Komer, R.W. (Robert William), 1922-2000

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Robert William Komer, American government official and diplomat (born Feb. 23, 1922, Chicago, Ill.—died April 9, 2000, Arlington, Va.), served during the Vietnam War as Pres. Lyndon Johnson’s special assistant in charge of the U.S. government’s controversial “pacification” program to disseminate propaganda in South Vietnam and identify Vietcong agents working in the country. An army veteran who had served in World War II, Komer joined the Central Intelligence Agency in 1947, rising to become a senior intelligence analyst before moving to the National Security Council under Pres. John F. Kennedy in 1961. He remained on the staff after Johnson took office and became one of the president’s closest advisers. Komer’s work in Vietnam lasted from 1966 to 1968; years later he called the war “a strategic disaster.” After the war, he served as an ambassador to Turkey and as undersecretary for defense policy in the Carter administration.
Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Records of Robert W. Komer, 1948 - 1968 National Archives at College Park
contributorOf National Security File, Memos to the President Files, 11/23/1963 - 1/18/1969 Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
referencedIn Neil Sheehan Papers, 1920-1993, (bulk 1960-1993) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
contributorOf Papers of Peter Hahn, Interview Files, 1991 Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
referencedIn Alexander Meigs Haig Papers, 1962-1982, (bulk 1973-1982) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf National Security File. Komer-Leonhart Files, ca. 3/1966 - 1/20/1969 Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
creatorOf Papers of Robert W. Komer, ca. 1950 - ca. 1967 Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
creatorOf National Security Files. Files of Robert W. Komer, 11/22/1963 - ca. 5/1967 Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
contributorOf Papers of the Capital Legal Foundation, Trial Documentation Files, 1963 - 1985 Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
creatorOf Iranian-American relations project. Reminiscences of Robert W. Komer, 1987 Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Bundy, McGeorge, 1919-1996 person
associatedWith Carter, Jimmy, 1924- person
correspondedWith Haig, Alexander Meigs, 1924-2010 person
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Harvard University corporateBody
associatedWith Johnson, Lyndon B. (Lyndon Baines), 1908-1973 person
associatedWith Kennedy John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963 person
associatedWith Montague, Robert M., 1899-1958. person
employeeOf National Security Council (U.S.) corporateBody
employeeOf Rand corporation corporateBody
associatedWith Sheehan, Neil. person
employeeOf United States. Central Intelligence Agency. corporateBody
employeeOf United States. Dept. of Defense. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Arlington VA US
Chicago IL US
United States 00 US
Subject
Defense, United States Department of
Diplomacy
Vietnam Conflict, 1961-1975
Occupation
Ambassadors
Diplomats
Intelligence officers
Presidential advisors
Activity

Person

Birth 1922-02-23

Death 2000-04-09

Male

Americans

English

Information

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