Caspar Weinberger
Caspar Weinberger | |
|---|---|
Weinberger as United States Secretary of Defense, 1980s | |
| 15th United States Secretary of Defense | |
| In office January 21, 1981 – November 23, 1987 | |
| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Deputy | Frank Carlucci W. Paul Thayer William Taft IV |
| Preceded by | Harold Brown |
| Succeeded by | Frank Carlucci |
| 10th United States Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare | |
| In office February 12, 1973 – August 8, 1975 | |
| President | Richard Nixon Gerald Ford |
| Preceded by | Elliot Richardson |
| Succeeded by | F. David Mathews |
| 20th Director of the Office of Management and Budget | |
| In office June 12, 1972 – February 1, 1973 | |
| President | Richard Nixon |
| Preceded by | George Shultz |
| Succeeded by | Roy Ash |
| Chair of the Federal Trade Commission | |
| In office December 31, 1969 – August 6, 1970 | |
| President | Richard Nixon |
| Preceded by | Paul Dixon |
| Succeeded by | Miles Kirkpatrick |
| Director of the California Department of Finance | |
| In office March 1, 1968 – December 31, 1969 | |
| Governor | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Gordon P. Smith |
| Succeeded by | Verne Orr |
| Chair of the California Republican Party | |
| In office 1962–1964 | |
| Preceded by | John Krehbiel |
| Succeeded by | Gaylord Parkinson |
| Member of the California State Assembly from the 21st district | |
| In office January 5, 1953 – January 5, 1959 | |
| Preceded by | Arthur H. Connolly Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Milton Marks |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Caspar Willard Weinberger August 18, 1917 San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Died | March 28, 2006 (aged 88) Bangor, Maine, U.S. |
| Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Harvard University (BA, LLB) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1941–1945 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | 41st Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Caspar Willard Weinberger (August 18, 1917 – March 28, 2006) was an American politician and businessman who served in a variety of state and federal positions for three decades as a Republican, most notably as Secretary of Defense under President Ronald Reagan from 1981 to 1987. During the Iran–Contra investigation, he was indicted on charges of lying to Congress and obstructing government investigations but was pardoned by President George H. W. Bush before facing trial.
Weinberger was a member of the California State Assembly from 1953 to 1959. He also served as Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission and Director of the Office of Management and Budget under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. He later became vice president and general counsel of Bechtel Corporation.
Weinberger's tenure as Secretary of Defense was marked by his hard line against the Soviet Union, in disagreement with the State Department. He promoted the Strategic Defense Initiative, an orbital weapons program. Weinberger was awarded both the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Ronald Reagan in 1987 and an honorary British knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II. In 1993, he became Chairman of Forbes magazine.