Sara E. Lister
Encyclopedia
Sara E. Lister is a United States
lawyer
who served as General Counsel of the Army
under the Carter administration and then as Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs)
from 1994 to 1997. She gained national attention in November 1997 when she gave a speech in which she referred to members of the United States Marine Corps
as "extremists". She was ultimately forced to resign early as Assistant Secretary of the Army because of the controversy over her remarks.
(B.A.), George Washington University
(M.A.
and J.D.
), and Yale University
(ABD in her Ph.D.
).
During the Carter Administration, Lister served as Deputy Special Assistant to United States Secretary of Defense
Harold Brown
; as Deputy General Counsel of the Navy
; and as General Counsel of the Army
. During her time as General Counsel of the Army, Lister headed a group that studied the usefulness of the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT). This group issued a report—the so-called "Lister Report"—that recommended that "the Army should eliminate use of mental categories and should revise AFQT cut scores based on a new analytical framework ... each military service should set scores at the optimum levels to achieve its own accession goals." According to one commentator, this report essentially "recommended reducing standards as necessary to meet strength goals".
With the election of Ronald Reagan
in 1980, Lister left government service to practice law
in the private sector.
On January 24, 1994, President Bill Clinton
nominated Lister to be Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs)
.
On October 26, 1997, less than one month before her scheduled retirement as Assistant Secretary of the Army on November 21, 1997, Lister participated in a seminar in Baltimore
. During that seminar, Lister made the following comments about the relationship of the military with the civilian world: Leaders of the U.S. Marine Corps did not take kindly to being labeled "extremists" and spoke out against Lister. On November 13, 1997, the United States House of Representatives
passed a concurrent resolution
condemning Lister's remarks, stating that her characterization of the Marine Corps as "extremists" "denigrates 222 years of sacrifice and dedication to the Nation by the Marine Corps and dishonors the hundreds of thousands of Marines whose blood has been shed in the name of freedom"; and calling for Lister's resignation. Newt Gingrich
, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
sent a letter to President Clinton in which he called Lister's remarks "completely out of order" and insulting to all military personnel. Gingrich wrote: "Nothing less than her dismissal and a full apology on your part to America's sons and daughters in uniform will suffice to repair this breach." Lister issued a formal apology for her remarks on November 14, 1997, and Defense Secretary William Cohen
accepted her apology. However, amidst ongoing criticism about the remarks, Lister resigned her office one week early, on November 15, 1997.
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...
who served as General Counsel of the Army
General Counsel of the Army
The General Counsel of the Army is the General Counsel of the United States Department of the Army and the chief legal counselor of the United States Secretary of the Army...
under the Carter administration and then as Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs)
Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs)
The Assistant Secretary of the Army — abbreviated ASA — is a civilian official in the United States Department of the Army.U.S...
from 1994 to 1997. She gained national attention in November 1997 when she gave a speech in which she referred to members of the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
as "extremists". She was ultimately forced to resign early as Assistant Secretary of the Army because of the controversy over her remarks.
Biography
Sara E. Lister was educated at Radcliffe CollegeRadcliffe 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...
(B.A.), George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
(M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
and J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
), and Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
(ABD in her Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
).
During the Carter Administration, Lister served as Deputy Special Assistant to United States Secretary of Defense
United States Secretary of Defense
The Secretary of Defense is the head and chief executive officer of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. This position corresponds to what is generally known as a Defense Minister in other countries...
Harold Brown
Harold Brown (Secretary of Defense)
Harold Brown , American scientist, was U.S. Secretary of Defense from 1977 to 1981 in the cabinet of President Jimmy Carter. He had previously served in the Lyndon Johnson administration as Director of Defense Research and Engineering and Secretary of the Air Force.While Secretary of Defense, he...
; as Deputy General Counsel of the Navy
General Counsel of the Navy
The General Counsel of the Department of the Navy is the senior civilian lawyer in the United States Department of the Navy and is the senior legal adviser to the Secretary of the Navy. The Office of the General Counsel of the Navy provides legal advice to the Secretary, the Under Secretary of the...
; and as General Counsel of the Army
General Counsel of the Army
The General Counsel of the Army is the General Counsel of the United States Department of the Army and the chief legal counselor of the United States Secretary of the Army...
. During her time as General Counsel of the Army, Lister headed a group that studied the usefulness of the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT). This group issued a report—the so-called "Lister Report"—that recommended that "the Army should eliminate use of mental categories and should revise AFQT cut scores based on a new analytical framework ... each military service should set scores at the optimum levels to achieve its own accession goals." According to one commentator, this report essentially "recommended reducing standards as necessary to meet strength goals".
With the election of 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....
in 1980, Lister left government service to practice law
Practice of law
In its most general sense, the practice of law involves giving legal advice to clients, drafting legal documents for clients, and representing clients in legal negotiations and court proceedings such as lawsuits, and is applied to the professional services of a lawyer or attorney at law, barrister,...
in the private sector.
On January 24, 1994, President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
nominated Lister to be Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs)
Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs)
The Assistant Secretary of the Army — abbreviated ASA — is a civilian official in the United States Department of the Army.U.S...
.
On October 26, 1997, less than one month before her scheduled retirement as Assistant Secretary of the Army on November 21, 1997, Lister participated in a seminar in 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...
. During that seminar, Lister made the following comments about the relationship of the military with the civilian world: Leaders of the U.S. Marine Corps did not take kindly to being labeled "extremists" and spoke out against Lister. On November 13, 1997, the United States House of Representatives
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...
passed a concurrent resolution
Concurrent resolution
A concurrent resolution is a resolution adopted by both houses of a bicameral legislature that lacks the force of law and does not require the approval of the chief executive.-United States Congress:...
condemning Lister's remarks, stating that her characterization of the Marine Corps as "extremists" "denigrates 222 years of sacrifice and dedication to the Nation by the Marine Corps and dishonors the hundreds of thousands of Marines whose blood has been shed in the name of freedom"; and calling for Lister's resignation. Newt Gingrich
Newt Gingrich
Newton Leroy "Newt" Gingrich is a U.S. Republican Party politician who served as the House Minority Whip from 1989 to 1995 and as the 58th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999....
, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives
The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, or Speaker of the House, is the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives...
sent a letter to President Clinton in which he called Lister's remarks "completely out of order" and insulting to all military personnel. Gingrich wrote: "Nothing less than her dismissal and a full apology on your part to America's sons and daughters in uniform will suffice to repair this breach." Lister issued a formal apology for her remarks on November 14, 1997, and Defense Secretary William Cohen
William Cohen
William Sebastian Cohen is an author and American politician from the U.S. state of Maine. A Republican, Cohen served as Secretary of Defense under Democratic President Bill Clinton.-Early life and education:...
accepted her apology. However, amidst ongoing criticism about the remarks, Lister resigned her office one week early, on November 15, 1997.