Dorcas Hardy

Hardy was born in Newark, New Jersey, on July 18, 1946.{{Cite web |last=Wittman |first=Robert J. |author-link=Rob Wittman |date=January 9, 2020 |title=In Remembrance of Mrs. Dorcas R. Hardy |url=https://www.congress.gov/116/crec/2020/01/09/CREC-2020-01-09-pt1-PgE21-3.pdf |access-date=May 1, 2023 |website=Congressional Record}} She was the daughter of C. Colburn Hardy, a New Jersey assemblyman, and Ruth E. Hardy.{{cite news |date=July 14, 2006 |title=Ruth E. Hardy Obituary |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/washingtonpost/obituary.aspx?n=ruth-e-hardy&pid=18444279 |via=Legacy.com}} As a child, she worked to stuff envelopes at a Republican campaign center as part of an early interest in politics. She attended Miss Beard's School (now Morristown-Beard School) in Orange, New Jersey; Hardy initially enrolled for First grade, though later returned for secondary school, graduating in 1964.{{Cite news |last=Bernstein |first=Adam |author-link=Adam Bernstein |date=December 4, 2019 |title=Dorcas Hardy, first woman to lead Social Security Administration, dies at 73 |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/dorcas-hardy-first-woman-to-lead-social-security-administration-dies-at-73/2019/12/04/5e23934c-1534-11ea-a659-7d69641c6ff7_story.html |access-date=2023-04-21 |issn=0190-8286}}

Hardy received her undergraduate education at Connecticut College, obtaining her bachelor's degree in 1968 as a major in government with Phi Beta Kappa membership. She spent a year in college abroad in Pakistan for the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts and also spent time in Tanzania. In an interview for The Christian Science Monitor, her father recalled, "in college, Dorcas ran for office twice and lost both times. Then she became a campaign manager, and never lost. And she managed her dormitory, a 28-hour-per-day-job, and did it very well." Hardy had been a student housefellow during the 1967–68 academic year,{{Cite journal |date=March 14, 1967 |title=Connecticut Students to Debate Possibility of Draftine Women |url=https://digitalcommons.conncoll.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=1016&context=ccnews_1966_1967 |journal=Conn Census |volume=51 |issue=17 |page=3}} and was a classmate of future U.S. commissioner on aging Carol Fraser Fisk, for whom she later administered the oath of office.{{Cite news |date=Spring 1987 |title=Carol Fraser Fisk '68 Named Commissioner on Aging |page=23 |work=Connecticut College Alumni Magazine |url=https://digitalcommons.conncoll.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=1240&context=alumnews |access-date=May 8, 2023}}

After graduating, Hardy earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Pepperdine University in 1976. While in graduate school, she joined the Junior League of Pasadena, California, and had been a staff member of the California Delegation to the Republican National Convention. In December 1978, she completed the Executive Program in Health Policy and Financial Management at Harvard University.{{Cite web |title=Crimson Magazine - Spring 2020 by MBS Communications |url=https://issuu.com/mbscommunications/docs/crimson_magazine_-_spring_2020 |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=The Harvard Crimson |date=14 April 2020 |page=69 |language=en |via=Issuu}}

Hardy began her early career as a legislative research assistant to New Jersey Senator Clifford Case in 1970. Afterwards, she became a special assistant on the White House Conference on Children and Youth, and served as the executive director of the Health Services Industry Committee in Washington, D.C., from November 1971 until January 1973.{{Cite web |date=May 15, 1986 |title=Nomination of Dorcas R. Hardy to be Commissioner of Social Security |url=https://www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/HRG99-753.pdf |access-date=May 1, 2023 |website=United States Government Publishing Office}}

Hardy returned to California to assume the position of Assistant Secretary for Health under California governor Ronald Reagan{{Cite news |last=Churchman |first=Deborah |date=March 5, 1987 |title=Dorcas Hardy's stamp on social security. Head of sprawling US retirement system is unretiring in word and deed |work=Christian Science Monitor |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/1987/0305/hhardy.html |access-date=2023-05-01 |issn=0882-7729}} and Associate Director of the Center for Health Services Research at the University of Southern California School of Medicine from 1974 to 1981.

In 1981, Hardy moved to Washington, D.C., to serve as Assistant Secretary{{Cite web |last=Kronholm |first=William |date=October 9, 1985 |title=Reagan Expected To Tap O'Shaughnessy To Become Undersecretary Of HHS |url=https://apnews.com/article/fc3bbfa9ffe9880ac44c29170b554b1a |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=Associated Press |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=December 21, 1981 |title=Remarks on Signing Executive Order 12336, Establishing the Task Force on Legal Equity for Women |url=https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/speech/remarks-signing-executive-order-12336-establishing-task-force-legal-equity-women |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum |language=en}} for Human Development Services at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and as chair of the Task Force on Legal Equity for Women under Reagan.{{Cite web |title=Senate Joint Resolution No. 20: Celebrating the life of Dorcas Ruth Hardy. |url=https://www.richmondsunlight.com/bill/2020/sj20/fulltext/ |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=www.richmondsunlight.com}}

President Ronald Reagan nominated Hardy as SSA Commissioner on March 19, 1986.{{Cite web |last1=Peters |first1=Gerhard |last2=Woolley |first2=John T. |title=Nomination of Dorcas R. Hardy To Be Commissioner of Social Security {{!}} The American Presidency Project |url=https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/258662 |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=The American Presidency Project |publisher=University of California, Santa Barbara}}{{Cite web |title=Nominations & Appointments, March 19, 1986 |url=https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/speech/nominations-appointments-march-19-1986 |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=Ronald Reagan |language=en}}{{cite news | newspaper=The Wall Street Journal | title=Reagan Nominates Hardy to Head Social Security | date=March 20, 1986}} She began serving in the position later that year after Senate confirmation hearings in May.{{cite news | newspaper=The Wall Street Journal | title=Congress Questions Nominee for Chief of Social Security | date=May 15, 1986}} Hardy then served as SSA Commissioner through the beginning of the George H. W. Bush Presidential Administration.{{cite news | newspaper=The Wall Street Journal | title=Gwendolyn King Is Named for Social Security Post | date=July 17, 1989}} During the Reagan Administration, Hardy also served as Assistant Secretary for Human Development Services at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (1981-1986). She served as Assistant Secretary for Health of the California Health and Welfare Agency (1973-1974) during Reagan's governorship.[http://www.ssa.gov/history/hardy.html SSA Commissioners: Dorcas Hardy], Social Security Administration.

Hardy chaired the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Task Force on Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment in 2004 and the Policy Committee of the White House Conference on Aging in 2005.{{Cite web |date=October 27, 2009 |title=The Age Wave: America's Retiring Workforce |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/a-13-2005-08-03-voa8-66393522/548570.html |access-date=2023-05-01 |website=Voice of America |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Shapiro |first=Joseph |date=December 9, 2005 |title=Retiring Boomers Pose Policy Challenge |url=https://www.npr.org/2005/12/09/5044558/retiring-boomers-pose-policy-challenge |access-date=May 1, 2023 |website=NPR}} As of 2013, she served on the seven-member Social Security Advisory Board (SSAB). The SSAB advises the President, the U.S. Congress, and the Social Security Commissioner on policies for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income.{{Cite web |url=http://www.ssab.gov/AbouttheBoard/Members.aspx |title=About the Board > Members |access-date=2014-01-06 |archive-date=2013-06-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616025210/http://www.ssab.gov/AbouttheBoard/Members.aspx |url-status=dead }}

Hardy headed the Health Services Industry Committee of the Cost of Living Council as its executive director from 1971 to 1973. Between 1974 and 1981, she served as the Associate Director of the Center for Health Services Research at the University of Southern California. Hardy has also served as chairman and CEO of Work Recovery Inc., a rehabilitation technology firm in Tucson, Arizona. In 2011, she received appointment to the Board of Visitors of the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Hardy has also served on the Board of Directors of First Coast Service Options Inc., a Medicare contractor, Wright Investors Service Managed Fund, and Options Clearing Corporation.[http://bschool.pepperdine.edu/alumni/class-notes/index.php/2011/07/dorcas-hardy/ Dorcas Hardy, MBA ’76], Pepperdine University.

Hardy previously hosted Financing Your Future, a weekly television program that aired in primetime on Financial News Network and UPI Broadcasting. She also hosted The Senior American, a political magazine TV show that aired on NET.

The National Coalition of Hispanic Mental Health and Human Services awarded Hardy their National Humanitarian Award. National Hispanic University in East San Jose, California, awarded her their Thomas Rivera Award. In 1989, Connecticut College, Hardy's alma mater, awarded her its College Medal.{{Cite web |title=College Medal |url=https://www.conncoll.edu/at-a-glance/history-traditions/college-medal/ |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=Connecticut College |language=en}}

Hardy married Samuel V. Spagnolo in 1996. She died on November 28, 2019, in her residence at Spotsylvania County, Virginia, at age 73.{{cite news|last=Bernstein |first=Adam |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/dorcas-hardy-first-woman-to-lead-social-security-administration-dies-at-73/2019/12/04/5e23934c-1534-11ea-a659-7d69641c6ff7_story.html |title=Dorcas Hardy, first woman to lead Social Security Administration, dies at 73 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=2019-12-04 |accessdate=2019-12-06}} A memorial service was held at Washington National Cathedral on January 16, 2020.{{Cite news |date=January 11, 2020 |title=Dorcas Hardy Obituary |url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/washingtonpost/name/dorcas-hardy-obituary?id=1958680 |access-date=2023-05-01 |newspaper=The Washington Post |via=Legacy.com}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/HRG99-753.pdf Nomination to be SSA Commissioner] ([https://books.google.com/books?id=I_o0AAAAIAAJ Google Books])
• [https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-107shrg80874/html/CHRG-107shrg80874.htm Settling for Silver In the Golden Years]
• [https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/public/digitallibrary/smof/cos/bakerjames/box-004/40-028-6914302-004-001-2016.pdf Reagan Library Memoranda]
• [https://www.archives.gov/files/news/john-roberts/reagan-library-collections-2/JGR-PASAppointments-1986-1of2-Box35.pdf Personal Interview Record]
• {{Cite web |last=PICTURE |title= Palm Beach Daily News 29 Dec 1981, page 6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/299050540/?terms=%22Dorcas%20Hardy%22&match=1}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Commissioner of the Social Security Administration|years=1986–1989}}

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{{SSA commissioners}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hardy, Dorcas}}

Category:1946 births

Category:2019 deaths

Category:Burials at Quantico National Cemetery

Category:Commissioners of the Social Security Administration

Category:Connecticut College alumni

Category:George H. W. Bush administration personnel

Category:Harvard University alumni

Category:Morristown-Beard School alumni

Category:New Jersey Republicans

Category:Pepperdine University alumni

Category:Politicians from Newark, New Jersey

Category:Reagan administration personnel