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		HISTORY ON C-SPAN.ORG Secretaries of Defense The careers of five Secretaries of Defense are higlighted through biographical information as well as historic newsreels, press conferences and interviews seen on C-SPAN's American Profiles and Booknotes. HISTORY OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE

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OVERVIEW | HISTORY | FORRESTAL
MARSHALL | MCNAMARA
CHENEY | RUMSFELD

Born in Uniontown, PA in 1880

Died in 1959

American general and cabinet member

Career army officer

Graduated from the Virginia Military Institute

Staff officer in WWI

Aide to General Pershing, 1919-1924

Service in China, 1924-1927

Headed the army as Chief of Staff, 1939-1945

December 1944, became General (5 Star) of the Army

Reorganized and mobilized the military during WWII
m by coordinating training, planning for rearmament,
m supplying GB w/ important material and directing the war

Influenced Congress to change rules of promotion so that
m promising officers (regardless of seniority) could be promoted

Proteges included Dwight D. Eisenhower, H.H. Arnold,
m Omar Bradley, Mark Clark and Joseph Stilwell

Developed and executed U.S. strategy during WWII

Advocated conquest of Germany through France-his plan
m was adopted

Many of his wartime tasks were diplomatic

Resigned as Chief of Staff

Promptly appointed special ambassador to China by President
m Truman in Nov. 1945

Recalled in January 1947 to be made Sec. of State

Engineered immediate aid to Greece and Turkey in
m February 1947

Fostered the European Recovery Program (the Marshall Plan)
m to promote postwar economic recovery in Europe

Plan was a great success-laid groundwork for a revitalized
m Europe and the formation of NATO

January 1949, resigned because of ill health

September 1950, called out of retirement to become Sec.
m of Defense

Resigned in September 1951

Received the 1953 Nobel Peace Prize for the Marshall Plan


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