Ramsey Clark
Ramsey Clark | |
|---|---|
Clark in 1975 | |
| 66th United States Attorney General | |
| In office November 28, 1966 – January 20, 1969 Acting: November 28, 1966 – March 10, 1967 | |
| President | Lyndon B. Johnson |
| Deputy | Warren Christopher |
| Preceded by | Nicholas Katzenbach |
| Succeeded by | John N. Mitchell |
| 8th United States Deputy Attorney General | |
| In office January 28, 1965 – March 10, 1967 | |
| President | Lyndon B. Johnson |
| Preceded by | Nicholas Katzenbach |
| Succeeded by | Warren Christopher |
| United States Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division | |
| In office 1961–1965 | |
| President | John F. Kennedy Lyndon B. Johnson |
| Preceded by | Perry W. Morton |
| Succeeded by | Edwin L. Weisl Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born | William Ramsey Clark December 18, 1927 |
| Died | April 9, 2021 (aged 93) New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Georgia Welch
(m. 1949; died 2010) |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives |
|
| Education | |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Marine Corps |
| Service years | 1945–1946 |
William Ramsey Clark (December 18, 1927 – April 9, 2021) was an American lawyer, activist, and federal government official. A progressive, New Frontier liberal, he occupied senior positions in the United States Department of Justice under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, serving as United States Attorney General from 1967 to 1969; previously, he was Deputy Attorney General from 1965 to 1967 and Assistant Attorney General from 1961 to 1965.
As attorney general, Clark was known for his vigorous opposition to the death penalty, aggressive support of civil liberties and civil rights, and dedication to enforcing United States antitrust laws. Clark supervised the drafting of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and Civil Rights Act of 1968.
After leaving public office, Clark led many progressive activism campaigns, including opposition to the war on terror. He offered advice or legal defense to such prominent figures as Charles Taylor, Slobodan Milošević, Saddam Hussein, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, and Lyndon LaRouche. He was the last surviving Cabinet member of the Lyndon B. Johnson administration.