Historical Figures

Elizabeth Warren, against the abuses of finance

A politician specializing in trade law, Elizabeth Warren (b. 1949) is known for her opposition to the abuses of global finance. In 2017, you chose to award him the Nob'Elles prize for economics.

Top Debater in Oklahoma

The fourth child of Pauline Reed and Donald Jones Herring, Elizabeth Ann Herring was born on June 22, 1949, in Oklahoma City, into a middle-class family. When she was twelve, her father suffered a heart attack, which led to the loss of his job and caused heavy medical expenses. The family's financial situation deteriorated considerably and Elizabeth began working as a waitress at the age of 13.

At the same time, Elizabeth continued her studies and quickly distinguished herself within the debate team of the Northwest Classen High School . She won the title of "Best Oklahoma High School Debater" in a state-level competition. Dreaming of teaching, she studied at George Washington University but left to marry her boyfriend, Jim Warren.

Academic career

The couple moved to Houston where Elizabeth resumed studies, then to New Jersey where she obtained a doctorate in law, passed the bar exam and became a lawyer. She works from home first. After having two children, Elizabeth and Jim divorced in 1978; two years later, Elizabeth will marry Bruce Mann but will keep the name of her ex-husband.

Elizabeth Warren gets a job teaching law at the University of Houston and quickly becomes dean and then full professor. She will also teach at the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Michigan, the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard Law School. At the same time, Elizabeth conducts research in the field of bankruptcy law and banking laws, by analyzing court records and interviewing players in the judicial system. She publishes numerous works and is known for her expertise in commercial law.

Consumer protection

In 1995, Elizabeth Warren was appointed to assist the National Bankruptcy Commission. For several years, she worked to fight a bill aimed at restricting the right of citizens to declare bankruptcy, but was unable to hinder it. Member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation , aimed at insuring retail deposits, it is also a member of the National Bankruptcy Conference.

In 2008, following the financial crisis, Elizabeth was appointed to the congressional oversight panel on the implementation of the Paulson plan to deal with the situation. A supporter of market regulation and the protection of individuals, in 2011 she obtained the creation of the American Consumer Protection Office, an independent agency responsible for protecting financial consumers. Her candidacy for the post of director arousing the opposition of the Republicans, Elizabeth is named assistant to the president.

Massachusetts' first female senator

In 2011, Elizabeth Warren was elected candidate for the Democratic Party in the Senate in Massachusetts. During her campaign, she attacks the financial system and Wall Street CEOs who “broke our economy and destroyed millions of jobs” . She stands out for a speech where she defends the taxation of large fortunes by emphasizing the impossibility of becoming rich alone:

“There is nobody in this country who got rich on his own. Nobody. … You moved your goods to market on the roads the rest of us paid for; you hired workers the rest of us paid to educate; you were safe in your factory because of police forces and fire forces that the rest of us paid for. »

(No one in this country got rich alone. No one. (…) You move your products through roads we paid for; you hire workers we paid to educate; you are safe in your factory thanks to the police and firefighters that we pay).

Despite strong opposition in the business community, Elizabeth became the first woman senator from Massachusetts in November 2012.

Against financial impunity

A month later, Elizabeth Warren joined the Senate Banking Committee, in charge of several banking sector regulatory measures. She immediately stood out for her firmness towards fraudulent financial practices, regularly denouncing the legal impunity enjoyed by the big banks. She speaks out in particular against the financial compensation accepted by the Department of Justice rather than going to trial.

During her term as senator, Elizabeth multiplied initiatives to strive to protect American citizens from the risks of the financial system, and to fight against abuses and fraudulent practices.

Elizabeth Warren receives numerous awards. Named "Bostonian of the Year" by The Boston Globe in 2009, she was included in the 100 most influential personalities of the Time 100 in 2009, 2010 and 2015.