Whitman, Christine Todd (1946–)

American politician. Name variations: Christie Whitman. Born Christine Todd, Sept 26, 1946, in New York; dau. of Webster B. Todd (chair of Republican Party) and Eleanor (Schley) Todd (Republican activist); bachelor's degree in government, Wheaton College, 1968; m. John Whitman (financial consultant and grandson of Charles S. Whitman Sr., governor of New York), 1974; children: Kate Whitman (b. 1977); Taylor Whitman (b. 1979).

Scion of one of New Jersey's wealthiest and best-connected political families, worked in New York as a teacher and in Washington, DC, with the Republican National Committee, also serving in US Office of Economic Opportunity, an anti-poverty program of the Nixon administration (1970s); made 1st bid for elective office (1981), serving 2 terms on Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders, a board of supervisors; was president of New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (1988–90); made failed bid for US Senate against incumbent Bill Bradley (1990); as a moderate Republican running on a platform of economic revival and tax cuts, became the 1st woman governor in the history of New Jersey (1994); during career as governor, downsized government programs and provided a more conducive environment for private businesses (1994–2001); served as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under George Bush (2001); resigned (2003).

See also Art Weissman, Christine Todd Whitman: The Making of a National Political Player (Birch Lane, 1996); and Women in World History.