In 1937, he graduated with a degree in economics from the. Mcnamara was an american business executive and the eighth u. His father was robert james mcnamara, sales manager of a wholesale shoe company. He played a major role in escalating the united states involvement in the vietnam war. Mar 21, 2006 i thought it might be worth taking a look at robert strange mcnamara. Mcnamara illustrating his observations of the nature of modern warfare. He became an outspoken critic of nuclear weapons and a proponent of. Mcnamaras controversial book tells the inside and personal story of americas descent into vietnam from a unique point of view, and is one of the most enlightening books about government ever written.
Robert strange mcnamara strange was his mothers maiden name. He went on to earn a masters degree from the harvard graduate school of business administration in 1939 and. With the recent death of robert mcnamara whose middle name was strange joseph l. Robert strange mcnamara june 9, 1916 july 6, 2009 was an american business executive and the eighth secretary of defense. Robert mcnamara simple english wikipedia, the free. Robert strange mcnamara was born on june 9, 1916, in san francisco, california. Robert strange mcnamara was born june 9, 1916, in san francisco, california. His fathers family was irish and in about 1850, following the great irish famine, had emigrated to massachusetts and later to california. In a startling obituary for the mcclatchey wire service, he offers some telling incidents from mcnamaras life that never made. My book about hbs ends with a thought about robert strange mcnamara, the man who conducted much of americas disastrous war in vietnam, and who died on monday aged 93. This book should help teachers and students use errol morriss the fog of war as a.
Jul 15, 2009 robert strange mcnamara was nothing if not a complex character, by turns hardnosed, even savage, then sensitive, but always acute and aware, if not attuned to the full implications of what he was. Robert strange mcnamara june 9, 1916 july 6, 2009 was an american business executive. Robert mcnamara biography facts, childhood, family life. The best documentary ever why was the vietnam war fought. Written twenty years after the end of the vietnam war, former secretary of defense robert mcnamaras controversial memoir answers the lingering questions that surround this disastrous episode in american history. Mcnamara was born in san francisco, california on june 9, 1916. After holding that position he served as president of the world bank from 1968.
This thoroughly researched book offers a detailed and memorable account of both mcnamara and this vital moment in the history of global economic development, yet occasionally pulls. Mcnamara, writing in his 1995 memoir, in retrospect, on the management of the vietnam war. Mcnamara has 22 books on goodreads with 5534 ratings. Mcnamara was a business executive with ford motor company before his appointment as united states. Secretary of defense under presidents john f kennedy and lyndon johnson, he escalated the vietnam war, a remorseless conflict that killed countless numbers without a clear justification. Shop for robert strange mcnamara related autographs, signed photographs, historical documents and manuscripts from the worlds largest collection. We use the traditional book grading system of from best to worst.
A cerebral man, he was in the end tormented by an introspective nature. A great biography waits to be written about robert strange mcnamara and the central role he played in 20 thcentury america, both as an actor in its historic dramas and as a symbol of the. The world bank and international development, patrick allan sharma attends to the lesserstudied final act of mcnamaras political career his role as leader of the world bank. The tragedy and lessons of vietnam and millions of other books are available for instant access. One of the most famous alumni of harvards mba program is robert mcnamara, the. Jul 07, 2009 robert strange mcnamara was born june 9, 1916, in san francisco. Robert strange mcnamara the true story of dr strangebob liberty lobby 1968 ebay. Johnson, during which time he played a large role in escalating the united states involvement in the vietnam war.
Mcnamara, in full robert strange mcnamara, born june 9, 1916, san francisco, california, u. The bestselling mea culpa renewed the national debate about the war and prompted. I thought it might be worth taking a look at robert strange mcnamara. Defense secretary from 196168, was hailed in his day as a technocratic genius, a man who could dazzlingly run anything hed. His policies changed the way that the military operated and also shaped the strategy of the vietnam war. Mcnamara grew up in piedmont, california, before attending college at the university of california, berkeley. Secretary of defense under presidents john f kennedy and lyndon johnson, he. Robert strange mcnamara jfk assassination debate the. After being an executive at ford motor company, mcnamara served as defense secretary from 1961 to 1968, during the vietnam war under presidents john f. He is best known for helping lead the united states into the vietnam war. Jul 07, 2009 a year later i was drafted into the army, and facing the possibility of being send to fight a useless ware. Robert strange mcnamara was born in oakland, california in 1916.
We were terribly wrong, mcnamara, then 78, told the associated press in an interview ahead of the book s release. Johnson, during which time he played a large role in escalating the united states involvement in. Robert strange mcnamara 9, 1916 6, 2009 was an american business executive and the eighth secretary of defense. Robert strange mcnamara was an american business executive and politician who served as the eighth secretary of defense under presidents john f. His policy papers were published in two volumes, and his book blundering. The vietnam center and sam johnson vietnam archive. Educated in the public schools of piedmont, california. This is what robert mcnamara does in this brave, honest, honorable, and altogether compelling book. Robert strange mcnamara strange was his mothers maiden name was born june 9, 1916, in san francisco to robert and clara nell mcnamara. A year later i was drafted into the army, and facing the possibility of being send to fight a useless ware. Robert strange mcnamara is now condemned in history. His book, in retrospect, published in 1995, presented an account and analysis of the vietnam war that dwelt heavily on the mistakes to which he was a prime party and conveyed his strong sense of guilt and regret.
Leadership lessons from the life of robert mcnamara bill. The film was directed by errol morris and features an original score by philip glass. Robert strange mcnamara june 9, 1916 july 6, 2009 was an american business executive and former united states secretary of defense. Robert strange mcnamara, who died today at age 93, was the personification of postwar america, the original and ultimate whiz kid who rose to power on the firm belief that arms and. The son of robert james mcnamara, sales manager for a wholesale shoe company, and claranell strange, mcnamara was a frail child with a.
Robert strange mcnamara june 9, 1916 july 6, 2009 was an american business executive and the eighth secretary of defense, serving from 1961 to 1968 under presidents john f. Nov 02, 2017 robert strange mcnamara 9, 1916 6, 2009 was an american business executive and the eighth secretary of defense. Mcnamara was responsible for the institution of systems analysis in public policy. To this day, i see quantification as a language to add precision to reasoning about the world. Mcnamara had read kennedys book profiles in courage and asked him if he had really written it himself, with kennedy insisting that he did. Robert strange mcnamara june 9, 1916 july 6, 2009 was an american business executive and the eighth united states secretary of defense, serving from 1961 to 1968 under presidents john f. But toward the end of his life, former defense secretary robert mcnamara issued a string of. Every purchase includes our industry recognized coa. He graduated from the university of california at berkeley in 1937 with a bachelors degree in mathematics and philosophy. Leadership lessons from the life of robert mcnamara posted on july, 2009 by bill george 0 comments filed in.
Jan 22, 2019 robert mcnamara was born in san francisco, california. Jul 07, 2009 my book about hbs ends with a thought about robert strange mcnamara, the man who conducted much of americas disastrous war in vietnam, and who died on monday aged 93. He is known for playing a vital role in leading the us into the vietnam war. His approach to business and government was pure hbs. Robert strange mcnamara lived at the center of power in exciting and perilous times. Galloway, author of the great book about the vietnamese war we were soldiers once and young, has felt compelled to offer a less restrained take on the late architect of the war. High government leaders arent generally known for flaunting their errors. May 02, 2014 robert strange mcnamara june 9, 1916 july 6, 2009 was an american business executive and the eighth secretary of defense. He attended university of california at berkeley, majoring in economics and excelling in his.
Robert mcnamara was born in san francisco, california. Dec 19, 2003 a great biography waits to be written about robert strange mcnamara and the central role he played in 20 thcentury america, both as an actor in its historic dramas and as a symbol of the. Robert strange mcnamara autograph historyforsale item. When robert strange mcnamara ran the vietnam war as secretary of. His parents were robert james mcnamara, a manager for a shoe company, and clara nell strange mcnamara. Mcnamara, in full robert strange mcnamara, born june 9, 1916, san. Join facebook to connect with robert mcnamara and others you may know. Written twenty years after the end of the vietnam war, former secretary of defense robert mcnamara s controversial memoir answers the lingering questions that surround this disastrous episode in american history.
Is it possible he thought it was morally right to get kickbacks from military contracts. A straighta student, mcnamara was also a disciplined athlete, an eagle scout who hiked and jogged. Robert strange mcnamara 19162009 find a grave memorial. This thoroughly researched book offers a detailed and memorable account of both mcnamara and this vital moment in the history of global economic development, yet occasionally. Johnson 19611968 who became known as one of the leading architects of the war in vietnam. Scope and content note the papers of robert strange mcnamara 19162009 span the years 19342009, with the bulk concentrated between 1968 and 2005. Robert strange mcnamara was born june 9, 1916, in san francisco. Robert strange mcnamara was nothing if not a complex character, by turns hardnosed, even savage, then sensitive, but always acute and aware, if not attuned to. Mcnamara is a 2003 american documentary film about the life and times of former u. Robert strange mcnamara was born in san francisco on june 9, 1916, the son of robert james mcnamara, sales manager for a wholesale shoe company, and the former clara nell strange.
Robert strange mcnamara went on to run the world bank throughout the 1970s, then painted himself as a dove in the 1980s. Us army air corps 194346 robert mcnamara said that his earliest memory dated to 1918, when he was two years old. He complained that he lost a lot of money when he left the ford motor company in 1961 to become jfks secretary of defense. When i think of all the deaths on both sides, families torn apart and bereaved, the remembrance of robert strange mcnamara disgusts me. The world bank and international development, patrick allan scharma attends to the lesserstudied final act of mcnamaras political career his role as leader of the world bank. May 31, 20 robert strange mcnamara went on to run the world bank throughout the 1970s, then painted himself as a dove in the 1980s. Secretary of defense and past president of the ford motor company, robert mcnamara, died this morning. Mcnamara, the forceful and cerebral defense secretary who helped.
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