Jane Harman

Jane Harman – Life, Career & Political Legacy

Explore the life and career of Jane Harman (born June 28, 1945), an American politician, lawyer, and public servant who served nine terms in Congress, chaired key security committees, and became the first woman to lead the Wilson Center.

Introduction

Jane Harman is a prominent figure in U.S. public life who bridged national security, legislative leadership, and scholarship. She represented California in the U.S. House of Representatives for nearly two decades, playing influential roles on intelligence, homeland security, and foreign policy. After leaving Congress in 2011, she became the first woman to serve as President and CEO of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Her career illustrates a rare combination of legislative power, policy gravitas, and institutional leadership.

Early Life and Family

Jane Margaret Lakes was born on June 28, 1945, in New York City.
Her parents were Lucille (née Geier) and Adolf N. Lakes. Her father was born in Poland, studied medicine in Germany, and emigrated to the U.S. in 1935 to escape Nazi persecution.
Her mother’s heritage included Russian immigrant roots, and she was the first in her family to attend college.

When Jane was about four years old, her family moved to Los Angeles, California, where she grew up and attended public schools.
She graduated from University High School (Los Angeles) in 1962.

Education & Legal Training

Jane Harman earned her Bachelor of Arts in Government, magna cum laude from Smith College in 1966.
She was active in student politics, including serving as president of the Smith College Young Democrats.
She then attended Harvard Law School, earning her Juris Doctor (J.D.) in 1969.

Her legal training paved the way for early roles in government, legislative staff work, and policy advising.

Early Career & Government Work

After law school, Jane Harman (then Jane Lakes) began her professional path in Washington, D.C., practicing law for a period.
She entered public service by working for Senator John V. Tunney as his legislative assistant (circa 1972–1973), later becoming senior counsel and staff director for the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Constitutional Rights.
After Senator Tunney lost reelection in 1976, she joined the Carter White House as Deputy Secretary of the Cabinet.
She also served as special counsel to the Department of Defense circa 1979–1980.

Those roles gave her experience in executive operations, the defense establishment, and the interface between Congress and administration.

Congressional Career

First Period: 1993–1999

In the 1992 “Year of the Woman”, Jane Harman was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing California’s 36th district.
She served three consecutive terms (103rd through 105th Congresses).
Her 1994 reelection was narrowly won—she survived a strong Republican wave by just 812 votes.

Gubernatorial Run & Interlude

Rather than seek reelection in 1998, Harman ran for the California Democratic nomination for governor. She lost the nomination to Gray Davis.
After the gubernatorial defeat, she took a stint teaching public policy and international relations at UCLA as a Regents’ Professor.

Return & Second Period: 2001–2011

In 2000, she ran for and reclaimed her former House seat, defeating incumbent Steven T. Kuykendall.
She then served five more terms (107th through 111th Congresses).

During her time in Congress, she held key positions:

• She was a senior member and ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee (post-9/11 period).

• From 2007–2011, she chaired the Homeland Security Committee’s Intelligence Subcommittee.

• She served on the House Armed Services Committee, the Homeland Security Committee, and other security-related roles.

Throughout her tenure, she undertook numerous congressional fact-finding missions—including to hot spots like North Korea, Libya, Afghanistan, Syria, Pakistan, Yemen, and Guantanamo Bay.

In terms of recognition, she earned multiple distinguished awards:

• the CIA Agency Seal Medal

• the Director of National Intelligence Distinguished Public Service Medal

• the Defense Distinguished Service Medal

Her political orientation was that of a Blue Dog Democrat—a relatively moderate or centrist Democrat, especially on national security issues.

Resignation & Leadership at the Wilson Center

On February 28, 2011, Jane Harman resigned from Congress to become President and CEO of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars—the first woman ever to lead the institution.
She served in that role through February 2021, after which she became President Emerita and Distinguished Fellow.
In her post-Congress years, she also works as a policy scholar, public commentator, and serves on many advisory boards relating to national security, foreign policy, and institutional governance.

Additionally, she serves (or has served) on boards and commissions linked to the Department of Defense, the State Department, the intelligence community, and homeland security.

Political Positions & Controversies

Policy Positions

• Harman’s voting record showed alignment with liberal stances on social issues (e.g., pro-choice), while she maintained moderate or cautious positions on defense and security.

• She was a strong supporter of Israel, and over her career was active on pro-Israel advocacy.

• She supported U.S. engagement and intervention in various foreign policy venues, which at times created tension with more dovish or anti-war factions in her party.

• On issues of intelligence oversight, homeland security, counterterrorism, and national defense, she advocated for strong legislative oversight and balancing civil liberties with security.

AIPAC / Wiretap Allegations (2009)

In 2009, it was revealed that NSA wiretaps allegedly intercepted a 2005 phone call between Harman and an Israeli agent. In that call, she purportedly agreed to lobby the U.S. Justice Department to reduce or drop charges against certain AIPAC employees, in exchange for campaign support.
Harman denied wrongdoing and requested the full transcript be released. The Justice Department and the House Ethics Committee later stated she was neither a subject nor a target of an investigation.
The two AIPAC employees eventually saw the espionage charges dropped.

Though the incident drew scrutiny and political controversy, it did not bring formal legal consequences for her.

Legacy & Influence

1. Security & Intelligence Expertise
   Few legislators combine as much domestic security and intelligence oversight experience as Harman did. She bridged legislating with policy depth, making her a recognized voice on these issues.

2. Institutional Leadership & Scholarship
   Her tenure at the Wilson Center demonstrates a model of public service beyond elective office—she translated legislative experience into institutional stewardship and policy influence.

3. Role Model for Women in Security Policy
   As a woman operating in the highest levels of security, intelligence, and foreign policy, she helped open more space for female leadership in these fields.

4. Bridging Politics and Policy
   Because she moved between Congress and think tanks, she is emblematic of a career that marries the tactical demands of politics with the strategic depth of policy thinking.

5. Advisory Reach
   Her post-Congress roles amplify her influence: via advisory boards, commissions, public commentary, and institutional networks, she continues shaping debates in national security and governance.

Insights & Lessons

• Longevity through Relevance
  Staying influential over many years requires adaptability, knowledge, and credibility. Harman maintained relevance by deep expertise in security and foreign policy.

• Transition beyond elective office can be powerful
  Her shift to leading the Wilson Center shows that one’s impact need not end with holding office—it can reinvent into scholarship and institutional leadership.

• Complex balance of ethics, politics, and power
  The AIPAC–wiretap episode underscores that high-stakes work in intelligence and foreign affairs often comes with scrutiny and risk. Navigating ethical risks is part of such roles.

• Bridging policy and politics matters
  Having experience both drafting law and influencing ideas gives a hybrid advantage—Harman operated in both spheres.

• Representation counts
  In fields long dominated by men—intelligence, national security, think tanks—Harman’s accomplishments help expand the scope of who is seen as competent in those roles.

Conclusion

Jane Harman’s life and career reflect a rare path: lawyer, congressional leader, security expert, institutional head, and policy influencer. She rose from modest beginnings to become a sustained force in U.S. politics, particularly in the realms of intelligence, defense, and homeland security. Her ability to shift from legislator to scholar and institutional steward demonstrates a versatile model of public service.

While her record is not without controversy, it provokes meaningful discussion about the tension between security and oversight, the ethics of power, and the avenues for women in defense policy. Her legacy is not only in the legislation she shaped or committees she led, but in the example she leaves: that knowledge, integrity, and adaptability can carry a public career far beyond the ballot box.