James Lee Witt: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|American politician}}

[[Image:James_Lee_Witt.gif|right|frame|James Lee Witt]]

{{Infobox officeholder

'''James Lee Witt''' (born [[6 January]] [[1944]]) was Director of the [[Federal Emergency Management Agency]] (FEMA) during the administration of President [[Bill Clinton]].

|name = James Witt

|image = James Lee Witt, official FEMA photo portrait.jpg

|office = Director of the [[Federal Emergency Management Agency]]

|president = [[Bill Clinton]]

|term_start = April 5, 1993

|term_end = January 20, 2001

|successor = [[John Magaw]] {{small|(Acting)}}

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1944|1|6}}

|birth_place = [[Paris, Arkansas|Paris]], [[Arkansas]], U.S.

|death_date =

|death_place =

|party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]

|module = {{Listen

|embed = yes

|title = Witt's voice

|filename = James Lee Witt 1996.ogg

|type = speech

|description = [[:File:James Lee Witt 1996.ogg|Recorded in 1996]]}}

}}

'''James Lee Witt''' (born [[6 January]] [[6, 1944]]) wasis Directora former director of the [[Federal Emergency Management Agency]] (FEMA) during the administrationtenure of U.S. President [[Bill Clinton]], and is often credited with raising the agency's level of professionalism and ability to respond to disasters.

==Early life==

James Lee Witt was born in [[Paris, Arkansas]], and was raised in [[Dardanelle, Arkansas|Dardanelle]], in [[Yell County, Arkansas|Yell County]],. [[Arkansas]] He and Clinton met as boys in Little League.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/22/us/is-arkansas-still-friendly-to-bill-clinton-tests-it.html|title=Is WittArkansas startedStill hisFriendly ownto Bill? Clinton Tests It|last=Martin|first=Jonathan|date=2013-12-21|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=2016-10-12}}</ref> He founded a construction business in [[1968]]. At age 34, he was elected County Judge of Yell County. Witt was reelectedre-elected to the post 6six times and was recognized by the National Association of Counties for his work. Witt was a charter Board Chairman of Child Development, IncorporatedInc., which works to advance [[Head Start Program|Head Start]] programs.{{citation needed|date=November 2013}}

==Government career==

In [[1988]] Witt was appointed by then-Governor Bill Clinton to be the head of the Arkansas Office of Emergency Services where he reorganized the state's emergency management process.

In 1988, shortly after being reelected county Judge, an administrative position he had held for ten years, Witt was appointed by then-Governor Bill Clinton to be the head of the Arkansas Office of Emergency Services. There he reorganized the state's emergency management process. Clinton subsequently moved the new Fire Protection Services Program to OES, including the board and the grant program, which was administered in conjunction with the state Insurance Department."<ref>[http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/ Witt, James Lee], ''[[Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture]]''. Retrieved 13 January 2016.</ref>

When Clinton was elected president, he appointed Witt to head FEMA, for which Witt was confirmed by the [[U.S. Senate]] in 1993. In 1996, FEMA was given cabinet rank.<ref name=rank>{{cite press release|title=President Clinton Raises FEMA Director to Cabinet Status |publisher=Federal Emergency Management Agency |date=1996-02-26 |url=http://www.fema.gov/home/NWZ96/cabinet.htm |access-date=2010-03-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970116185236/http://www.fema.gov/home/NWZ96/cabinet.htm |archive-date=January 16, 1997 }}</ref>

When Bill Clinton was elected President he appointed Witt to head the [[Federal Emergency Management Agency]] and he was confirmed by the [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]] in [[1993]]. During his tenure Clinton elevated FEMA to cabinet status, and Witt overturned FEMA's previously poor reputation. A 1992 interim report by the US Congress (prior to [[Hurricane Andrew]] led to further criticism of FEMA) had said that "FEMA is widely viewed as a political dumping ground, a turkey farm, if you will, where large numbers of positions exist that can be conveniently and quietly filled by political appointment..."{{Ref|WP92}} By 1996 an ''[[Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]'' editorial said that "FEMA has developed a sterling reputation for delivering disaster-relief services, a far cry from its abysmal standing before James Lee Witt took its helm in 1993. How did Witt turn FEMA around so quickly? Well, he is the first director of the agency to have emergency-management experience. He stopped the staffing of the agency by political patronage. He removed layers of bureaucracy. Most important, he instilled in the agency a spirit of preparedness, of service to the customer, of willingness to listen to ideas of local and state officials to make the system work better."{{Ref|AJC96}}

During his tenure Witt was able to overcome FEMA's previously poor reputation. A 1992 interim report by the Congress (prior to [[Hurricane Andrew]], which led to further criticism of FEMA) had said, "FEMA is widely viewed as a political dumping ground, a turkey farm, if you will, where large numbers of positions exist that can be conveniently and quietly filled by political appointment ..." The comment had been provoked by the appointment of Wallace Stickney, described in the report as "weak" and "uninterested in the substantive programs of FEMA" owing his post to his relationship with former White House Chief of Staff [[John H. Sununu]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100327123432/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1992-09-04/news/9201190607_1_fema-report-patronage Fema`s Effectiveness Falls Short], ''[[Washington Times]]'', Bill Gertz, September 4, 1992. Retrieved 10 January 2016.</ref>

Witt's term of office saw approximately 348 Presidential declared [[disaster area]]s in more than 6,500 counties and in all 50 states and territories. Witt supervised the response to the most costly flood disaster in the nation's history at that time, the most costly earthquake, and a dozen serious hurricanes.

When Bill Clinton was elected President he appointed Witt to head the [[Federal Emergency Management Agency]] and he was confirmed by the [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]] in [[1993]]. During his tenure Clinton elevated FEMA to cabinet status, and Witt overturned FEMA's previously poor reputation. A 1992 interim report by the US Congress (prior to [[Hurricane Andrew]] led to further criticism of FEMA) had said that "FEMA is widely viewed as a political dumping ground, a turkey farm, if you will, where large numbers of positions exist that can be conveniently and quietly filled by political appointment..."{{Ref|WP92}} By 1996, an ''[[Atlanta Journal-Constitution]]'' editorial said that, "FEMA has developed a sterling reputation for delivering disaster-relief services, a far cry from its abysmal standing before James Lee Witt took its helm in 1993. How did Witt turn FEMA around so quickly? Well, he is the first director of the agency to have emergency-management experience. He stopped the staffing of the agency by political patronage. He removed layers of bureaucracy. Most important, he instilled in the agency a spirit of preparedness, of service to the customer, of willingness to listen to ideas of local and state officials to make the system work better."{{Ref|AJC96}}<ref>''Atlanta Journal-Constitution'', February 12, 1996, "Short Takes; Quick Witt helps"</ref>

Witt is currently President of James Lee Witt Associates, LLC which provides consulting on emergency and disaster preparedness to local and state governments. Witt also serves as CEO of the [[International Code Council]] which sets international standards for building construction.

Witt's eight-year term ofin office saw approximately 348 PresidentialPresidentially declared [[disaster area]]s in more than 6,500 counties and in all 50 states and the U.S. territories. Witt supervised the response to the most[[1997 costlyRed River flood]]— disastera indevastating theflood nation'sin historythe at that time, theDakotas—the most costly earthquake, and a dozen serious hurricanes.{{citation needed|date=November 2013}}

On [[September 3]], [[2005]], he was [http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050903/APN/509030885&cachetime=3&template=dateline hired] by [[Louisiana]] [[governor]] [[Kathleen Blanco]] to oversee reconstruction efforts in the wake of [[Hurricane Katrina]].

==Post-FEMA management and consulting==

Witt has been mentioned as a potential [[United States Democratic Party|Democratic]] candidate for [[Governor of Arkansas]].

On September 3, 2005, he was hired by [[Governor of Louisiana|Louisiana Governor]] [[Kathleen Blanco]] to oversee reconstruction efforts in the wake of [[Hurricane Katrina]].<ref>http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article? AID=/20050903/APN/509030885&cachetime=3&template=dateline</ref> In December 2005, the [[University of Texas System]] hired his firm to prepare, process, and recover claims for damages from FEMA related to natural disasters. Witt served as CEO of the [[International Code Council]], which sets international standards for building construction, 2003-06.

By August 2007, Witt was serving on the management team of Global Options Group LLC and as President of James Lee Witt Associates LLC, which provided consulting on emergency and disaster preparedness to local and state governments. In 2013, the firm merged with O'Brien's Response Management to become Witt|O'Brien's, with Witt as Executive Board Chair. In 2015, it was acquired by [[SEACOR Holdings|SEACOR]].<ref>[https://www.wittobriens.com/about-us "Witt O'Brien's/Seacor: About Us"]. Retrieved October 12, 2021.</ref>

==Notes==

# {{Note|WP92}} Bill Gertz, ''[[Washington Times]]'', [[September 4]], 1992, "Mikulski faults FEMA officials, calls for probe"

In 2016, Witt formed Witt Global Partners, a Little Rock-based Government Relations and Disaster Consulting Firm. Witt is the CEO and Managing Partner of the firm.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wittglobalpartners.com/ |title=Home |website=wittglobalpartners.com |access-date=2022-08-08 |archive-date=2022-08-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808125905/https://www.wittglobalpartners.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

# {{Note|AJC96}} ''Atlanta Journal-Constitution'', [[February 12]], 1996, "Short Takes; Quick Witt helps"

==Electoral career==

Witt was mentioned as a potential candidate for [[Governor of Arkansas]] in 1997 but took himself out of consideration and stayed at FEMA until he was replaced by [[Joe Allbaugh]], the first appointee of President [[George W. Bush]]. Witt announced in October 2013 that he expected to run for Congress in [[United States House of Representatives elections in Arkansas, 2014|2014]] in [[Arkansas's 4th congressional district]].<ref name=Congress>{{cite news|last=Brantley|first=Max|title=James Lee Witt '80 percent' decided on 4th District congressional run|url=http://www.arktimes.com/ArkansasBlog/archives/2013/10/11/james-lee-witt-80-percent-decided-on-4th-district-congressional-run|access-date=14 October 2013|newspaper=Arkansas Times|date=11 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.politico.com/story/2013/11/james-lee-witt-arkansas-house-race-2014-99417.html| title = Witt announces for Arkansas seat - POLITICO| website = [[Politico]]| date = 5 November 2013}}</ref> On November 4, 2014 Witt lost the race to GOP candidate [[Bruce Westerman]] 53.7-42.6%.<ref>[http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2014/house/ar/arkansas_4th_district_westerman_vs_witt-5062.html Arkansas 4th District - Westerman vs. Witt], ''[[Real Clear Politics]]'', 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2016.</ref>

==References==

{{Reflist}}

<ref name="Encyclopedia of Arkansas">{{cite web|last1=Goss|first1=Kay C.|title=James Lee Witt (1944--)|url=http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?search=1&entryID=3709|website=Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture|access-date=3 June 2015}}</ref>

==External links==

{{Commons category|James Lee Witt}}

*[http://www.wittassociates.com/1127.xml James Lee Witt Associates, LLC Website]

*http://www.wittpartners.com/ Witt Global Partners, a comprehensive bipartisan lobbying, strategic business consulting, and disaster advisory services firm website

*{{C-SPAN|30242}}

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{{s-off}}

{{s-bef|before=[[William Tidball]]<br />{{small|Acting}}}}

{{s-ttl|title=Director of the [[Federal Emergency Management Agency]]|years=1993–2001}}

{{s-aft|after=[[John Magaw]]<br />{{small|Acting}}}}

{{s-end}}

{{startFEMA boxadministrators}}

{{Clinton cabinet}}

{{succession box | before = [[Wallace E. Stickney]] | title = [[Federal Emergency Management Agency]] director | years = 1993-2001 | after = [[Joe Allbaugh]]}}

{{endAuthority boxcontrol}}

[[Category{{DEFAULTSORT:1944 births|Witt, James Lee]]}}

[[Category:Arkansas1944 politicians|Witt, James Leebirths]]

[[Category:20th-century Arkansas politicians]]

[[Category:21st-century Arkansas politicians]]

[[Category:Arkansas Democrats]]

[[Category:Clinton administration cabinet members]]

[[Category:County judges in Arkansas]]

[[Category:Federal Emergency Management Agency officials]]

[[Category:Living people]]

[[Category:People from Dardanelle, Arkansas]]

[[Category:People from Paris, Arkansas]]

[[Category:State cabinet secretaries of Arkansas]]