Ellen R. Sauerbrey
MSA SC 3520-12334

Extended Biography:

Ellen Sauerbrey is an “energetic, charming, and serious” woman who is noted for understanding the “value of a human life,” as well as “the importance of order and freedom in the world.”¹ She became a prominent political figure in Maryland and beyond, who fought for admirable causes such as budget control and refugee assistance.²     

Overcoming adversity, Ms. Sauerbrey worked at an on-campus dining hall so she could attend Western Maryland College. She participated in extra-curricular activities such as the pompom squad, and succeeded academically, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and English in 1959.⁷ That same year she married the family paperboy, William Sauerbrey, whom she had been dating since high school.⁸ Although she grew up with a politically active father, Ms. Sauerbrey had no passion for the topic at the time and instead wanted to attend veterinary school.⁹ Not having the finances to support this dream, however, she began a career teaching high school level biology at Ridgely-Dulaney High School in Towson, Maryland and quickly became chair of the science department.¹⁰ 

Several factors started Ms. Sauerbrey on her path to political activism. Her husband, born from German immigrants, was a politically outspoken Republican. His viewpoints, as well as those of his conservative parents, started to promote the development of  her political awareness and she began to volunteer for numerous political iniatives such as the Barry Goldwater presidential campaign.¹¹ In addition, Ms. Sauerbrey took a break from teaching because she wanted to raise a family;¹² however, due to unfortunate circumstances Ms. Sauerbrey never had children, a fact that she considers the “greatest disappointment of her life."¹³ She recalled that "I was always very contented to be a homemaker. The kind of things I enjoyed doing were needlework and crafts and gardening, and besides, I was very shy…being a mother was all I really aspired to . . . doing what traditionally women did."¹⁴

After such developments and discoveries, Ms. Sauerbrey decided to dedicate the rest of her life to political issues in order to become “a crusader, in effect, for what [she believed] in." ¹⁵ Ms. Sauerbrey’s mother rememebred that during this stage her daughter "needed something. . . . [politics became] her baby."¹⁶ Ms. Sauerbrey thus began a political career and worked to become a delegate at the Republican National Convention in 1970, and then the vice chairman for the Republican Central Committee of Baltimore County in 1976.¹⁷ She made a landmark accomplishment when, in 1978, she was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates as a representative of District 10. Ms. Sauerbrey served in the House of Delegates until 1994 and made momentous accomplishments, such as being the first women elected to Minority Leader, a position she held from 1986-1994.¹⁸   

With a focus on “economic development opportunities for citizens, good jobs, and effective education,” she became an “authority over budgetary matters” and quickly made progress.¹⁹ One of her first acts was to “pass a limit on the growth of State spending based on the citizens’ income growth."²⁰ Additionally, Ms. Sauerbrey developed “cutting-edge legislation to create jobs by cutting taxes and excessive regulations” and was a diligent sponsor of the Maryland Spending Affordability Law that curbed the growth of state spending.”²¹ 

Ms. Sauerbrey was a member of numerous committees in the House of Delegates; she was on the Appropriations Committee and its education and transportation sub committees, the Rules and Executive Nomination Committee, the Legislative Policy Committee, the Joint Budget and Audit Committee, the Spending Affordability Committee, the Economic Matters Committee, and the Ways and Means Committee.²²

In 1994, with a “concern for Maryland’s future,” Ms. Sauerbrey ran for Governor of Maryland.²³ During the primary election she ran against Helen Bentley, who would later be inducted into the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame the same year as Ms. Sauerbrey.²⁴ Ms. Sauerbrey was able to win the Republican primary gubernatorial vote in 1994, but then narrowly lost the general election by “four-tenths of 1%” to Governor Parris Glendenning."²⁵ Feeling that 11,000 votes were cast improperly or fraudulently in Baltimore City, Montgomery County, and Prince George's County,”²⁶ she controversially sued after the election.²⁷ Evidence of fraud or violation could never be presented however, and her case was dropped.²⁸ In 1998, Ms. Sauerbrey once again ran for Governor of Maryland, but was defeated by a larger margin.²⁹

Ms. Sauerbrey continued to persevere during and after the elections. For example, in 1994, she was given a talk show on WBAL radio and became a commentator on WBAL TV.³⁰ She also had featured columns in the Washington Post, The Washington Times, and The Baltimore Sun."³¹

One of Ms. Sauerbrey's most prominent moments came in 2002 when President George Bush nominated her to be a representative to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.³² In this position she was adamantly dedicated to the “human rights of women and was a strong advocate for women’s political and economic advancement."³³ This began her fruitful career as a global political activist for human rights. As a representative, she made many noteworthy accomplishments such as initiating and leading negotiations for a U.S. resolution intended to lay groundwork for making women full political participants in various countries (this resolution passed in 2003), speaking at conferences in countries such as Belarus, Mongolia, and Argentina to advocate for the allowance of women to run for political office, setting up a ‘sister club” with the Maryland Political Organization to establish a relationship between Maryland and Mongolian women, convening a panel at the United Nations dedicated to developing an international commitment to health policies which would reduce unnecessary deaths of women in labor, ³⁴ and combating HIV/AIDS as well as human trafficking.³⁵

In 2005, President George Busch appointed Ms. Sauerbrey to the Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration, a position responsible for “organizing and coordinating the delivery of aid to refugees of war, victims of persecution and natural disasters, and overseeing the permanent admittance and resettlement of refugees in the U.S.”³⁶ She served in this role from 2006 to 2008. Her appointment was highly controversial, as many thought she was not "well prepared to take the job, having little experience working with refugees and a long record of opposing reproductive rights."³⁷ However, Ms. Sauerbrey soon proved herself through noteworthy accomplishments such as being a leading force that granted The Women’s Refugee Commission support for a three year project which produced a manual for practitioners on building livelihoods in humanitarian settings (the first project of its kind).³⁸ While this project eventually gained immense funding, it was noted that “the first major grant for the project-while we were still uncertain we would be able to get it off the ground-came from the Bureau under Ellen’s leadership."³⁹ Ms. Sauerbrey also made progress in helping to resolve a blockage against the resettlement of Burmese refugees in the United States,⁴⁰ and after the Iraq War, she was able to secure an agreement with the Jordanian government that allowed Iraq refugee children to attend Jordanian schools.⁴¹ She also increased the number of refugees settled in the United States from 41,000 in 2006 to 48,000 in 2007.⁴²  While helping refugees in general, Ms Sauerbrey specifially “cared deeply about the plight of refugee women and children and she visited refugee setting to see for her self."⁴³ She strove to reduce violence against refugee women and to provide educational opportunities for them.⁴⁴   

President Bush selected Ms. Sauerbrey as the Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration while Congress was in recess. When they re-adjourned, they chose a new candidate, allowing her to serve only two of the three required years.⁴⁵  However, in a short time she made phenomenal accomplishments and it was noted that “refugees around the world had a good friend at the State Department while Ellen headed the Bureau."⁴⁶

During her political career, Ms Sauerbrey was a member of many organizations. She served as Chairman of Maryland Business for Responsive Government, Co-Chairman with Marvin Mandel for Maryland Business for Responsive Government, on the Board of Directors for the Better Business Bureau, as Honorary Chairman of the United Citizens for Maryland’s Future, on the Board of Directors for the American Alliance for Better Schools, on the Board of Trustees for Franklin Square Hospital, on the Board of Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Center, was part of the Private/Public Sector Task Force for Affordable Housing, and on the U.S. Service Academies Review Board.⁴⁷ In addition, she was the Co-Founder of the Maryland Taxpayers Coalition, she was the president of GOP-hers (Republican Women Baltimore County), was a member of the Republican State Central Committee, was a member of the Maryland Federation of Republican Women, was a member of the Republican National Convention, and was a member of the Republican National Committeewomen.⁴⁸ 

She also received many prestigious honors such as being named Legislator of the Year (1987 and 1992), Republican Woman of the Year (1992 and 1994), Humanitarian of the Year, (2006), and being listed as one of the “Maryland Top 100 Women for 1998” by The Daily Record. She was the recipient of many awards such as the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for Outstanding Contributions to Community Service and Political Activism (1997), the Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition (2002), the Maryland State of Mind Award (2004), the Women’s Federation for World Peace Women of Distinction Award,⁴⁹ and the National Federation of Republican Women's Margaret Chase Smith Award.⁵⁰ Most recently she was inducted into the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame in 2013.⁵¹  

Ms. Sauerbrey had a remarkable career, full of obstacles and accomplishments. She continues to stay active today and is currently serving as Chairperson for the Maryland Business for Responsive Government (MBRG)⁵² as she and her husband restore a pre-civil war home.⁵³ Ms. Sauerbrey’s story is bittersweet: unable to have children of her own, she becamse a mother of thousands as she champoined pertinent issues in Maryland and around the globe, demonstrating that one can accomplish wonders by finding light in challenging situations. 

Quotes

“She has personally identified and promoted key initiatives that address the particular and urgent needs of the most vulnerable, including children’s education, human trafficking and livelihood initiatives for women and girls”
- Antonio Guterres⁵⁴  

“Mrs. Sauerbrey consistently has displayed an unwavering commitment to raising awareness of human trafficking. She has spoken frequently and eloquently against this horrific crime, demanding of the United States and countries around the world that the cries of innocent victims must be heard.”
-David Bannon⁵⁵

“Women and children trafficked into the United States for the sex trade are refugees in the most desperate sense. As assistant secretary of state for population, refugees and migration, Mrs. Sauerbrey would continue to speak for those who are silenced.”
-David Bannon⁵⁶

1. Jeane J. Kirkpatrick, “For a UN Post, a Woman of Superb Qualities,” The Wall Street Journal, 26 November 2005  return to text 

2. Ladies in Leadership, Letter to the Maryland Commission for Women, October 26 2012  return to text 

3. Maryland State Archives, Maryland Manual, (Maryland: Maryland State Archives, 1994), pg. 106  return to text 

4. David Montgomery, “The Accidental Politician; Ellen Sauerbrey’s Right Turn Put Her on the Road to Annapolis, The Washington Post, 26 October 1994  return to text 

5. Ibid.  return to text 

6. Ibid.  return to text 

7. Ibid.  return to text 

8. Daniel LeDuc, “Sauerbrey’s Conservative Path Takes Pragmatic Turn; For Ellen Sauerbrey, A Long Political Road,” The Washington Post, 04 October 1998  return to text 

9. Montgomery, “The Accidental Politician”  return to text 

10. Ibid.  return to text 

11. LeDuc, “Sauerbrey’s Conservative Path Takes Pragmatic Turn”  return to text 

12. Montgomery, “The Accidental Politician”  return to text 

13. LeDuc, “Sauerbrey’s Conservative Path Takes Pragmatic Turn”  return to text 

14. Ibid.  return to text 

15. Montgomery, “The Accidental Politician”  return to text 

16. LeDuc, “Sauerbrey’s Conservative Path Takes Pragmatic Turn”  return to text 

17. Maryland State Archives, Maryland Manual, pg. 106  return to text 

18. Ladies in Leadership, Letter to the Maryland Commission for Women  return to text 

19. Ibid.  return to text 

20. Ibid.  return to text 

21. “Sauerbrey, Ellen R: Candidate Details,” Our Campaigns, last modified June 5, 2013, http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=485  return to text 

22. Maryland State Archives, Maryland Manual, pg. 106  return to text 

23. Ladies in Leadership, Letter to the Maryland Commission for Women  return to text 

24. Ibid.  return to text 

25. “Sauerbrey, Ellen R: Candidate Details”  return to text 

26. John W. Frece and William F. Zorzi, “11,000 Votes Challenged Republican Ellen Sauerbrey Officially Files Suit Contesting November Election,” The Sun, 28 December 1994  return to text 

27. “Sauerbrey, Ellen R: Candidate Details”  return to text 

28. Ibid.  return to text 

29. Glenn Kessler, “Democrats Zero In On Another Nominee,” The Washington Post, 26 October 2005  return to text 

30. “Sauerbrey Goes From Politics to New Radio Talk Show,” The Capital, 27 January 1995  return to text 

31. “Sauerbrey, Ellen R: Candidate Details”  return to text 

32. Ladies in Leadership, Letter to the Maryland Commission for Women  return to text 

33. Kim R. Holmes, Letter to the Maryland Commission for Women, November 1, 2012  return to text 

34. Ibid.  return to text 

35. Kirkpatrick, “For a UN Post”  return to text 

36.  Ibid.  return to text 

37. “Ellen Sauerbrey,” SourceWatch, last modified April 18, 2011, http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Ellen_Sauerbrey  return to text 

38. Carolyn Makinson, Letter to the Maryland Commission for Women, January 18, 2012  return to text 

39. Ibid.  return to text 

40. Ken Bacon, “President’s Corner: Farewell to Ellen Sauerbrey,” world:bridge: a Refugees International Blog (blog), January 07, 2008, http://www.refugeesinternational.org/blog/president%E2%80%99s-corner-farewell-ellen-sauerbrey  return to text 

41. Makinson, Letter to the Maryland Commission for Women  return to text 

42.  Bacon, “President’s Corner: Farewell to Ellen Sauerbrey”  return to text 

43. Makinson, Letter to the Maryland Commission for Women  return to text 

44. Ibid.  return to text 

45. Bacon, “President’s Corner: Farewell to Ellen Sauerbrey”  return to text 

46. Makinson, Letter to the Maryland Commission for Women  return to text 

47. Resume of Ellen Sauerbrey, Maryland Women's Hall of Fame Nomination Packet from the Maryland Commission for Women, October 2012  return to text 

48. Ibid.  return to text 

49. Ibid.  return to text 

50. “Sauerbrey, Ellen R: Candidate Details”  return to text     

51. Resume of Ellen Sauerbrey  return to text 

52. Ladies in Leadership, Letter to the Maryland Commission for Women  return to text 

53. Resume of Ellen Sauerbrey  return to text 

54. Antonio Guterres, Letter to Senator Joseph R. Biden, December 10, 2007  return to text 

55. David R. Bannon, “Ellen Sauerbrey’s Voice Should Be Heard,” The Washington Times, 17 November 2005  return to text 

56.  Ibid.  return to text 

This web site is presented for reference purposes under the doctrine of fair use. When this material is used, in whole or in part, proper citation and credit must be attributed to the Maryland State Archives. PLEASE NOTE: The site may contain material from other sources which may be under copyright. Rights assessment, and full originating source citation, is the responsibility of the user. Tell Us What You Think About the Maryland State Archives Website! Archives' Home Page    |    Maryland Manual On-Line    |    Reference & Research    |    Search the Archives    |    Students & Teachers    |    Archives of Maryland Online Governor     General Assembly    Judiciary     Maryland.Gov

© Copyright August 01, 2013 Maryland State Archives