Robert S. McNamara, the cerebral secretary of defense who was vilified for his role in escalating th
(6 Jul 2009) HEADLINE: McNamara, defense chief during Vietnam War, dies
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CAPTION: Robert S. McNamara, the cerebral secretary of defense who was vilified for his role in escalating the Vietnam War, a role he later deeply regretted, died Monday. He was 93. (July 6)
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ROBERT MCNAMARA–THE DEFENSE SECRETARY WHO PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN ESCALATING THE VIETNAM WAR–HAS DIED AT AGE 93. MCNAMARA’S WIFE SAYS DIED AT HOME MONDAY MORNING.
PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY RECRUITED MCNAMARA AS DEFENSE SECRETARY IN 1961. HE STAYED IN THE JOB UNDER PRESIDENT LYNDON JOHNSON. HIS TENURE LASTED SEVEN YEARS–LONGER THAN ANY OTHER PENTAGON CHIEF.
HIS LEGACY IS CLOSELY LINKED TO VIETNAM. WHILE PUBLICLY ADVOCATING AN EXPANSION OF THE WAR IN VIETNAM–HE PRIVATELY HAD DOUBTS. BUT HE KEPT THAT UNCERTAINTY TO HIMSELF UNTIL THE 1990’S. IN 1995 HE WROTE A BEST-SELLER CALLED “IN RETROSPECT: THE TRAGEDY AND LESSONS OF VIETNAM”
[Notes:FROM 1995 INTERVIEW-AP NEWSWEEK ON AIR] We in the Kennedy and Johnson administrations those of us who participated in the decisions on Vietnam, we acted according to what we thought were the principles and traditions of our country. And we made our decisions in the light of those values, but we were wrong, we were terribly wrong.MCNAMARA LATER SERVED 12 YEARS AS PRESIDENT OF THE WORLD BANK. HE CHAMPIONED HIS BELIEF THAT IMPROVING LIFE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES WAS A MORE PROMISING PATH TO PEACE THAN THE BUILDUP OF ARMS AND ARMIES.
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