Summary
Barbara Kay Olson (née Bracher; December 27, 1955 – September 11, 2001) was an American lawyer and conservative television commentator who worked for CNN, Fox News Channel, and several other outlets.[1] She was a passenger on American Airlines Flight 77 en route to a taping of Bill Maher's television show Politically Incorrect when it was flown into the Pentagon in the September 11 attacks.[2]
Barbara Olson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Barbara Kay Bracher December 27, 1955 |
| Died | September 11, 2001 (aged 45) |
| Cause of death | Plane crash as part of the September 11 terrorist attacks |
| Education | University of Saint Thomas (BA) Yeshiva University (JD) |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1990–2001 |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
Early life edit
Olson was born Barbara Kay Bracher in Houston, Texas, on December 27, 1955. Her older sister, Toni Bracher-Lawrence, was a member of the Houston City Council from 2004 to 2010. She graduated from Waltrip High School.[3]
Personal life edit
She married Theodore Olson in 1996, becoming his third wife.[4]
Olson was a frequent critic of the Bill Clinton administration and wrote a book about then First Lady Hillary Clinton, Hell to Pay: The Unfolding Story of Hillary Rodham Clinton (1999). Olson's second book, The Final Days: The Last, Desperate Abuses of Power by the Clinton White House was published posthumously.[5]
Death and legacy edit
Olson was a passenger on American Airlines Flight 77, on her way to a taping of Politically Incorrect in Los Angeles, when it was flown into the Pentagon in the September 11 attacks.
Her original plan had been to fly to California on September 10, but she waited until the next day so that she could wake up with her husband on his birthday, September 11.[2] At the National September 11 Memorial, Olson's name is located on Panel S-70 of the South Pool, along with those of other passengers of Flight 77.[6]
Three months after the attacks, Olson's remains were identified. She was buried at her family's retreat in Wisconsin.[7]
In popular culture edit
- Canadian actress Marsha Mason portrayed Barbara Olson in the Canadian TV series Mayday Season 16: Episode 2 (2016) called "9/11: The Pentagon Attack" and Air Crash Investigation Special Report Season 2: Episode 1 (2019) called "Headline News".
Books edit
References edit
- ^ Lewis, Neil A. (September 13, 2001). "Barbara Olson, 45, Advocate And Conservative Commentator". The New York Times.
- ^ a b composerguy (April 7, 2008). "What Barbara Olson Knew". Archived from the original on November 23, 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Waltrip Trivia Page". Waltrip High School. February 22, 2011. Archived from the original on August 31, 2012.
- ^ Argetsinger, Amy & Roberts, Roxanne (October 22, 2006). "Napa Nuptials for Olson and His Lady". The Reliable Source. The Washington Post. Retrieved August 19, 2009.
- ^ Olson, Barbara (October 25, 2001). The final days: the last, desperate abuses of power by the Clinton White House. Regnery Pub. ISBN 9780895261670.
- ^ South Pool: Panel S-70: Barbara K. Olson Archived July 27, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Memorial Guide: National 9/11 Memorial. Retrieved December 11, 2011.
- ^ "Ted Olson on loss and love in the decade since 9/11". The Washington Post. September 11, 2011. Archived from the original on September 12, 2011. Retrieved September 13, 2021.
External links edit
- Barbara Olson at IMDb
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- Barbara Olson at Find a Grave
- Wife of Solicitor General alerted him of hijacking from plane
- Barbara Olson Mourned at Arlington Service[dead link]
- Barbara Olson: A Sparkling Celebrity 'Full of Energy' Newsday.com-Victims Search
- Alfred S. Regnery (September 17, 2001). "Barbara Olson, RIP". Human Events/BNet Research Center.
