Melvin Laird
Melvin Robert "Bom" Laird (September 1, 1922 – November 16, 2016) was an American politician and writer.[1] He was a U.S. congressman from Wisconsin before serving as Secretary of Defense from 1969 to 1973 under President Richard Nixon.
Melvin Laird | |
|---|---|
| File:Melvin Laird official photo.JPEG | |
| 10th United States Secretary of Defense | |
| In office January 21, 1969 – January 29, 1973 | |
| President | Richard Nixon |
| Preceded by | Clark Clifford |
| Succeeded by | Elliot Richardson |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 7th district | |
| In office January 3, 1953 – January 21, 1969 | |
| Preceded by | Reid Murray |
| Succeeded by | Dave Obey |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Melvin Robert Laird September 1, 1922 Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Died | November 16, 2016 (aged 94) Fort Myers, Florida, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Barbara Masters (1942–1992) Carole Fleishman (1993–2016) |
| Children | John Allison David Kimberly |
| Alma mater | Carleton College |
| Awards | Purple Heart |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service | 25px United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1942–1946 |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Laird died from complications of congestive heart failure at a hospital in Fort Myers, Florida on November 16, 2016, aged 94.[2]
Melvin Laird Media
- General Alexander Haig being presented with the Distinguished Service Medal by President Richard Nixon at the White House.jpg
Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird with President Richard Nixon and General Alexander Haig and Secretary of State William P. Rogers and National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger at The Oval Office in The White House, Washington, D.C. January 4, 1973.
Laird with President Richard Nixon, under whom he served as Secretary of Defense.
- Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird in 1970.jpg
Secretary Laird (center) before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in 1970
- U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff General John D. Ryan and U.S. Air Force Secretary Robert C. Seamans and U.S. Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird at a ceremony honoring General Hap Arnold at The Pentagon.jpg
Secretary of Defense Melvin R. Laird with Air Force Chief of Staff General John D. Ryan and Secretary of The Air Force Robert C. Seamans at a ceremony in The Pentagon.
- Melvin Laird meets with Elliot Richardson.jpg
Melvin Laird meets with successor as Secretary of Defense, Elliot Richardson at his office in The Pentagon, December 18, 1972.
- Moorer Abrams Zumwalt Cushman Ryan Laird 1973.jpg
Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird meets with Chairman of The Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Thomas Moorer and the other members of The Joint Chiefs of Staff in his Pentagon office.
- Ceremonies for marking the 90th birthday of former Congressman Vinson of Georgia - NARA - 194554.tif
Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird with President Richard Nixon and Secretary of The Navy John Warner present Congressman Carl Vinson with a model of aircraft carrier U.S.S. Carl Vinson at Andrews Air Force Base, November 18, 1973.
Laird (left) with one of his successors, Donald Rumsfeld, and biographer Dale Van Atta, 2001
References
- ↑ "Melvin R. Laird, Wisconsin Historical Society". Archived from the original on 2017-10-27. Retrieved 2014-08-07.
- ↑ Timothy R. Smith (November 16, 2016). "Melvin Laird, Nixon defense secretary at the height of the Vietnam War, dies at 94". Washington Post. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
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