Robert Strange McNamara Biography

Historical biography and chronological timeline for Robert Strange McNamara, based on 7 World History Database records associated with United States of America.

7 records1961–19637 events2 places

Chronological biography

1961

Polaris1961

Government / Democratic Party Government · Secretary · Secretary of Defense · Washington

McNamara supports expansion of Polaris as part of a flexible and survivable strategic nuclear force

Military Plan Reviewed28 January 1961

Warfare / Bay of Pigs Invasion · Secretary of Defense of USA · Washington

McNamara examines the military assumptions behind the proposed exile invasion.

Trinidad Plan Defense Briefing28 January 1961

Warfare / Bay of Pigs Invasion · Secretary of Defense of USA · Washington

McNamara receives a briefing on the proposed Trinidad invasion plan.

Defense Department Crisis Deliberations17 April 1961

Warfare / Bay of Pigs Invasion · Secretary of Defense of USA · Washington

McNamara participates in discussions as Cuban forces attack the landing area.

1962

Skybolt1962

Government / Democratic Party Government · Secretary · Secretary of Defense · Washington

McNamara concludes that Skybolt is costly and unnecessary for American forces because the United States has other strategic systems

Nassau Conference19 December 1962

Government / Democratic Party Government · Secretary · Secretary of Defense · Nassau

McNamara participates in discussions over Skybolt cancellation and the proposed sale of Polaris to Britain

1963

Multilateral Force1963

Government / Democratic Party Government · Secretary · Secretary of Defense · Washington

McNamara favours greater allied coordination over nuclear forces and questions the military value of separate national systems

Titles and roles

Secretary of Defense of USA · Secretary · Secretary of Defense

Record provenance

This biography is assembled from World History Database records filtered by country and personal-name fields. Exact duplicate display records are removed. The database is an index rather than a complete narrative biography; formal research should verify entries against relevant primary or specialist sources.