William B. Macomber Jr.

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William B. Macomber Jr.
12th
United States Ambassador to Jordan
In office
April 5, 1961 – December 25, 1963
PresidentJohn F. Kennedy
Preceded bySheldon T. Mills
Succeeded byRobert G. Barnes
Personal details
Born
William Butts Macomber Jr.

(1921-03-28)March 28, 1921
Republican[1]
SpousePhyllis Dorothy Bernau
EducationYale University (BA, MA)
Harvard University (JD)
University of Chicago (MA)

William Butts Macomber Jr. (March 28, 1921 – November 19, 2003) was an American diplomat who served in several positions in the United States Department of State. He was the 12th president of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Early life and education

Macomber was born in Rochester, New York, on March 28, 1921. He attended Phillips Academy, graduating in 1940, and Yale University, graduating in 1943.[2]

During World War II, he served in the United States Marine Corps, assigned to the Office of Strategic Services. After the war, he returned to Yale, receiving a master's degree in 1947. He next attended Harvard Law School, receiving his law degree in 1949. He then worked at Boston University as a lecturer in government, then moved on to the University of Chicago, receiving a second master's degree in 1951.[2]

Career

Macomber worked in the

U.S. Government for decades, serving under five presidents. His positions were unstable, however, because he was always a political appointee and not a career Foreign Service officer.[3]

Macomber joined the Central Intelligence Agency in 1951. Two years later, he moved to the United States Department of State as a special assistant of intelligence. In 1957, President Dwight D. Eisenhower nominated Macomber as assistant secretary of state for legislative affairs and served until February 27, 1961.[4]

President

United States ambassador to Jordan and Macomber held this post from April 5, 1961, until December 25, 1963.[4] In 1964, he became assistant administrator of the United States Agency for International Development.[2]

Macomber returned to the office of assistant secretary of state for legislative affairs after he was named to the office by President Lyndon B. Johnson, and Macomber served in this office from March 7, 1967, through October 2, 1969.[4]

Richard Nixon appointed Macomber deputy under secretary of state for management on September 26, 1969, and he served in this role from October 3, 1969, to April 4, 1973.[4]

President

United States ambassador to Turkey on March 27, 1973. He presented his credentials on May 16, 1973, and served until he left his post on June 15, 1977.[4] In 1975, he published a book, The Angels' Game: A Handbook of Modern Diplomacy. He retired from the United States Foreign Service in 1977.[4]

Post-government life

In 1978, Macomber became the first full-time president of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. As president, he oversaw implementation of the MMA's master plan developed under his predecessor C. Douglas Dillon.[3] He retired in 1986 due to the Met's mandatory retirement age of 65.[5] In 1983, he was among the founders of the American Academy of Diplomacy.

In retirement, Macomber taught social studies and coached football at Nantucket High School.[6]

Personal life

Macomber was married to the Boston native and

Nantucket, Massachusetts.[2]

Macomber died of complications related to Parkinson's disease at his home in Nantucket, on November 19, 2003.[2][7]

References

  1. ^ https://www.adst.org/OH%20TOCs/Macomber,%20William%20B.%20Jr.toc.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  2. ^ a b c d e Saxon, Wolfgang (22 November 2003). "William Macomber, Diplomat and Met Chief, Dies at 82". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  3. ^ a b Geniesse, Jane (10 February 1979). "A New Good‐Will Ambassador For the Metropolitan Museum". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "William Butts Macomber Jr. - People - Department History - Office of the Historian". history.state.gov. Office of the Historian, Bureau of Public Affairs United States Department of State. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  5. ^ Service, New York Times News (November 22, 2003). "WILLIAM B. MACOMBER JR., 82". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  6. ^ "William Macomber, 82; Former Metropolitan Museum President". Los Angeles Times. 22 November 2003. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  7. Washington Post
    . Retrieved 28 March 2019.

External links

Government offices
Preceded by Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs
October 21, 1957 – February 27, 1961 		Succeeded by
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
United States Ambassador to Jordan

April 5, 1961 – December 25, 1963 		Succeeded by
Government offices
Preceded by Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs
March 7, 1967 – October 2, 1969 		Succeeded by
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
United States Ambassador to Turkey

1973 – 1977 		Succeeded by
Cultural offices
Preceded by
President of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

1978-1986 		Succeeded by
William H. Luers
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