Jane Harman

Jane Harman was born the daughter of immigrants who escaped World War II- her father from Poland and her mother from Russia. She grew up in post-war Los Angeles, where her father was a physician, and became enamored with President John F. Kennedy, which inspired her to become politically active in her adulthood. Her parents placed a high priority on education, and after finishing high school, she graduated from Harvard Law School and married her first husband. After practicing law, she became an aide in the United States Senate in 1972. After Jimmy Carter was elected President, she took a position in The White House. In 1978, she left politics so she could spend more time with her children, a decision which drew some national publicity. However, her marriage fell apart later that year, and in 1979, she took a job at The Pentagon, working as a lawyer. The following year, she met her next husband, who was the wealthy and powerful CEO of Harman International Industries, a manufacturer of