Antonia Handler Chayes
Encyclopedia
Antonia "Toni" Handler Chayes (born 1929) is a United States
lawyer
and educator who served as Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Manpower and Reserve Affairs) from 1977 to 1979 and as United States Under Secretary of the Air Force
from 1979 to 1981.
on July 21, 1929. She married Abram Chayes
on December 24, 1947; they had five children, including journalist Sarah Chayes. She was educated at Radcliffe College
, receiving a B.A. in 1950. She then attended Yale Law School
before transferring to the Georgetown University Law Center
and receiving her LL.B. in 1953.
From 1959 to 1961, Chayes was executive assistant to Erwin Griswold
, the Dean of Harvard Law School
. In 1961, she joined the staff of the White House
, where she worked drafting correspondence. She was then a consultant to a Baltimore
community development firm 1962-63, and a social science adviser to the National Institute of Mental Health
1964-65. From 1966 to 1968, she was director of education and urban development for the Model Cities Program
's Action for Boston Community Development program. In 1968, she became the dean
of the Jackson College for Women (later incorporated into Tufts University
). From 1970 to 1972, she was an associate professor of political science
at Tufts.
Chayes then spent 1972-73 as the law clerk
of Judge Charles Edward Wyzanski, Jr.
of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts
. In 1974, she joined the Boston
law firm
of Csaplar & Bok as a partner.
In 1977, President of the United States
Jimmy Carter
nominated Chayes to be Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Manpower and Reserve Affairs). She held this position until 1979, when she became United States Under Secretary of the Air Force
, a position she held until 1981.
Chayes joined the faculty of the John F. Kennedy School of Government
in 1981, teaching there until 2003. There, she became Chair of the Project on Compliance and International Conflict Management at the Program on Negotiation. She also served on the Board of Directors
of the United Technologies Corporation
from 1981 to 2002. She also continued to practice law with Csaplar & Bok. In 2003, she became Professor of Practice of International Politics and Law at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and educator who served as Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Manpower and Reserve Affairs) from 1977 to 1979 and as United States Under Secretary of the Air Force
United States Under Secretary of the Air Force
The Under Secretary of the Air Force is the second-highest ranking civilian official in the Department of the Air Force of the United States of America, serving directly under the Secretary of the Air Force...
from 1979 to 1981.
Biography
Antonia Handler was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
on July 21, 1929. She married Abram Chayes
Abram Chayes
Abram Chayes was an American scholar of international law closely associated with the administration of John F. Kennedy. He is best known for his “legal process” approach to international law, which attempted to provide a new, less formalistic way of understanding international law and how it...
on December 24, 1947; they had five children, including journalist Sarah Chayes. She was educated at Radcliffe College
Radcliffe College
Radcliffe College was a women's liberal arts college in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was the coordinate college for Harvard University. It was also one of the Seven Sisters colleges. Radcliffe College conferred joint Harvard-Radcliffe diplomas beginning in 1963 and a formal merger agreement with...
, receiving a B.A. in 1950. She then attended Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
before transferring to the Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center
Georgetown University Law Center is the law school of Georgetown University, located in Washington, D.C.. Established in 1870, the Law Center offers J.D., LL.M., and S.J.D. degrees in law...
and receiving her LL.B. in 1953.
From 1959 to 1961, Chayes was executive assistant to Erwin Griswold
Erwin Griswold
Erwin Nathaniel Griswold was an appellate attorney who argued many cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. Griswold served as Solicitor General of the United States under Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard M. Nixon. He also served as Dean of Harvard Law School for 21 years. Several times he...
, the Dean of Harvard Law School
Dean of Harvard Law School
The Dean of Harvard Law School is the head of Harvard Law School. The current Dean is Martha Minow, the 12th person, and second woman to hold the post.-List of Deans of Harvard Law School:...
. In 1961, she joined the staff of 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...
, where she worked drafting correspondence. She was then a consultant to a Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
community development firm 1962-63, and a social science adviser to the National Institute of Mental Health
National Institute of Mental Health
The National Institute of Mental Health is one of 27 institutes and centers that make up the National Institutes of Health...
1964-65. From 1966 to 1968, she was director of education and urban development for the Model Cities Program
Model Cities Program
The Model Cities Program was an element of United States President Lyndon Johnson's Great Society and War on Poverty. The ambitious federal urban aid program ultimately fell short of its goals....
's Action for Boston Community Development program. In 1968, she became the dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
of the Jackson College for Women (later incorporated into Tufts University
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
). From 1970 to 1972, she was an associate professor of political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
at Tufts.
Chayes then spent 1972-73 as the law clerk
Law clerk
A law clerk or a judicial clerk is a person who provides assistance to a judge in researching issues before the court and in writing opinions. Law clerks are not court clerks or courtroom deputies, who are administrative staff for the court. Most law clerks are recent law school graduates who...
of Judge Charles Edward Wyzanski, Jr.
Charles Edward Wyzanski, Jr.
Charles Edward Wyzanski, Jr. was a United States federal judge.Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Wyzanski received an A.B. from Harvard College in 1927 and an LL.B. from Harvard Law School in 1930...
of the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts
United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts
The United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts is the federal district court whose jurisdiction is the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, USA. The first court session was held in Boston in 1789. The second term was held in Salem in 1790 and until 1813 court session locations...
. In 1974, she joined the Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
law firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
of Csaplar & Bok as a partner.
In 1977, President of the United States
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....
Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
nominated Chayes to be Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Manpower and Reserve Affairs). She held this position until 1979, when she became United States Under Secretary of the Air Force
United States Under Secretary of the Air Force
The Under Secretary of the Air Force is the second-highest ranking civilian official in the Department of the Air Force of the United States of America, serving directly under the Secretary of the Air Force...
, a position she held until 1981.
Chayes joined the faculty of the John F. Kennedy School of Government
John F. Kennedy School of Government
The John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University is a public policy and public administration school, and one of Harvard's graduate and professional schools...
in 1981, teaching there until 2003. There, she became Chair of the Project on Compliance and International Conflict Management at the Program on Negotiation. She also served on the Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of the United Technologies Corporation
United Technologies Corporation
United Technologies Corporation is an American multinational conglomerate headquartered in the United Technologies Building in Hartford, Connecticut...
from 1981 to 2002. She also continued to practice law with Csaplar & Bok. In 2003, she became Professor of Practice of International Politics and Law at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy
The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy
The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University is the oldest school in the United States dedicated solely to graduate studies in international affairs. It is regarded as one of the world's foremost schools of international affairs. Every Fall, the school enrolls approximately 265...
.
Works by Antonia Handler Chayes
- with Paul M. DotyPaul M. DotyPaul Mead Doty is an emeritus Harvard Mallinckrodt Professor of Biochemistry who specialized in the physical properties of macromolecules and has been strongly involved in peace and security policy issues....
, Defending Deterrence: Managing the ABM Treaty Regime Into the 21st Century (Brassey's, 1989). - with Abram ChayesAbram ChayesAbram Chayes was an American scholar of international law closely associated with the administration of John F. Kennedy. He is best known for his “legal process” approach to international law, which attempted to provide a new, less formalistic way of understanding international law and how it...
, The New Sovereignty: Compliance with International Regulating Agreements (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1995). - with George T. Raach, eds., Peace Operations: Developing an American Strategy (Washington, DC: National Defense University Press, 1995).
- with Abram Chayes, Preventing Conflict in the Post-Communist World: Mobilizing International and Regional Organizations (Washington, DC: Brookings, 1996).
- with Abram Chayes, Alexei Arbatov, and Lara Olson, eds., Managing Conflict in the Former Soviet Union (Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1997).
- with Abram Chayes, Planning for Intervention: International Cooperation in Conflict Management (The Hague: Kluwer Law International, 1999).
- with Martha MinowMartha MinowMartha Louise Minow is the Jeremiah Smith, Jr. Professor of Law and the Dean of Harvard Law School. She teaches civil procedure, constitutional law, family law, international criminal justice, jurisprudence, law and education, nonprofit organizations, and the public law workshop...
, eds., Imagine Coexistence: Restoring Humanity After Violent Conflict (San Francisco, CA, 2003). - "How American Treaty Behavior Threatens National Security" in 33 International Security 45 (2008).