Harry Hopkins
American politician, 8th United States Secretary of Commerce, assistant to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1890-1946)
Caspar Weinberger was an American politician and businessman who served as Secretary of Defense under President Ronald Reagan. He was indicted as part of the Iran-Contra investigation but was later pardoned. Weinberger had a long career in government, including roles at the Federal Trade Commission and as Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
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About the Caspar Weinberger
Caspar Willard Weinbergerwas an American politician and businessman. As a Republican, he served in a variety of state and federal positions for three decades, most notably as Secretary of Defense under President Ronald Reagan from January 1981 to November 1987. He was indicted on charges of lying to Congress and obstructing government investigations as part of the Iran-Contra investigation, 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Caspar Weinberger was an American politician and businessman who served as Secretary of Defense under President Ronald Reagan from 1981 to 1987.
Caspar Weinberger served in a variety of state and federal positions for three decades, including as a member of the California State Assembly, Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, and Director of the Office of Management and Budget under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.
Caspar Weinberger was indicted on charges of lying to Congress and obstructing government investigations as part of the Iran–Contra investigation, but he was pardoned by President George H. W. Bush before facing trial.
As Secretary of Defense, Caspar Weinberger promoted the Strategic Defense Initiative and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Ronald Reagan in 1987. He was also granted an honorary British knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II.
After his government service, Caspar Weinberger became vice president and general counsel of Bechtel Corporation, and in 1993, he became Chairman of Forbes magazine.
4 Quotes by Caspar Weinberger
- 1.
It took the Gulf War to demonstrate that America did want more than one friend in the Mideast, and also was willing to take and make major risks to prevent a small Muslim country, Kuwait, from being overrun and in effect stolen by Iraq.
Caspar WeinbergerAmerican politician (1917-2006)
- 2.
I think women are too valuable to be in combat.
Caspar WeinbergerAmerican politician (1917-2006)
- 3.
Sanctions and negotiations can be very ineffective, and indeed foolish, unless the people you are talking with and negotiating with and trying to reach agreements with are people who can be trusted to keep their word.
Caspar WeinbergerAmerican politician (1917-2006)
- 4.
Here rests the soul of our nation – here also should be our conscience.
Caspar WeinbergerAmerican politician (1917-2006)