Robert A. Lovett

Robert A. Lovett
Lovett in 1943
4th United States Secretary of Defense
In office
September 17, 1951 – January 20, 1953
PresidentHarry S. Truman
Preceded byGeorge Marshall
Succeeded byCharles Erwin Wilson
2nd United States Deputy Secretary of Defense
In office
October 4, 1950 – September 16, 1951
PresidentHarry S. Truman
SecretaryGeorge Marshall
Preceded byStephen Early
Succeeded byRoger M. Kyes (1953)
15th United States Under Secretary of State
In office
July 1, 1947 – January 20, 1949
PresidentHarry S. Truman
SecretaryGeorge Marshall
Preceded byDean Acheson
Succeeded byJames E. Webb
Personal details
Born
Robert Abercrombie Lovett

(1895-09-14)September 14, 1895
Huntsville, Texas, U.S.
DiedMay 7, 1986(1986-05-07) (aged 90)
Locust Valley, New York, U.S.
Resting placeLocust Valley Cemetery, Locust Valley, New York, U.S.
Political partyRepublican[1]
SpouseAdele Quartley Brown
Children2
RelativesRobert S. Lovett (father)
EducationYale University (BA)
Harvard University
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Navy
Years of service1918–1919
RankLieutenant Commander
Battles/warsWorld War I

Robert Abercrombie Lovett (September 14, 1895 – May 7, 1986) was an American politician who served as the fourth United States Secretary of Defense, having been promoted to this position from Deputy Secretary of Defense. He served in the cabinet of President Harry S. Truman from 1951 to 1953 and in this capacity, directed the Korean War.[2] As Under Secretary of State, he handled most of the tasks of the State Department while George C. Marshall was secretary.

Lovett was a core member of the group of foreign policy elders known as "The Wise Men", and was deemed an "architect of the cold war" by social scientist G. William Domhoff, in his 1970 book, The Higher Circles: The Governing Class in America.[3]

  1. ^ "Oral History Interview with Robert A. Lovett". Harry S. Truman Library and Museum. Here I am a registered Republican voting independent, which in my case, meant I was voting the Democratic ticket always -- not because I was a Democrat but because I thought they had either better men or a better idea of what was going on.
  2. ^ "Robert A. Lovett - Harry S. Truman Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense - Historical Office.
  3. ^ Domhoff, G.W. The Higher Circles: The Governing Class in America; Random House; New York; 1970, page 252.