David E. Bell

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David Bell
14th Director of the Bureau of the Budget
In office January 22, 1961 – December 20, 1962
President	John F. Kennedy
Preceded by	Maurice Stans
Succeeded by	Kermit Gordon
Personal details
Born	David Elliot Bell (1919-01-19)January 19, 1919 Jamestown, North Dakota, U.S.
Died	September 6, 2000(2000-09-06) (aged 81) Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Mary Barry (1943–2000)
Children	2
Education	Pomona College (BA) Harvard University (MA)

David Elliott Bell (January 19, 1919 – September 6, 2000) was a director of the

David E. Bell was born on January 20, 1919, in Jamestown, North Dakota, the son of Florence and Reginald Bell. He spent part of his youth in San Francisco, while his father was teaching at Stanford University. In 1939, he received a B.A. from Pomona College, California, and in 1941 a M.A. in economics from Harvard University.

On November 17, 1943, he married Mary Louise Barry. When they met, Mary worked at the

Military service

Bell joined the

Government service

In 1942, he became a staff member at the Bureau of the Budget. During World War II (1942 to 1945) he served in the Marine Corps. From 1947 to 1951, Bell alternated between a position on the staff at the Bureau of the Budget, and a position as a special assistant to President Harry S. Truman. In 1951, Bell became Administrative Executive to the President. In these positions Bell worked on the formulation and evaluation of the administration's economic policies and programs. During this time, Bell also worked as a speech writer for President Truman.^[1]

In 1952, Bell left Washington temporarily to join the campaign staff of the

Bell left the government in the summer of 1966, and became Executive Vice President of the Ford Foundation, a private independent institution dedicated to advancing social justice in the US and in developing nations. During his time at the Ford Foundation, Bell was a member of a large number of advisory committees dealing with foreign aid and government reorganization. He left the Ford Foundation in 1980.^[3]

Death

David Bell died of leukemia on September 6, 2000, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, at the age of 81. He was survived by his two children, seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Bell was notably tall and thin, and had an avid interest in arts and crafts. His home was filled with items he and his wife collected on their many trips abroad. Both Bell and his wife loved jazz and had friends in the arts. They were socially progressive for their time, strongly opposed segregation and sent their children to integrated schools.^[4]

References

External links

• JFK Presidential Library and Museum David E. Bell Biography
• Inventory of Bell's Personal Papers in the John F. Kennedy Library
• David E. Bell Obituary in the LA Times
• David E. Bell related documents available from the USAID Development Experience Clearinghouse