Barbara Olson

Barbara Olson (née Bracher; December 27, 1955 – September 11, 2001) was an American lawyer, conservative television commentator, and author who was killed in the September 11 attacks as a passenger on American Airlines Flight 77. Known for her sharp legal analysis and frequent appearances on national television, she was a prominent voice in conservative political commentary during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Early life and education

Barbara Kay Bracher was born on December 27, 1955, in Houston, Texas. She grew up in the Houston area and graduated from Waltrip High School in 1973. She initially attended the University of St. Thomas in Houston before transferring to the University of Houston, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. She subsequently attended the University of Houston Law Center, graduating with a Juris Doctor degree in 1980. During her time in law school, she developed a strong interest in criminal law and litigation.

Legal career

Following her graduation from law school, Olson began her legal career as a state prosecutor in Texas. She later moved to Washington, D.C., where she served as a federal prosecutor in the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia. Her work in criminal prosecution earned her a reputation for being tough, meticulous, and highly effective in the courtroom.

In the mid-1990s, Olson transitioned to congressional work, serving as the Chief Counsel to the United States House Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, which was chaired by Representative Dan Burton. In this role, she was heavily involved in several high-profile investigations, including the inquiries into the Waco siege, the Whitewater controversy, and the Travelgate scandal during the Clinton administration. Her legal acumen and aggressive investigative style made her a key figure in the Republican-led congressional investigations of the era.

Media and political commentary

Olson's legal expertise and articulate communication skills naturally led to a career in political commentary. She became a frequent guest and legal analyst on major television networks, including CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC. Her conservative viewpoints, combined with her insider knowledge of Washington politics and the legal system, made her a popular and recognizable figure on political talk shows.

In addition to her television appearances, Olson was a prolific writer. She authored two notable books: Hell to Pay: The Unpoliced, Unprotected, and Unrepentant World of Janet Reno (1999), which was highly critical of the former Attorney General, and The Final Days: The Last, Desperate Abuses of Power by the Clinton White House (2001), which detailed the controversies of the final months of the Clinton presidency. Her writings and broadcasts cemented her status as a leading conservative intellectual and commentator.

Personal life

Barbara Bracher was first married to John Olson, with whom she had two children. The couple later divorced. In 1996, she married Theodore Olson, a prominent conservative appellate lawyer who had served in the Reagan administration. The couple became a well-known power couple in Washington legal and political circles. Theodore Olson would later serve as the United States Solicitor General under President George W. Bush and successfully argued the landmark Bush v. Gore case before the Supreme Court in 2000.

Death in the September 11 attacks

On the morning of September 11, 2001, Barbara Olson boarded American Airlines Flight 77 at Washington Dulles International Airport. She was traveling to Los Angeles to appear as a guest on Bill Maher's television show, Politically Incorrect. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft was hijacked by five al-Qaeda terrorists.

During the hijacking, Olson managed to use an Airfone to make two collect calls to her husband, Theodore Olson, who was in his office in Washington, D.C. During these brief but crucial conversations, she informed him that the plane had been hijacked, that the hijackers were armed with knives and box cutters, and that they had herded the passengers and crew to the back of the plane. Her calm and precise reporting provided some of the earliest confirmed information to the U.S. government regarding the nature of the unfolding terrorist attacks. At 9:37 a.m., Flight 77 was deliberately crashed into the western facade of the Pentagon, killing all 64 people on board, including Olson, as well as 125 people in the building.

Legacy and aftermath

Barbara Olson's death had a profound impact on her family and the broader legal and political communities. Her husband, Theodore Olson, became a vocal advocate for the families of the September 11 victims and was highly critical of the government's failure to prevent the attacks. He later co-chaired the legal team that successfully challenged California's Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage, a cause he took up partly in honor of his wife's belief in individual liberty and equal rights.

To honor her memory, the Barbara Olson Memorial Foundation was established to support educational and charitable initiatives. Additionally, the University of Houston Law Center created the Barbara Olson Memorial Scholarship to assist law students. At the Pentagon Memorial, a dedicated bench bears her name, serving as a permanent tribute to her life and her tragic death. Olson is remembered not only for her tragic end but also for her vibrant intellect, her pioneering role as a female legal commentator, and her courageous actions during her final moments.