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

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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. Educated at Groton school in Groton, Massachusetts, Dillon graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1931. After briefly joining his father''s Wall Street investment firm, Dillon, Read and Co., Dillon joined the New York Stock exchange. Dillon left the stock exchange in 1936, becoming a director of the United States and Foreign Security Corporation and the International Security Corporation. He later returned to his father''s firm as a vice-president and director in 1938. Dillon served in the United States Navy during World War II; commissioned as an ensign in the Naval Reserve in 1941, he rose to the rank of lieutenant commander, earning the air medal and the Legion of Merit for his work as a naval air officer in Guam, Saipan and the Philippines. After being discharged in 1946, Dillon returned to his position of director at the United States and Foreign Security Operation and became chairman of the board at Dillon, Read and Co. It was at this time that Dillon, a life-long republican, first became active in politics. After supporting Thomas Dewey in the failed 1948 bid for the presidency, Dillon was an early supporter of Dwight Eisenhower in his successful 1952 presidential campaign. In 1953, 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. Throughout the remainder of his life, Dillon held leadership positions in a range of organizations, including president of the Board of Overseers at Harvard College from 1968 to 1982, chairman of the Brookings Institution from 1970 to 1976, chairman of the Rockefeller Foundation from 1972 to 1975 and chairman of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City from 1978 to 1983. In 1989, President George H.W. Bush presented Dillon with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, noting that "the brilliant achievements of Douglas Dillon raise the nobility of public service to new heights" and praising him for his commitment "to promote social development" and "his fellow man." Dillon passed away at the age of ninety-three on January 10, 2003.

From the description of Dillon, C. Douglas (Clarence Douglas), 1909-2003 (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration). naId: 10679489

Investment company executive, museum trustee; New York, N.Y. Born 1909, Geneva, Switzerland. Full name Clarence Douglas Dillon, but for most of his career known as Douglas Dillon.

From the description of Oral history interview with Douglas Dillon, 1993 June 23-Nov. 15. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 78529772

Government official, financier.

From the description of Reminiscences of Clarence Douglas Dillon : oral history, 1972. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 122513165

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Huntley, Chet, 1911-1974. Papers, 1957-1974. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
C. Douglas Dillon Papers John F. Kennedy Library
creatorOf Skrowhegan Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney Award. Correspondence with Eugene Ormandy, 1972-1973. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Cooper, Lorraine Rowan, 1906-1985. Papers, 1936-1983 (inclusive). Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Buchwald, Art. Art Buchwald papers, 1952-1990. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn National Security Files. 11/22/1963 - 1/20/1969. Committee Files Lyndon Baines Johnson Library
referencedIn Spence, Brent, 1874-1967. Brent Spence papers, 1930-1962, 1943-1962. University of Kentucky Libraries
referencedIn United States. Department of the Treasury. Photographs of U.S. Presidents, Department Officials and Personalities, and Facilities, 1949-1995 National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Heinemann, Ronald L. Papers relating to Heinemann's biography of Harry F. Byrd., Sr. [manuscript], 1987-1994. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Publicity photographs of U.S. Senator Hugh Scott, 1958-1973. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Dillon, C. Douglas (Clarence Douglas), 1909-2003. Reminiscences of Clarence Douglas Dillon : oral history, 1972. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Rutgers University. Office of Public Information. Vietnam War teach-in records, 1965-1966. Rutgers University
referencedIn Wiley, Alexander, 1884-1967. Papers, 1913-1967. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
creatorOf C. Douglas Dillon Papers. 1957 - 1965. Records Related to Service as the Secretary of the Treasury John F. Kennedy Library
creatorOf General Records of the Department of the Treasury. 1775 - 2005. Executive Secretariat Files of Secretary Douglas Dillon. 1961 - 1965. John F. Kennedy Library. 12/20/1963 - 6/9/1964. Letter from President Lyndon B. Johnson to Douglas Dillon, Secretary of the Treasury National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Chester Bowles papers, 1924-1982 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
creatorOf General Records of the Department of the Treasury. 1775 - 2005. Executive Secretariat Files of Secretary Douglas Dillon. 1961 - 1965. John F. Kennedy Library National Archives at College Park
referencedIn National Federation of Grain Cooperatives. National Federation of Grain Cooperatives records, 1946-1976. Cornell University Library
referencedIn Greenewalt, Crawford H., 1902-1993. Personal papers, 1948-1992. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Robert Helyer Thayer Papers, 1920-1980, (bulk 1930-1964) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Robert Helyer Thayer Papers, 1920-1980, (bulk 1930-1964) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf C. Douglas Dillon Papers. 1957 - 1965. Records Related to Service as the Undersecretary of State for Economic Affairs John F. Kennedy Library
referencedIn Ogden Rogers Reid papers, 1925-1982 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
creatorOf Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790. Autograph letter signed : Passy, to M. Durival, 1781 May 25. Pierpont Morgan Library.
Relation Name
associatedWith Bowles, Chester, 1901-1986. person
associatedWith Buchwald, Art. person
associatedWith Cooper, Lorraine Rowan, 1906-1985. person
associatedWith Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790. person
associatedWith Greenewalt, Crawford H., 1902-1993. person
associatedWith Heinemann, Ronald L. person
associatedWith Huntley, Chet, 1911-1974. person
associatedWith Luter, John, person
associatedWith Metropolitan Museum of Art Oral History Project. corporateBody
associatedWith National Federation of Grain Cooperatives. corporateBody
associatedWith Reid, Ogden R. (Ogden Rogers), 1925- person
associatedWith Rutgers University. Office of Public Information. corporateBody
associatedWith Skrowhegan Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney Award. corporateBody
associatedWith Spence, Brent, 1874-1967. person
correspondedWith Thayer, Robert Helyer, 1901-1984. person
associatedWith United States. Dept. of State. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Dept. of the Treasury. corporateBody
associatedWith Wiley, Alexander, 1884-1967. person
associatedWith Zane, Sharon, person
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
New York (State)--New York
Subject
Businessmen
Government executives
Museums
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1909-08-21

Death 2003-01-10

Americans

English

Information

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SNAC ID: 2142047