Ann B. Wrobleski
Encyclopedia
Ann B. Wrobleski was the architect of Nancy Reagan
's "Just Say No
" campaign and later United States
Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics Matters from 1986 to 1989.
on April 3, 1952. She was educated at Stephens College
, receiving a B.A.
in 1972. Her first job after college was working as press secretary
for Senator
Edward Gurney (R
–FL) In 1974, she served as traveling press secretary for Jack Eckerd
in his attempt to win election to the United States Senate (he lost to Democrat
Richard Stone). In 1975 (after Gurney had been forced to resign after he was implicated in an influence peddling
scandal and Eckerd had lost in his election), Wrobleski became press secretary for Rep.
Louis Frey, Jr.
(R
–FL-5
). She also worked as a research assistant
for the House Republican Research Committee during this period. In 1978, she again served as Jack Eckerd's traveling press secretary, this time in Eckerd's campaign to become Governor of Florida. (He lost again, this time to Democrat Bob Graham
.) She spent 1979-80 working as deputy press secretary and director of scheduling for Senator Richard Stone.
In 1981, Wrobelski became Special Projects Director for First Lady Nancy Reagan
at the White House
. In this capacity, she played a critical role in developing Nancy Reagan's "Just Say No
" campaign, designed to discourage recreational drug use
amongst children and teenagers.
Wrobelski joined the United States Department of State
in 1985 as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics Matters. She served as Acting Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics Matters from May until September 1986, at which time she became President
Ronald Reagan
's third Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics Matters. She held this office from September 30, 1986 until June 17, 1989.
Upon leaving government service, Wrobelski joined Jefferson Waterman International, a lobbying firm. After nine years at Jefferson Waterman International, she joined the American Forest & Paper Association
as Vice President (International). In 2005, she joined International Paper
as Vice President (Public Affairs).
Nancy Reagan
Nancy Davis Reagan is the widow of former United States President Ronald Reagan and was First Lady of the United States from 1981 to 1989....
's "Just Say No
Just Say No
"Just Say No" was an advertising campaign, part of the U.S. "War on Drugs", prevalent during the 1980s and early 1990s, to discourage children from engaging in recreational drug use by offering various ways of saying no. Eventually, this also expanded the realm of "Just Say No" to violence and...
" campaign and later United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics Matters from 1986 to 1989.
Biography
Ann B. Wrobleski was born in Fort Lauderdale, FloridaFort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale is a city in the U.S. state of Florida, on the Atlantic coast. It is the county seat of Broward County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 165,521. It is a principal city of the South Florida metropolitan area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010...
on April 3, 1952. She was educated at Stephens College
Stephens College
Stephens College is a women's college located in Columbia, Missouri. It is the second oldest female educational establishment that is still a women's college in the United States. It was founded on August 24, 1833 as the Columbia Female Academy. In 1856, David H. Hickman turned it into a college,...
, receiving a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1972. Her first job after college was working as press secretary
Press secretary
A press secretary or press officer is a senior advisor who provides advice on how to deal with the news media and, using news management techniques, helps their employer to maintain a positive public image and avoid negative media coverage....
for Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Edward Gurney (R
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
–FL) In 1974, she served as traveling press secretary for Jack Eckerd
Jack Eckerd
Jack Eckerd , was an American businessman who was a major innovator in drugstore retailing, and a public servant, politician and philanthropist.-Biography:...
in his attempt to win election to the United States Senate (he lost to Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Richard Stone). In 1975 (after Gurney had been forced to resign after he was implicated in an influence peddling
Influence peddling
Influence peddling is the illegal practice of using one's influence in government or connections with persons in authority to obtain favors or preferential treatment for another, usually in return for payment. Also called traffic of influence or trading in influence ...
scandal and Eckerd had lost in his election), Wrobleski became press secretary for Rep.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Louis Frey, Jr.
Louis Frey, Jr.
Louis Frey, Jr. is an American+ politician and a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from 1969 until 1979...
(R
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
–FL-5
Florida's 5th congressional district
Florida's 5th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Florida that comprises all of Citrus, Hernando, and Sumter counties and most of Lake, Levy, and Pasco counties and portions of Marion and Polk counties...
). She also worked as a research assistant
Research assistant
A research assistant is a researcher employed, often on a temporary contract, by a university or a research institute, for the purpose of assisting in academic research...
for the House Republican Research Committee during this period. In 1978, she again served as Jack Eckerd's traveling press secretary, this time in Eckerd's campaign to become Governor of Florida. (He lost again, this time to Democrat Bob Graham
Bob Graham
Daniel Robert "Bob" Graham is an American politician. He was the 38th Governor of Florida from 1979 to 1987 and a United States Senator from that state from 1987 to 2005...
.) She spent 1979-80 working as deputy press secretary and director of scheduling for Senator Richard Stone.
In 1981, Wrobelski became Special Projects Director for First Lady Nancy Reagan
Nancy Reagan
Nancy Davis Reagan is the widow of former United States President Ronald Reagan and was First Lady of the United States from 1981 to 1989....
at the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
. In this capacity, she played a critical role in developing Nancy Reagan's "Just Say No
Just Say No
"Just Say No" was an advertising campaign, part of the U.S. "War on Drugs", prevalent during the 1980s and early 1990s, to discourage children from engaging in recreational drug use by offering various ways of saying no. Eventually, this also expanded the realm of "Just Say No" to violence and...
" campaign, designed to discourage recreational drug use
Recreational drug use
Recreational drug use is the use of a drug, usually psychoactive, with the intention of creating or enhancing recreational experience. Such use is controversial, however, often being considered to be also drug abuse, and it is often illegal...
amongst children and teenagers.
Wrobelski joined the United States Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
in 1985 as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics Matters. She served as Acting Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics Matters from May until September 1986, at which time she became President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
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....
's third Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics Matters. She held this office from September 30, 1986 until June 17, 1989.
Upon leaving government service, Wrobelski joined Jefferson Waterman International, a lobbying firm. After nine years at Jefferson Waterman International, she joined the American Forest & Paper Association
American Forest & Paper Association
The American Forest & Paper Association is the national trade association of the forest products industry, representing manufacturers of approximately 80 percent of the U.S...
as Vice President (International). In 2005, she joined International Paper
International Paper
International Paper Company is an American pulp and paper company, the largest such company in the world. It has approximately 59,500 employees, and it is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee.-History:...
as Vice President (Public Affairs).