Dillon, C. Douglas (Clarence Douglas), 1909-2003

Title:

Dillon, C. Douglas (Clarence Douglas), 1909-2003

Description:

Bio: Clarence Douglas Dillon, born while his parents were traveling in Geneva, Switzerland on August 21, 1909, pursued a varied career of investment banking, public service and diplomacy, including service in three presidential administrations. In 1953, President Eisenhower appointed Dillon ambassador to France, a position he held until 1957. Upon his return to the United States, Dillon served in the State Department as Undersecretary of State for Economic Affairs from 1958 to 1959 and as Undersecretary of State from 1959 to 1961. While in the State Department, Dillon coordinated both the economic and security aspects of the Mutual Security Program, fostering the military and nonmilitary strength of U.S. allies. Despite Dillon''s support for Richard Nixon in the 1960 presidential campaign, Kennedy disregarded party lines and asked Dillon to serve as Secretary of the Treasury in 1961. While Secretary of the Treasury, Dillon worked closely with the Bureau of the Budget and the Council of Economic advisors and sought to foster economic growth through domestic tax cuts and international free trade. One of Kennedy''s most influential economic advisors, Dillon was also involved in the creation of the Alliance for Progress and helped promote the anti-tariff Trade Expansion Act of 1962. Dillon remained as Secretary of the Treasury for the first sixteen months of the Johnson administration and left government service in 1965, returning to his position as president and director of the United States and Foreign Securities Corporation and the United States and International Securities Corporation.

Source:

L-R: Secy. Douglas Dillon, Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson. President's small office, White House, Washington DC, 1/10/1966. Photo # a1718-14 by Yoichi Okamoto. White House Photo Office collection, LBJ Presidential Library, public domain.

Relation:

LBJ Connection: Secretary of the Treasury, 1960-1965