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Robert McNamara, 1916--2009

Robert McNamara, Secretary of Defense for John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson and a primary architect of the Vietnam War, died at age 93 on July 6, 2009.

Former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara speaks at a presentation of a documentary about his life in government at the University of California Berkeley campus January 4, 2004. McNamara graduated from the University of California Berkeley in 1937 with degrees in economics and philosophy, and went on to earn a master's degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration in 1939.

Former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara speaks at a presentation of a documentary about his life in government at the University of California Berkeley campus January 4, 2004. McNamara graduated from the University of California Berkeley in 1937 with degrees in economics and philosophy, and went on to earn a master's degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration in 1939.

Kimberly White-Reuters

Robert McNamara with John F. Kennedy at Hyannis Port, Mass. in 1961.

Robert McNamara with John F. Kennedy at Hyannis Port, Mass. in 1961.

Associated Press

President Kennedy confers with Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, right, at the White House during the culmination of the Cuban Missile Crisis.

President Kennedy confers with Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, right, at the White House during the culmination of the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Cecil Stoughton-AP

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert McNamara, left, inspects Vietnamese civil guards during a visit to training operations at Song Mao, Vietnam.

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert McNamara, left, inspects Vietnamese civil guards during a visit to training operations at Song Mao, Vietnam.

AP

Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, center, and U.S. Army Chief of Staff General Maxwell Taylor, left, confer with President John F. Kennedy prior to their visit to South Vietnam to review U.S. military efforts, in September 1963. McNamara was the first Republican appointed to the Kennedy cabinet in 1960.

Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, center, and U.S. Army Chief of Staff General Maxwell Taylor, left, confer with President John F. Kennedy prior to their visit to South Vietnam to review U.S. military efforts, in September 1963. McNamara was the first Republican appointed to the Kennedy cabinet in 1960.

AFP/Getty Images

From left, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, President Lyndon B. Johnson and Secretary of State Dean Rusk listen to the new U.S. Ambassador to South Vietnam, General Maxwell Taylor, on Sept. 11, 1964. About one month earlier, President Johnson had asked for and received approval from Congress to take "all necessary action" against the Communist regime in North Vietnam. At the time, McNamara pledged his full support for the operation.

From left, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, President Lyndon B. Johnson and Secretary of State Dean Rusk listen to the new U.S. Ambassador to South Vietnam, General Maxwell Taylor, on Sept. 11, 1964. About one month earlier, President Johnson had asked for and received approval from Congress to take "all necessary action" against the Communist regime in North Vietnam. At the time, McNamara pledged his full support for the operation.

Afp-AFP/Getty Images

Robert McNamara holds a press conference about Vietnam at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 7, 1965. Before accepting President Kennedy's invitation to be Secretary of Defense, McNamara worked as a manager at Ford Motor Company from 1946 to 1960. After holding the office for less than five weeks, McNamara stepped down as president of Ford Motors in 1960 and accepted a salary as Secretary of Defense that was almost 1/15th of what he was making at Ford.

Robert McNamara holds a press conference about Vietnam at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 7, 1965. Before accepting President Kennedy's invitation to be Secretary of Defense, McNamara worked as a manager at Ford Motor Company from 1946 to 1960. After holding the office for less than five weeks, McNamara stepped down as president of Ford Motors in 1960 and accepted a salary as Secretary of Defense that was almost 1/15th of what he was making at Ford.

National Archives-AFP

Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara displays a Chinese-made machine gun seized in South Vietnam on a Vietcong fighter, during a press conference on April 26, 1965. In a joint operation with South Vietnamese forces, American troops overran a network of trenches and tunnels in a Vietcong stronghold 30 miles east of Saigon on June 29, after American troops went onto the offensive for the first time in Vietnam.

Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara displays a Chinese-made machine gun seized in South Vietnam on a Vietcong fighter, during a press conference on April 26, 1965. In a joint operation with South Vietnamese forces, American troops overran a network of trenches and tunnels in a Vietcong stronghold 30 miles east of Saigon on June 29, after American troops went onto the offensive for the first time in Vietnam.

Afp-AFP/Getty Images

Robert McNamara, left, Tom Braden, and Joseph Alsop, right, laugh together at a party in Washington.

Robert McNamara, left, Tom Braden, and Joseph Alsop, right, laugh together at a party in Washington.

Gerald Martineau-The Washington Post

McNamara, left, is welcomed to the U.S. Marine airfield at Chu Lia, South Vietnam, by Colonel John D. Noble, commanding officer of Marine Aircraft Group-12, during the Vietnam War on July 18, 1965. The Chu Lai airfield was the launching base for Marine attack squadrons.

McNamara, left, is welcomed to the U.S. Marine airfield at Chu Lia, South Vietnam, by Colonel John D. Noble, commanding officer of Marine Aircraft Group-12, during the Vietnam War on July 18, 1965. The Chu Lai airfield was the launching base for Marine attack squadrons.

Ssgt R. W. Savatt, Jr.-AFP/Getty Images

McNamara sits in a U.S. Army "Huey" helicopter during his one-day visit to the U.S. Marine airfield at Chu Lia, South Vietnam on July 18, 1965. In 1995, McNamara published "In Retrospect", a book discussing the mistakes he felt he was responsible for during the Vietnam war, conveying his strong sense of guilt and regret about Vietnam.

McNamara sits in a U.S. Army "Huey" helicopter during his one-day visit to the U.S. Marine airfield at Chu Lia, South Vietnam on July 18, 1965. In 1995, McNamara published "In Retrospect", a book discussing the mistakes he felt he was responsible for during the Vietnam war, conveying his strong sense of guilt and regret about Vietnam.

Ssgt R. W. Savatt, Jr.-AFP/Getty Images

Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara and General William Westmoreland, Vietnam Assistance Command Commander, visit troops in Vietnam, September 1965. McNamara resigned as Secretary of Defense in 1968, largely because of his frustrations with the war. He was then president of the World Bank until 1981.

Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara and General William Westmoreland, Vietnam Assistance Command Commander, visit troops in Vietnam, September 1965. McNamara resigned as Secretary of Defense in 1968, largely because of his frustrations with the war. He was then president of the World Bank until 1981.

National Archives-AFP

Former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, left, meets with South Vietnamese chief of state Nguyen Van Thieu, right in 1966. Thieu led his nation in the war that shattered Vietnam and severely divided the United States.

Former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, left, meets with South Vietnamese chief of state Nguyen Van Thieu, right in 1966. Thieu led his nation in the war that shattered Vietnam and severely divided the United States.

AP

Robert McNamara takes a call during a meeting.

Robert McNamara takes a call during a meeting.

Y.R. Okamoko-Lyndon Baines Johnson Library

Robert McNamara announces his retirement, with his wife by his side, in February 1968.

Robert McNamara announces his retirement, with his wife by his side, in February 1968.

Associated Press

Robert McNamara in 1968.

Robert McNamara in 1968.

Wally McNamee-The Washington Post

Robert McNamara and his wife greet the Mrs. L. K. Jha, wife of the Indian ambassador.

Robert McNamara and his wife greet the Mrs. L. K. Jha, wife of the Indian ambassador.

Harry Naltchayan-The Washington Post

Former U.S. Defense Secretary Robert S. McNamara, left, shakes hands with Vietnamese General Vo Nguyen Giap, who was Vietnamese communist army Commander in Chief during the Vietnam War, in Hanoi in Nov. 1965. McNamara was a member of a U.S. delegation led by the Council on Foreign Relations visiting Hanoi to discuss a proposed conference on the Vietnam War.

Former U.S. Defense Secretary Robert S. McNamara, left, shakes hands with Vietnamese General Vo Nguyen Giap, who was Vietnamese communist army Commander in Chief during the Vietnam War, in Hanoi in Nov. 1965. McNamara was a member of a U.S. delegation led by the Council on Foreign Relations visiting Hanoi to discuss a proposed conference on the Vietnam War.

Hoang Dinh Nam-AFP/Getty Images

Robert S. McNamara in "Fog of War", a documentary released by Sony Pictures Classics in 2003 and nominated for an Oscar. The film is a portrait of McNamara, who discusses his regrets about the Vietnam War.

Robert S. McNamara in "Fog of War", a documentary released by Sony Pictures Classics in 2003 and nominated for an Oscar. The film is a portrait of McNamara, who discusses his regrets about the Vietnam War.

Photo By Claire Folger/ Sony Pic-photo by Claire Folger/ Sony Pic

Former U.S. Defense Secretary Robert McNamara and Diana Masieri talk with journalists after their wedding in St. Francis Basilica in Assisi, Italy, Sept. 16, 2004. McNamara married Italian-born widow Masieri in a private ceremony. The 88-year-old McNamara had been single since his first wife died of cancer in 1981.

Former U.S. Defense Secretary Robert McNamara and Diana Masieri talk with journalists after their wedding in St. Francis Basilica in Assisi, Italy, Sept. 16, 2004. McNamara married Italian-born widow Masieri in a private ceremony. The 88-year-old McNamara had been single since his first wife died of cancer in 1981.

Stefano Medici-AP

Gallery Credits:
Photo Editors Chris Dunn, Steve Cook Producer Chris Dunn Text Editor Amanda Lilly and Channing Turner

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This Story 'Terribly Wrong' Handling of Vietnam Overshadowed Record of Achievement Article \| Robert S. McNamara, 93, the former secretary of defense whose record as a leading executive of industry and chieftain of foreign financial aid was all but erased from public memory by his reputation as the primary architect of U.S. involvement in the war in Vietnam, died yesterday at his home in... Fine Print: Remembering McNamara's Hope for Peace Interactive: McNamara in Retrospect Robert McNamara, 1916--2009 ROBERT S. McNAMARA 1916-2009: Touched Hearts & Minds : Remembering McNamara Post Mortem: Share Your Memories, Thoughts McNamara, Defense Chief During Vietnam War, Dies		Network News X Profile View More Activity TOOLBOX E-Mail This Reprints		More on washingtonpost.com • More Photo News » washingtonpost.com
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