Robert McNamara, the former Secretary of Defense under John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson, died early this morning at his home in Northwest Washington. McNamara was a signatory of PSA’s two most recent statements on repairing US-Russian relations and on strengthening the NPT and the IAEA. McNamara played a primary role in the Bay of Pigs invasion and the Cuban missile crisis, but he is best known for being the leading architect of the Vietnam War. He held the position of Secretary of Defense longer than anyone else in history. Prior to his appointment as Secretary of Defense in 1961, McNamara was president of Ford Motor Co., and he was also president of the World Bank for 13 years following his resignation from the Pentagon. In retirement, he stayed involved with several corporations, universities, and foundations, and until his death, he remained one of Washington’s leading experts on nuclear arms issues. Read the full New York Times obituary here.
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One of the smartest and possibly one of the most ‘honest’ leaders of the past century. Also, don’t forget we owe him the first car ‘seat belts’. May he rest in peace. Issam Kabbani, Switzerland
Comment on July 6, 2009 @ 10:01 am