Janet Reno, First Woman to Serve as Attorney General, Is Dead at 78

The New York Times reports that Janet Reno, who rose from a rustic life on the edge of the Everglades to become attorney general of the United States and whose eight years in that office placed her in the middle of some of the most divisive episodes of the Clinton presidency, died on Monday at her home in Miami-Dade County, Fla. She was 78. Her sister, Margaret Hurchalla, said the cause was complications of Parkinson’s disease, which was diagnosed in November 1995, while she was still in office.

I'll never forget that a Ecuadorian friend of mine -- who was, um, "undocumented" -- lived in her building in Washington in the '90s (The Lansburgh) and became friendly seeing her all of the time in the elevator and lobby. (My surprise 29th birthday party was held there.) I always thought it was a sitcom in the making -- "The AG and the Illegal"! -- plus Janet's dance parties were the best.

RIP.