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		HISTORY ON C-SPAN.ORG Secretaries of Defense The careers of five Secretaries of Defense are higlighted through biographical information as well as historic newsreels, press conferences and interviews seen on C-SPAN's American Profiles and Booknotes. HISTORY OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE

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OVERVIEW | HISTORY | FORRESTAL
MARSHALL | MCNAMARA
CHENEY | RUMSFELD

James V. Forrestal
Sep 17, 1947 - Mar 28, 1949
President Truman
Louis A. Johnson
Mar 28, 1949 - Sep 19, 1950
Truman Administration
George C. Marshall
Sep 21, 1950 - Sep 12, 1951
Truman Administration
Robert A. Lovett
Sep 17, 1951 - Jan 20, 1953
Truman Administration
Charles E. Wilson
Jan 28, 1953 - Oct 8, 1957
Eisenhower Administration
Neil H. McElroy
Oct 9, 1957 - Dec 1, 1959
Eisenhower Administration
Thomas S. Gates
Dec 2, 1959 - Jan 20, 1961
Eisenhower Administration
Robert S. McNamara
Jan 21, 1961 - Feb 29, 1968
Kennedy & Johnson Administrations
Clark M. Clifford
Mar 1, 1968 - Jan 20, 1969
Johnson Administration
Melvin R. Laird
Jan 22, 1969 - Jan 29, 1973
Nixon Administration
Elliot L. Richardson
Jan 30, 1973 - May 24, 1973
Nixon Administration
James R. Schlesinger
Jul 2, 1973 - Nov 19, 1975
Nixon and Ford Administrations
Donald H. Rumsfeld
Nov 20, 1975 - Jan 20, 1977
Ford Administration
Harold Brown
Jan 21, 1977 - Jan 20, 1981
Carter Administration
Caspar W. Weinberger
Jan 21, 1981 - Nov 23, 1987
Reagan Administration
Frank C. Carlucci
Nov 23, 1987 - Jan 20, 1989
Reagan Administration
Richard B. Cheney
Mar 21, 1989 - Jan 20, 1993
George H. Bush Administration
Les Aspin
Jan 21, 1993 - Feb 3, 1994
Clinton Administration
William J. Perry
Feb 3, 1994 - Jan 23, 1997
Clinton Administration
William S. Cohen
Jan 24, 1997 - Jan 20, 2001
Clinton Administration
Donald H. Rumsfeld
Jan 20, 2001 - Present
George W. Bush Administration


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