Caspar Weinberger | |
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15th United States Secretary of Defense | |
In office January 21, 1981 – November 23, 1987 | |
President | Ronald Reagan |
Deputy | Frank Carlucci (1981–1983) W. Paul Thayer (1983–1984) William Howard Taft IV (1984–1987) |
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 | Forrest 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 P. Shultz |
Succeeded by | Roy Ash |
42nd Chairman, United States Federal Trade Commission | |
In office December 31, 1969 – August 6, 1970 | |
President | Richard Nixon |
Preceded by | Paul Rand Dixon |
Succeeded by | Miles W. Kirkpatrick |
Personal details | |
Born | Caspar Willard Weinberger August 18, 1917 San Francisco, California, USA |
Died | March 28, 2006 Bangor, Maine, USA | (aged 88)
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | Jane Weinberger (1942-2006; his death; 2 children) |
Alma mater | Harvard College (B.A.) Harvard Law School (J.D.) |
Profession | Attorney |
Military service | |
Branch/service | United States Army |
Years of service | 1941 - 1945 |
Rank | Captain |
Unit | 41st Infantry Division |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Caspar Willard "Cap" Weinberger, GBE (August 18, 1917 – March 28, 2006), was an American politician and businessman. As a prominent Republican[1] he served in a variety of prominent state and federal positions for three decades, including Chairman of the California Republican Party, 1962-68. Most notably he was appointed Secretary of Defense under Republican President Ronald Reagan from 1981 to 1987. [2]
He was awarded both the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1987 and an honorary British knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II.
Weinberger was born in San Francisco, California on August 18, 1917. He studied at Harvard College and at Harvard Law School. Weinberger married Jane Weinberger in 1942. Their marriage would last until Weinberger's death. They had two children.
Weinberger was treated for and died from complications of pneumonia at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, Maine, aged 88.