Melvin Laird

20th-century American politician

Melvin Robert "Bom" Laird (September 1, 1922 – November 16, 2016) was an American politician and writer.[1] He was a U.S. congressman from Wisconsin before serving as Secretary of Defense from 1969 to 1973 under President Richard Nixon.

Melvin Laird
10th United States Secretary of Defense
In office
January 21, 1969 – January 29, 1973
PresidentRichard Nixon
Preceded byClark Clifford
Succeeded byElliot Richardson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Wisconsin's 7th district
In office
January 3, 1953 – January 21, 1969
Preceded byReid Murray
Succeeded byDave Obey
Personal details
Born
Melvin Robert Laird

(1922-09-01)September 1, 1922
Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
DiedNovember 16, 2016(2016-11-16) (aged 94)
Fort Myers, Florida, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Barbara Masters (1942–1992)
Carole Fleishman (1993–2016)
ChildrenJohn
Allison
David
Kimberly
Alma materCarleton College
AwardsPurple Heart
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Navy
Years of service1942–1946
Battles/warsWorld War II

Laird died from complications of congestive heart failure at a hospital in Fort Myers, Florida on November 16, 2016, aged 94.[2]

References

change
  1. "Melvin R. Laird, Wisconsin Historical Society". Archived from the original on 2017-10-27. Retrieved 2014-08-07.
  2. Timothy R. Smith (November 16, 2016). "Melvin Laird, Nixon defense secretary at the height of the Vietnam War, dies at 94". Washington Post. Retrieved November 16, 2016.