including National Industrial Recovery Act, Social Security Act, and the National Labor Relations Act
- Jeane Kirkpatrick(Ph.D. 1968, political science) United States Ambassador to the United Nations under Reagan (1981–1985); Presidential Medal of Freedom
- James F. Leonard(1963–64) United States Ambassador to the United Nations (1977–1979)
- Arthur M. Okun(B.A., Ph.D.) Chairman (1968–69), member (1964–69), Council of Economic Advisers
- William K. Reilly(M.S. 1971) 7th Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (Cabinet rank) (1989–93)
- Raymond J. Saulnier(Ph.D. 1938) Chairman (1956–1961), member (1955–1956), Council of Economic Advisers
- Daniel D. Tompkins(B.A. 1795) 6th Vice-President of the United States
- Russell E. Train(J.D. 1948) 2nd Administrator, United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (1973–77); Chairman, newly formed President's Council on Environmental Quality (1970–73); Under Secretary, United States Department of the Interior (1967–1970); Presidential Medal of Freedom
- Murray Weidenbaum(M.A.) Chairman, Council of Economic Advisers (1981–1982)
Directors of Central Intelligence
White House Counsel
Members of the Federal Reserve System
Other presidential advisors
- Pat Buchanan (M.A. Journalism)White House Communications Director (19851987); coined the phrase "Silent Majority"; speechwriter for President Nixon and Vice President Spiro Agnew; senior advisor, three U.S. presidents, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan
- Zbigniew Brzezinski 10th National Security Advisor, professor at Columbia University (196072)
- James E. Connor (B.A. 1961), White House Cabinet Secretary and Staff secretary to President Gerald Ford
- Jonathan W. Daniels (failed out, CLS)White House Press Secretary under Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman
- Stephen J. Flanagan (B.A. 1973)senior director for Central and Eastern Europe on the National Security Council (1997–99)
- Stephen Friedman (J.D. 1962)Director, United States National Economic Council (2002–05); Chairman, U.S. President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board (2005–09)
- Alexander Haig (M.B.A. 1955)Deputy National Security Advisor (1973–75); Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, the second-highest ranking officer in the Army (1973)
- Fred Hochberg (M.B.A.)Chairman, Export-Import Bank of the United States (2009–)
- Benjamin Huberman (B.A. 1959) acting Science Advisor to the President in 1981 and acting director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy
- Carl Kaysen (graduate study, 1940–46)Deputy National Security Advisor (1961–63)
- Michael E. Leiter (B.A. 1991)Director of the United States National Counterterrorism Center (2007–2011)
- Harold F. Linder (B.A., Ph.D.)Chairman, Export-Import Bank of the United States (1961–1968), Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs (1952–53)
- Kathleen McGinty (J.D. 1988)Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality (1995–1998); founding Director, White House Office on Environmental Policy
- William Eldridge Odom(M.S. 1962, Ph.D. 1970) former director of the National Security Agency (NSA) under President Ronald Reagan
- Frank Press (M.A. 1946, Ph.D. 1949)Science Advisor to President Jimmy Carter and Director, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (1976–1980)
- Isidor Isaac Rabi (Ph.D.)Science Advisor to President Eisenhower and Director, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (1956–1957)
- Brent Scowcroft (M.A., Ph.D.)9th & 17th United States National Security Advisor (1975–77; 1989–93); Chairman, U.S. President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board (2001–05); Deputy National Security Advisor (1970–75)
- George Stephanopoulos (B.A., salutatorian, 1982)initially de facto White House Press Secretary, later Senior Advisor to the President Bill Clinton
- Harold E. Varmus (M.D.)one of three co-chairs, President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (2009–)
- Samuel V. Wilson (attended)former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency; coined the term "counterinsurgency"
- Kenneth J. Arrow (M.A., Ph.D.)Richard Nixon's Council of Economic Advisers
- Daniel Fried (M.I.A. 1977)Special Envoy to Guantanamo (2009–); Special Assistant to the President and member, United States National Security Council (2001–2005)
- Toby Gati (M.A. 1970, M.I.A. 1972)Special Assistant to the President and member, United States National Security Council (1993)
- M.R.C. Greenwood (postdoctoral study)Associate Director for Science, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy during the Clinton Administration
- Matt Latimer (M.S.)Special Assistant to the President for Speechwriting during the administration of President George W. Bush
- Kenneth Lieberthal (M.A., Ph.D. 1972)Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director, U.S. National Security Council during the Clinton Administration
- Michel Oksenberg (M.A. 1963, Ph.D. 1969)member, United States National Security Council; closely involved in normalization of U.S.-China relations undertaken during the administration of President Jimmy Carter
- Paul Seabury (Ph.D.)U.S. President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board; 1964 Bancroft Prize
- Gary Sick (Ph.D. 1973)U.S. National Security Council under Presidents Ford, Carter, and Reagan; principal White House aide for Persian Gulf affairs (1976–1981) (including Iranian revolution and the hostage crisis)
- Robert Suettinger(M.A.) President Bill Clinton's national intelligence officer for East Asia at the National Intelligence Council (1997–1998)
- Paul Weinstein (M.A.)Special Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff, White House Domestic Policy Council during the Clinton Administration
- Marina von Neumann Whitman (M.A. 1959, Ph.D. 1962)member, Richard Nixon's Council of Economic Advisers (1973–74)
- Mark Barnes (LL.M. 1991)member, National Health Care Reform Task Force under President Bill Clinton
- Jared Bernstein (M.A., Ph.D. 1994)member, Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry; Executive Director, White House Middle Class Working Families Task Force; Chief Economist and Economic Policy Advisor to Vice President Joseph Biden in the administration of President Barack Obama (2009–11)
- Ursula Burns (M.S. 1981)Vice-Chairman, Obama Administration's Export Council (2010–)
- Mark Gallogly (M.B.A. 1986)Barack Obama's President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board
- Ulysses S. Grant Jr. (LL.B. 1876)personal secretary, President Ulysses S. Grant
- Ken Khachigian (J.D. 1969)speechwriter for President Richard Nixon, Chief speechwriter for President Ronald Reagan
- Charles Edward Merriam (M.A. 1897, Ph.D., political science, 1900)advisor to several presidents, including Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Raymond Moley (Ph.D. 1918)Presidential Medal of Freedom (1970); senior adviser, Franklin D. Roosevelt; a leading New Dealer; leading member of first Brain Trust; recruited its members from Columbia faculty; later became sharp critic of New Deal
- Dick Morris (B.A. 1967)Chief political advisor to President Bill Clinton in his first term; first use of term triangulation
- Lynn Forester de Rothschild (J.D. 1980)United States Secretary of Energy Advisory Board under President Bill Clinton
- Ben Stein (B.A. 1966)speechwriter and lawyer for President Richard Nixon and later for President Gerald Ford
- Steven Simon (B.A. 1974)senionr director for the Middle East and North Africa on the National Security Council (1997–99)
- Rexford Tugwell (Ph.D.)part of Franklin D. Roosevelt's first "Brain Trust", and was one of the chief intellectual contributors to his New Deal
- Michael Waldman (B.A. 1982)Director of Speechwriting for President Clinton (1995–99), member of the Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court of the United States
- Harry Dexter White (attended 1922)senior Treasury official for Franklin D. Roosevelt, helped found World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF); alleged in Venona list to be Soviet spy
- Tim WuSpecial Assistant to the President for Technology and Competition Policy, Professor at Columbia University (2006)
Commissioners and agency heads, sub-cabinet members
- Sharon Block (B.A. 1987)Acting Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (2021–), member of the National Labor Relations Board (2012–13)
- L. Francis Cissna (M.I.A. 1990)director of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (2017–19)
- Julie Chung (M.I.A. 1996)Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs (2021–), United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives nominee
- Alan D. Cohn (B.A. 1993)Assistant Secretary for Strategy, Plans, Analysis and Risk, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- John Collier (B.A. 1906)United States Commissioner of Indian Affairs (1933–1945), implemented reform of federal Indian policy
- Monica Crowley (Ph.D.)Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (2019–21)
- William O. Douglas (LL.B. 1925)third Chairman, United States Securities and Exchange Commission (1936–39)
- Nathan Feinsinger (Law, post-graduate study)former Chairman, United States Wage Stabilization Board
- Joseph F. Finnegan (B.A. 1928)fourth Director, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (1955–1961)[3]
- Thibaut de Saint Phalle (B.A. 1939)director of the Export–Import Bank of the United States (1977–1981)
- William Dudley Foulke (B.A. 1869, LL.B. 1871)Commissioner, United States Civil Service Commission
- Tom Frieden (M.D., M.P.H.)Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2009–2017); Administrator, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (2009–2017)
- Charles Frankel (B.A. 1937)Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs (1965–67)
- Julius Genachowski (B.A. 1985)Chairman, United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) (2009–13)
- Henry Clay Hall (LL.B. 1883)twice Chairman (1917–1918, 1924), Commissioner (1914–1928), Interstate Commerce Commission
- Robert O. Harris (B.A. 1951) twice Chairman of the National Mediation Board (1979–80, 1982–83)
- John D. Hawke Jr. (J.D. 1960)United States Comptroller of the Currency (1998–2004); Under Secretary of the Treasury for Domestic Finance (1995–1998)
- Joseph Hendrie (Ph.D. 1957)former Chairman, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
- Edward Hidalgo (J.D. 1936)Secretary of the Air Force (1979–1981); Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs) (1977–1979)
- John H. Hilldring (attended 1914-1916)Assistant Secretary of State for Occupied Areas (1946–47)
- Colin Kahl (Ph.D. 2000)Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (2021–), National Security Advisor to the Vice President (2014–17)
- Robert Karem (B.A. 2000)Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (2017) Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (2017–2018)
- Lina Khan – Chairwoman (2021–), Federal Trade Commission; professor at Columbia Law School
- William Kovacic (J.D. 1978) Chairman (2008–2009), Commissioner (2006–2009), Federal Trade Commission
- Craig E. Leen (J.D. 2000)Director, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, U.S. Department of Labor (2018–21)[4]
- Michael E. Leiter (B.A. 1991)Director, United States National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), during capture of Osama bin Laden (2007–)
- Irving Lewis "Scooter" Libby (J.D. 1975)Chief of Staff, Vice President Dick Cheney (2001–05); convicted on obstruction of justice charges for his role in Plame affair (2007)
- Nancy McEldowney (M.I.A. 1986)National Security Advisor to the Vice President (2021–)
- Allan I. Mendelowitz (B.A. 1966)Chairman of the Federal Housing Finance Board (2000–01)
- Charles E. F. Millard (J.D. 1985)Director, United States Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (2007–09)
- John Bassett MooreUnited States Assistant Secretary of State (1898), Columbia professor (1891–1924)
- Richard M. Moose (M.A. 1954)Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs (1977–81), Under Secretary of State for Management (1992–96)
- Geoff Morrell (M.S. 1992)Press Secretary for the US Department of Defense (2007–11)
- Michael Mundaca (B.A. 1986)Assistant Secretary for Tax Policy in the U.S. Department of the Treasury (2010–11)
- Brian Murphy (M.A. 2006)Acting Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Intelligence and Analysis (2018–20)
- Annette Nazareth (J.D. 1981)Commissioner, United States Securities and Exchange Commission (2005–08)
- Myrna Pérez (J.D. 2003)nominee, Commissioner, Election Assistance Commission (2011–)[5]
- Robert Pitofsky (LL.B. 1954)Chairman (1995–2001), Commissioner (1978–81), Federal Trade Commission
- Donald A. Quarles (graduate studies)Secretary of the Air Force; Deputy Secretary of Defense (2nd ranking official in the Department of Defense)
- Thomasina V. Rogers (J.D. 1976)Chairman (2009–; 1999–02), Commissioner (2009–; 03–09; 1998–03) U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission; first woman designated Chairman; only African American to serve on the Commission.[6] [7]
- David Rothkopf (B.A. 1977) Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade (1995–96)
- Louis M. Rousselot (B.A. 1923)Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs (1970–71)
- William E. Simkin (graduate studies)fifth Director, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, longest-serving Director (1961–1969)
- Mozelle Thompson (B.A. 1976, J.D. 1981)Commissioner, Federal Trade Commission (1997–2004)[8] [9]
- Harold Varmus (M.D.)Director, National Cancer Institute (2010–)Director, National Institutes of Health (1993–99); Nobel Laureate
- Mary Jo White (J.D. 1974), Chairman (2013–), Commissioner (2013–) United States Securities and Exchange Commission
- Karan K. Bhatia (J.D. 1993)Deputy United States Trade Representative (2nd ranking official in the U.S. Office of Trade Representative) (2005–)[10] [11]
- Frank Blake (J.D. 1976)Deputy United States Secretary of Energy (2nd ranking official in the U.S. Department of Energy)
- Reuben Clark (LL.B. 1906)Under Secretary of State (from 1919 to 1972, 2nd ranking official in the U.S. Department of State)
- Carol A. DiBattiste (LL.M. 1986)former United States Under Secretary of the Air Force (2nd highest civilian official in the U.S. Department of the Air Force) (1999–2001)
- Eric Hargan (J.D.)Acting Deputy Secretary, United States Department of Health and Human Services under President George W. Bush
- John C. Inglis (M.S. Mech. Eng. 1977)former Deputy Director, National Security Agency (2006–2014)
- Robert Joseph (Ph.D. 1978)Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security (2005–2007)
- Madeleine Kunin (M.A.)United States Deputy Secretary of Education (2nd ranking official in the U.S. Department of Education) (1993–1997)
- James T. O'Connell (B.A. 1928)United States Deputy Secretary of Labor (1957–1962)
- Randal Quarles (B.A. 1981)Under Secretary of the Treasury for Domestic Finance (2005–2006), Vice Chair of the Federal Reserve (2017–)
- Karthik Ramanathan (B.A. 1994)Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Financial Markets (2008–2010)
- Steven Reich (B.A. 1983)Associate Deputy Attorney General (2011–2013)
- Philippe Reines (B.A. 2000) Deputy Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications in the United States Department of State
- James J. Reynolds (B.A. 1928) United States Deputy Secretary of Labor (1967–1969)
- George Lockhart Rives (B.A. 1868, LL.B.1873)United States Assistant Secretary of State (1853–1913, 2nd ranking official in the U.S. Department of State) (1887–89)
- Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Law 1904–1907; posthumous J.D., class of 1907)[12] U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Navy (from 1861 to 1954, second highest civilian office in Department of the Navyreporting to U.S. Secretary of the Navy who until 1947 was a member of the President's Cabinet)
- Theodore Roosevelt (Law 1880–1881; posthumous J.D., class of 1882)[12] U.S. Assistant Secretary of the Navy
- James P. Rubin (B.A. 1982, M.A. 1984)Chief Spokesperson for the State Department, considered Secretary Albright's right-hand man in Clinton Administration; United States Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs (1997–2000)
- William Cary Sanger (LL.B. 1878)United States Assistant Secretary of War (1901–03)
- Andrew J. Shapiro (J.D. 1994)Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs (2009–2013)
- William H. Shaw (B.A. 1930)Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs (1966–68)
- Joan E. Spero (M.A. 1968, Ph.D. 1973)Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment (1993–97)
- John J. Sullivan (J.D. 1985)United States Deputy Secretary of Commerce (2008–2009), United States Deputy Secretary of State (2017–19)
- Gardiner L. Tucker (B.A. 1947)Assistant Secretary for Systems Analysis (1970–73), Assistant Secretary General of NATO for Defense Support (1973–76)
- J. Mayhew Wainwright (B.A. 1884, J.D. 1886)U.S. Assistant Secretary of War (2nd ranking official in the U.S. Department of War until 1940) (1921–23)
- Ronald Weich (B.A. 1980)United States Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legislative Affairs
- Felix Wormser (B.S. 1916)Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Mineral Resources (1954–57)
- Arturo Valenzuela (Ph.D. 1971)Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs (2009–11)
- Tracy Voorhees (J.D. 1915)Under Secretary of the United States Army (2nd ranking official in the U.S. Army) (1949–50)
- Dov Zakheim(B.A. 1970)Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) (2001–04), signatory to manifesto Rebuilding America's Defenses (2000) of the Project for the New American Century
Solicitors general
Judges
Supreme Court Justices
- Samuel Blatchford(B.A. 1837), associate justice[13]
- Benjamin Cardozo(B.A. 1889, M.A. 1890), associate justice
- William O. Douglas(LL.B. 1925), associate justice
- Ruth Bader Ginsburg(LL.B. 1959), associate justice
- Neil Gorsuch(B.A. 1988), associate justice
- Charles Evans Hughes(LL.B. 1884), associate and chief justice
- John Jay(B.A. 1764, M.A. 1767), chief justice
- Joseph McKenna(attended law school), associate justice[14]
- Stanley Forman Reed(attended law school), associate justice
- Harlan Fiske Stone(LL.B. 1898), associate and chief justice
U.S. non-federal judges
- Sheila Abdus-Salaam – (J.D. 1977), associate judge, New York Court of Appeals
- Rolando Acosta(B.A., J.D.), presiding justice of the First Judicial Department
- Willard Bartlett(B.A.), Chief Judge, New York Court of Appeals (1914–1916)
- Edgar M. Cullen(B.A. 1860), Chief Judge, New York Court of Appeals (1904–1913)
- John J. "Jack" Farley, III(M.B.A. 1966), former judge, United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
- Jaime Fuster(LL.M. 1966), associate justice, Supreme Court of Puerto Rico
- Eric Holder(B.A. 1973, J.D. 1976), judge, Superior Court of the District of Columbia, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Deputy U.S. Attorney General
- Samuel Jones(1790), Fifth Chancellor of New York; ex officio member, New York Court of Appeals
- Robert R. LivingstonFirst Chancellor of New York, administered oath of office to President George Washington, negotiated the Louisiana Purchase
- Deborah Poritz(graduate study), Chief Justice, New Jersey Supreme Court (1996–06); Attorney General of New Jersey (1994–96); first woman to serve in each position
- Eric T. Washington(J.D. 1979), Chief Judge, District of Columbia Court of Appeals, the highest appellate court for the District of Columbia
- Augustus B. Woodward(B.A. 1793), first Chief Justice, Michigan Territory; appointed by President Thomas Jefferson; with the governor and two associate justices possessed all the legislative power in the Territory from 1805 until 1824; co-founded the University of Michigan
Foreign judges
- Joaquim Barbosa(visiting scholar, CLS, 1999, 2000), Chief Justice of Brazil (2012–); only black Supreme Federal Court justice minister in Brazil
- Karin Maria Bruzelius(LL.M. 1969), justice of the Supreme Court of Norway (1997–2011)
- Lawrence Collins, Baron Collins of Mapesbury(LL.M.), former Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom (2009–2011);[15] Lord of Appeal in Ordinary (2009); Lord Justice of Appeal (2007–09); Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (see the Privy Council) (February 2007–); judge, High Court of England and Wales (2000)
- Susan Denham(LL.M.), 11th Chief Justice (2011–), Associate Justice (1992–2011), Supreme Court of Ireland, first female Chief Justice
- Philip Jessup(Ph.D.), Judge, International Court of Justice (1961–1970)
- V.K. Wellington Koo(B.A., Ph.D.), Judge, International Court of Justice (1957–1967), former President of the Republic of China, Premier of the Republic of China and Chinese ambassador to the United States
- Marvic Mario Victor F. Leonen(LL.M.), Associate Justice, Supreme Court of the Philippines(2012–)[16]
- Liana Fiol Matta(LL.M., S.J.D.), second woman in Puerto Rican history to serve as Associate Justice, Supreme Court of Puerto Rico (as of 2011)
- John T. McDonough(LL.B. 1861), appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt as Associate Justice, Supreme Court of the Philippines
- George Moe(LL.M.), Chief Justice, Supreme Court of Belize (1982–85); Justice, Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (1985–1991)
- Sean Murphy (J.D. 1985), member, U.N. International Law Commission (2011–)[17] [18]
- Shi Jiuyong(LL.M. 1951), former President, U.N. International Court of Justice (2003–2010); former Chairman, International Law Commission
- Francis M. Ssekandi(LL.M.), former Justice, Supreme Court of Uganda (the highest court in the country of Uganda); Judge, World Bank Administrative Tribunal (2007–)
- Hironobu Takesaki(LL.M. 1971), 17th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Japan (the highest court in the country of Japan) (2008–)
- Umu Hawa Tejan-Jalloh(LL.M.), Chief Justice (2008–), Associate Justice (2002–2008), Supreme Court of Sierra Leone
- Smokin Wanjala(LL.M.), Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Kenya (2012–)[19]
- Xue Hanqin(LL.M. 1983, J.S.D. 1995), Judge, U.N. International Court of Justice (2010–); Chinese diplomat and international law expert[20] [21]
- Richard Whitehead Young(LL.B. 1884), appointed by President William McKinley as Associate Justice, Supreme Court of the Philippines; also a U.S. Army Brigadier General
U.S. Diplomats
- G. Norman Anderson (B.A.) United States Ambassador to Sudan (1986-1989)
- Michael Armacost(Ph.D.) United States Ambassador to Japan (1989–1993); U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines (1982–1984)
- Robert L. Barry(M.A. 1962) United States Ambassador to Indonesia (1992–1995); also United States Ambassador to Bulgaria
- Vincent Martin Battle(M.A. 1967, Ph.D. 1974) United States Ambassador to Lebanon (2001–2004)
- Richard E. Benedick(B.A.) former diplomat; chief United States negotiator, Montreal Protocol
- Avis Bohlen(M.A. 1965) diplomat, United States Ambassador to Bulgaria (1996–99)
- Arthur Frank Burns(B.A., M.A., Ph.D.) United States Ambassador to West Germany (1981–1985)
- Raymond Burghardt(B.A.) director (1999-2001), and chairman (2006-2016) of the American Institute in Taiwan and U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam (2002-2004)
- Patricia A. Butenis(M.A.) United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka (2009–); United States Ambassador to the Maldives (2009–); United States Ambassador to Bangladesh
- Reuben Clark(J.D.) United States Ambassador to Mexico (1930–1933)
- William Clark Jr.(M.A.) United States Ambassador to India (1989–1992)
- Richard T. Davies (B.A.) United States Ambassador to Poland (1973-1978)
- Jonathan Dean (B.A.) United States Representative for Mutual and Balanced Force Reductions negotiations from 1979 to 1981
- Christopher Dell(B.A. 1978) United States Ambassador, Republic of Kosovo (2009–); U.S. Ambassador to Angola (2001–04); U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe (2004–07)
- William Joseph Donovan(B.A. 1905, J.D.) United States Ambassador to Thailand (1953–1954)
- Millicent Fenwick(B.A.) United States Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture (1983–1987)
- Daniel Fried(M.A.) U.S. Special Envoy, Guantanamo, rank of Ambassador (2009–); top U.S. diplomat in Europe (2005–09); United States Ambassador to Poland (1997–00)
- David M. Friedman(B.A.) United States Ambassador to Israel (2017-2021)
- Daniel Lewis Foote (B.A.) United States Ambassador to Zambia (2017-2020)
- James W. Gerard(B.A. 1890) United States Ambassador to Germany (1913–1917)
- Henry F. Grady(Ph.D. 1984) first U.S. Ambassador to India (1947–1948); concurrently U.S.Ambassador to Nepal (1948); U.S. Ambassador to Greece (1948–1950); U.S. Ambassador to Iran (1950–1951)
- Gordon Gray III(M.A. 1982) United States Ambassador to Tunisia (September 2009 – 2012)
- Howard Gutman(B.A. 1977) United States Ambassador to Belgium (2009–2013)
- Suzanne K. Hale(B.A.) former United States Ambassador to Federated States of Micronesia (2004–2007)
- Martin J. Hillenbrand(M.A. 1938, Ph.D. 1948) U.S. Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany (1972–1976); United States Ambassador to Hungary (1967–1969)
- John L. Hirsch(B.A.) United States Ambassador to Sierra Leone (1995-1998)
- Eric M. Javits(B.A.) Ambassador and Permanent U.S. Representative to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva (2001-2003); United States Permanent Representative to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (2003-2009)
- Robert G. Joseph(Ph.D. 1978) former United States Special Envoy for Nuclear Nonproliferation (rank of Ambassador); also Under Secretary of State for Arms Control
- Ismail Khalidi(Ph.D. 1955) the senior political affairs officer in the department of political and security council affairs for the United Nations
- Madeleine M. Kunin(CSJ) United States Ambassador to Switzerland (1996–1999), United States Ambassador to Liechtenstein (1996–1999)
- Denis Lamb(B.S.) United States Ambassador to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (1987-1990)
- Luis J. Lauredo(B.A.) United States Ambassador to the Organization of American States (2001-2003)
- James R. LilleyU.S. Ambassador to China at time of Tiananmen Square (1989–91); U.S. Ambassador to Korea (1986–89); Director, American Institute in Taiwan (1981–84)
- Harold F. Linder(B.A.) United States Ambassador to Canada (1968–1969); President, Export-Import Bank of the United States (1961–1968)
- William H. Luers(M.A.) United States Ambassador to Venezuela (1978–82) and United States Ambassador to Czechoslovakia (1983–86)
- David E. Mark(B.A., LL.M.) U.S. Ambassador to Burundi (1974–77); career Minister, U.S. Foreign Service, Germany, Moscow; helped Georgians write their Constitution
- Jack Matlock(M.A. 1952) United States Ambassador to the Soviet Union (1987–1991); United States Ambassador to Czechoslovakia (1981–1983)
- Brett H. McGurk (J.D. 1999), nominee, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Iraq (2012);[22] Special Presidential Envoy for the Global Coalition to Counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (2015-2018)
- Mark C. Minton(B.A.) U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia (2006-2009)
- Hector Morales(B.A.) United States Ambassador to the Organization of American States (2008-2009)
- Jim Nicholson(M.A.) United States Ambassador to the Holy See (2001–2005)
- B. Lynn Pascoe(M.A.) United States Ambassador to Indonesia (2004–07) and Malaysia (1999–01); Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations for Political Affairs (2007–)
- Robert E. Patterson(M.A., M.Phil) United States Ambassador to Turkmenistan under President Barack Obama (2011–)[23] [24]
- Mark Pekala(M.I.A. 1983, M.Phil. 1988) U.S. Ambassador to Latvia under President Barack Obama (2012–)[25]
- John Dyneley Prince(M.A. 1898) U.S. Ambassador to Denmark (1921–1926); U.S. Ambassador to Yugoslavia (1926–1937)
- Michael A. Raynor(M.A.) former United States Ambassador to Benin (2012–2015)[26] and nominee to become United States Ambassador to Ethiopia
- Mitchell Reiss(J.D.) United States Special Envoy for Northern Ireland (rank of Ambassador) (stepped down in 2007); former Chief negotiator for the United States in the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization
- Julissa Reynoso (J.D. 2001), United States Ambassador to Uruguay (2012–)[27] [28]
- Herbert Salzman, U.S. Ambassador to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development
- William E. Schaufele Jr.(M.A. 1950) U.S. Ambassador to Upper Volta (1969–71); U.S. representative, United Nations Security Council (rank of ambassador) (1971–75); U.S. Ambassador to Poland (1978–80)
- Eugene Schuyler(LL.M. 1863), first American diplomat to visit Central Asia, first U.S. Minister to Romania and Serbia, also U.S. Minister to Greece
- Elliott P. Skinner(M.A. 1952, Ph.D. 1955) anthropologist; United States Ambassador to Republic of Upper Volta (1966–1969)
- Sichan Siv(M.A.) diplomat and former U.S. representative to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (rank of Ambassador) (2001–06)
- Monteagle Stearns (B.A.) United States Ambassador to Ivory Coast (1976-1979); United States Ambassador to Greece (1981-1985)
- Laurence A. Steinhardt(B.A., M.A., LL.B. 1915) U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union (1939–1941); U.S. Ambassador to Turkey (1942–1945); U.S. Ambassador to Czechoslovakia (1945–1948); U.S. Ambassador to Sweden (1933–1937); U.S. Ambassador to Peru (1937–1939); U.S. Ambassador to Canada (1948–1950)
- Walter Stoessel(graduate study) U.S. Ambassador to Poland (1968–72); U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union (1974–76); U.S. Ambassador to West Germany (1976–80)
- Oscar S. Straus(B.A. 1871, LL.B. 1873) thrice United States Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire (1887–1889, 1898–1899, 1910–1912)
- James Daniel Theberge(B.A. 1952) United States Ambassador to Nicaragua (1975–1977); United States Ambassador to Chile (1982–1985)
- Harry K. Thomas Jr.(graduate study) Director General, United States Foreign Service (2007–2009); United States Ambassador to the Philippines (2010–); United States Ambassador to Bangladesh (2003–2005)
- Alexander Vershbow(M.A. 1976) United States Ambassador to South Korea (2005–2008); United States Ambassador to the Russian Federation (2001–2005); United States Ambassador to NATO (1998–2001)
- Ross Wilson (ambassador)(M.A. 1979) United States Ambassador to Turkey (2005–2008); U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Azerbaijan (2000–2003)
- Donald Yamamoto(B.A., graduate study) U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia (2006–09); U.S. Ambassador to Djibouti (2000–03); U.S. Ambassadorto Eritrea ad interim (1997–98)
- J. Owen Zurhellen Jr.(B.A.) first United States Ambassador to Suriname (1976-1978)
Non-U.S. Attorneys General
Notes and References
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- Web site: Columbia SIPA Center on Global Energy Policy Avril Haines. 2021-07-13. www.energypolicy.columbia.edu.
- News: 1964-02-13. Joseph F. Finnegan, Ex-Director Of U.S. Mediation Service, Dies; Lawyer Held Federal Post From 1955 to 1961, Then Headed State Board. en-US. The New York Times. 2022-12-31. 0362-4331.
- Web site: List of Directors U.S. Department of Labor. 2021-07-10. www.dol.gov.
- Web site: 2011-03-17. President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts. 2022-12-31. whitehouse.gov. en.
- Web site: Press Release: Thomasina Rogers Sworn In as 11th Chairman of the Review Commission . OSHRC . May 14, 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130215190537/http://www.oshrc.gov/press/r09-3.html . 2013-02-15 . dead.
- Web site: News Release: Thomasina Rogers Appointed Chairman of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission . OSHRC . May 27, 1999 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130215204648/http://www.oshrc.gov/press/r99-4.html . 2013-02-15 . dead.
- Web site: 2013-06-07. Commissioners. 2022-12-31. Federal Trade Commission. en.
- http://www2004.org/speakers.htm The Thirteenth International World Wide Web Conference
- Web site: Ambassador Karan K. Bhatia, Deputy United States Trade Representative. 2022-12-31. georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov.
- Web site: Karan K. Bhatia. 2022-12-31. www.nndb.com.
- Web site: Presidents Roosevelt Awarded Law Degrees Posthumously Columbia Law School . December 18, 2012 . July 5, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160705151229/https://www.law.columbia.edu/media_inquiries/news_events/2008/october2008/roosevelts_jds . dead .
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- Book: Hall, Timothy L. . Supreme Court Justices: A Biographical Dictionary . 2001 . Infobase Publishing . 978-1-4381-0817-9 . en.
- Web site: Columbia Law School : Lord Justice Lawrence A. Collins '65, LL.M. Appointed to U.K. Supreme Court. https://web.archive.org/web/20130109042053/http://www.law.columbia.edu/alumni/news/2009/05/collins-appointment. dead. January 9, 2013.
- http://www.philippineembassy-usa.org/news/1939/300/Aquino-appoints-government-peace-panel-chairman-Leonen-as-Associate-Justice-of-the-Supreme-Court/d,phildet/ Aquino Appoints Government Peace Panel Chairman Leonen as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court
- Web site: GW Law Professor Sean D. Murphy to be Nominated for U.N. International Law Commission News Releases Media Room Explore The George Washington University .....
- Web site: Sean D. Murphy. 2022-12-31. Opinio Juris. en-US.
- Web site: Nyamwembe . Denis . 2022-08-20 . The Seven Judges of Supreme Court of Kenya . 2022-08-20 . Jambo News . en-US.
- Web site: Chinese diplomat elected to International Court of Justice. https://web.archive.org/web/20121106151716/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-06/29/c_13376020.htm. dead. November 6, 2012.
- Web site: First Chinese female judge sworn in at ICJ. https://web.archive.org/web/20121106230506/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/china/2010-09/13/c_13492699.htm. dead. November 6, 2012.
- Web site: 2012-03-26. President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts. 2022-12-31. whitehouse.gov. en.
- Web site: The New United States Ambassador Embassy of the United States . 2012-12-18 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130216100351/http://turkmenistan.usembassy.gov/pr20110516.html . February 16, 2013 . mdy-all .
- Web site: 2011-03-03. President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts. 2022-12-31. whitehouse.gov. en.
- http://www.allgov.com/Appointments_and_Resignations/ViewNews/Ambassador_to_Latvia__Who_Is_Mark_Pekala_120401 Ambassador to Latvia: Who Is Mark Pekala?
- http://www.allgov.com/Appointments_and_Resignations/ViewNews/Ambassador_to_Benin__Who_Is_Michael_Raynor_120310 Ambassador to Benin: Who Is Michael Raynor
- http://danr.org/2012/03/30/u-s-senate-confirms-dominican-woman-from-the-bronx-as-ambassador-extraordinary-and-plenipotentiary-of-the-united-states-to-the-republic-of-uruguay/ U S Senate Confirms Dominican Woman As Ambassador
- Web site: 2011-10-17. President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts. 2022-12-31. whitehouse.gov. en.
- Web site: Ndonga . Wambui . 2011-08-29 . Prof Muigai takes over as Kenya's AG » Capital News . 2022-04-01 . Capital News . en-US.
- Web site: The Standard Online Edition :: Githu: I'll transform State Law office . July 14, 2022 . September 5, 2011 . https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20110905155555/http://standardmedia.co.ke/InsidePage.php?id=2000042163&cid=4& . dead .
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- Web site: Kenya Broadcasting Corporation: - KBC News . 2012-12-18 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120306092154/http://www.kbc.co.ke/news.asp?nid=68639 . March 6, 2012 . mdy-all . Kenya Broadcasting Corporation: – KBC News
- News: 2011-01-29. Kenya President Nominates Chief Justice, Prosecutor, Controller. en. Bloomberg.com. 2022-12-31.
- Web site: PLC. Standard Group. The Standard Sports - Football,Athletics,Motorsport,Rugby,Boxing,Basketball,Golf,Tennis,Football,Athletics,Motorsport,Rugby,Boxing,Basketball,Golf,Tennis. 2022-12-31. The Standard. en.
- Web site: Mohammed Muigai Advocates the Chambers Global Guide 2011 . 2011-10-08 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110811122402/http://www.mohammedmuigai.com/lawyerProfile.aspx?LawyerID=1 . August 11, 2011 . mdy-all . Mohammed Muigai Advocates The Chambers Global Guide 2011