“His west Texas cowboy approach – shoot first and answer questions later, or do the job first and let the results speak for themselves – is not working”
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Melvin Laird
Melvin Robert Laird Jr. was an American politician, writer and statesman. A member of the Republican Party, he served a member of the United States House of Representatives from Wisconsin from 1953 to 1969 representing Wisconsin's 7th congressional district before serving as United States Secretary of Defense from 1969 to 1973 under President Richard Nixon. Laird was instrumental in forming the ad…
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politics · American politician and writer (1922–2016) · politician · military officer · minister · also Melvin Laird, Melvin R. Laird, Melvin Robert Laird, Laird
Born 1 September 1922 · Died 16 November 2016 · Q499056
26 published statements · 0 followers
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2026· 3 entries
“I think everybody should be against the war”
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The Guardian: ‘You have to reflect the language to capture people’s souls’: Martina Laird on calypso, patois and the RSC
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2016· 2 entries
Died 2016-11-16.
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Laird became the last living member from either chamber of the 83rd United States Congress, as well as the last living member elected in any chamber of the U
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2008· 1 entry
Journalist Dale Van Atta published a biography of Laird entitled With Honor: Melvin Laird in War, Peace, and Politics, published by University of Wisconsin Press
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2007· 1 entry
Laird came close to endorsing the presidential bid of his former intern, Hillary Clinton, saying in an interview that she had been one of his best interns and that he felt certain she would make an excellent president
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2006· 1 entry
Participated in a meeting at the White House of former Secretaries of Defense and State to discuss United States foreign policy with Bush administration officials
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1981· 1 entry
Laird stated that he came into the Defense Department in 1969 believing the American people were "fed up with the war"
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1974· 2 entries
Won Presidential Medal of Freedom presented by Richard Nixon (1974).
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Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom
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1973· 1 entry
After the signing of the Vietnam agreement in Paris, Laird suspended the draft, five months ahead of schedule
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1972· 1 entry
Nominated Elliot Richardson to succeed him
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1970· 1 entry
Laird approved of planning for a commando raid on a North Vietnamese POW camp at Son Tay
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1969· 6 entries
That he intended to serve no more than four years
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When the South Vietnamese were informed that the United States was pulling out in stages that the South Vietnamese finally became serious by trying to make its military actually fight
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Laird put the assumption that U
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Over the correct policy to follow in Vietnam
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Career landmark: United States Secretary of Defense (1969–1973).
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Was to impose an armistice that would preserve South Vietnam, but at the same time owing to the unpopularity of the Vietnam War, he planned to reduce American casualties in Vietnam to reduce the appeal of the antiwar mov
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1968· 2 entries
In Paris and the secret negotiations in Paris between Kissinger and North Vietnamese representatives to end the conflict
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Nixon campaigned on a platform critical of the Johnson administration's handling of the war and promised to achieve "peace with honor"
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1965· 1 entry
Career landmark: Republican Conference Chairman of the United States House of Representatives (1965–1969).
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1963· 1 entry
Awarded Lasker-Bloomberg Public Service Award (1963).
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1952· 1 entry
Laird was the last living former U
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1922· 1 entry
Born 1922-09-01.
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