“process has exceeded our expectations”
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Robert McNamara
Robert Strange McNamara, also known by his initials RSM, was an American businessman and government official who served as the eighth United States secretary of defense from 1961 to 1968 under presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson at the height of the Cold War. He remains the longest-serving secretary of defense, having remained in office over seven years. He played a major role in prom…
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culture · American businessman and government official (1916–2009) · banker · politician · writer · economist · military personnel · opinion journalist · also Robert McNamara, McNamara, Robert Strange McNamara, Robert S. McNamara
Born 9 June 1916 · Died 6 July 2009 · Q191999
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2026· 5 entries
Reel 360 News: Sean McNamara to write and direct bio-pic ‘Blank Canvas’
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The Derrick: Mary McNamara: Harry and Meghan’s UK return is the royal family’s best PR in years
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BroadwayWorld: Sean McNamara to Write and Direct BLANK CANVAS Feature Film
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Inside the Loud House: Legendary prep coach Jason Smith dishes on new school, Syracuse 5-star recruit and Gerry McNamara
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2018· 1 entry
PolitiFact rated the claim “Says Robert McNamara tried to stop the Washington Post from publishing the Pentagon Papers.” Lacks Evidence.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
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2009· 7 entries
The Guardian: The failure of Robert McNamara | Martin Woollacott
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The Guardian: Robert McNamara, former secretary of defence under John F Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson, dies
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The Guardian: Obituary: Robert McNamara, former US defence secretary
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The Guardian: Michael Tomasky on the legacy of former US defence secretary Robert McNamara
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The Guardian: Vietnam war architect Robert McNamara dies
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Died 2009-07-06.
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“I would rather have a wrong decision made than no decision at all.”
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2002· 1 entry
The Guardian: Interview: Robert McNamara on Vietnam and the Cuban Missile Crisis
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1995· 3 entries
Took a stand against his own conduct of the war, confessing in a memoir that it was 'wrong, terribly wrong'
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“I had spent fifteen years as a manager [at Ford] identifying problems and forcing organizations—often against their will—to think deeply and realistically about alternative courses of action and their consequences”
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Presented an account and analysis of the Vietnam War from his point of view
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1993· 1 entry
Washington journalist Deborah Shapley published a 615-page biography of Robert McNamara titled Promise and Power: The Life and Times of Robert McNamara
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1987· 1 entry
Awarded The Hillman Prize for Book Journalism (1987).
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1984· 1 entry
“I think my father truly respected Allende-his compassion, his humility. But he disapproved of the nationalizations”
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1983· 2 entries
Won Medal of honor Dag Hammarskjold (1983).
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Awarded Four Freedoms Award – Freedom from Want in New York City (1983).
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1982· 1 entry
McNamara joined several other former national security officials in urging that the United States pledge to not use nuclear weapons first in Europe in the event of hostilities; subsequently he proposed the elimination of
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1978· 1 entry
According to public records in the District of Columbia
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1975· 3 entries
“I was really upset by that. That was hard to mend”
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McNamara was called to give testimony before the United States Senate Select Committee to Study Governmental Operations with Respect to Intelligence Activities chaired by Senator Frank Church
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“At long last, India is moving to effectively address its population problem,”
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1974· 1 entry
McNamara visited Santiago to meet Pinochet and agreed to the World Bank resuming loans to Chile
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1972· 1 entry
McNamara visited Santiago to meet President Salvador Allende to discuss the latter's policy of nationalization, especially of the copper mining companies
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1968· 4 entries
Won Presidential Medal of Freedom presented by Lyndon B. Johnson (1968).
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Resigned as secretary of defense to become president of the World Bank
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Career landmark: President of the World Bank Group (1968–1981).
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“Opis: w 1968, James Forrestal był w latach 1944–1947 sekretarzem obrony, którego obsesja na punkcie komunistycznych agentów doprowadziła do zamknięcia go w szpitalu psychiatrycznym i samobójczej śmierci.”
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1961· 2 entries
Career landmark: United States Secretary of Defense (1961–1968).
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Was named Alumnus of the Year by the University of California, Berkeley
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1960· 1 entry
McNamara became the first president of the Ford Motor Company from outside the Ford family since John S
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1958· 1 entry
As VP of Operations, McNamara recommended discontinuing the unprofitable Lincoln line
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1946· 2 entries
With the rank of lieutenant colonel and with a Legion of Merit
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Tex Thornton, a colonel under whom McNamara had served, put together a group of former officers from the Office of Statistical Control to go into business together
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1939· 1 entry
Studied at Harvard Business School, Master of Business Administration (1939).
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1937· 2 entries
Studied at University of California, Berkeley, Bachelor of Arts (1937).
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McNamara took a summer job as a sailor on the SS President Hoover
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1933· 2 entries
Where he was president of the Rigma Lions boys club and earned the rank of Eagle Scout
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Studied at Piedmont High School (1933).
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1916· 1 entry
Born 1916-06-09.
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