William B. Macomber Jr. Explained

Office:12th President of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Term Start:1978
Term End:1986
Predecessor:C. Douglas Dillon
Successor:William H. Luers
Office1:United States Ambassador to Turkey
President1:Gerald Ford
Term Start1:May 16, 1973
Term End1:June 15, 1977
Predecessor1:William J. Handley
Successor1:Ronald I. Spiers
Office2:6th and 10th Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs
Term Start2:March 7, 1967
Term End2:October 2, 1969
Predecessor2:Douglas MacArthur II
Successor2:David Manker Abshire
Term Start3:October 21, 1957
Term End3:February 27, 1961
Predecessor3:Robert C. Hill
Successor3:Brooks Hays
Office4:United States Ambassador to Jordan
President4:John F. Kennedy
Term Start4:April 5, 1961
Term End4:December 25, 1963
Predecessor4:Sheldon T. Mills
Successor4:Robert G. Barnes
Birth Name:William Butts Macomber Jr.
Birth Date:28 March 1921
Birth Place:Rochester, New York, U.S.
Death Place:Nantucket, Massachusetts, U.S.
Education:Yale University (BA, MA)
Harvard University (JD)
University of Chicago (MA)
Party:Republican[1]
Spouse:Phyllis Dorothy Bernau

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.

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.

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.

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.[2]

President John F. Kennedy then named Macomber as United States ambassador to Jordan and Macomber held this post from April 5, 1961, until December 25, 1963. In 1964, he became assistant administrator of the United States Agency for International Development.

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.

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.

President Richard Nixon appointed him 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. In 1975, he published a book, The Angels' Game: A Handbook of Modern Diplomacy. He retired from the United States Foreign Service in 1977.[3]

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.[4] 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 Simmons College graduate, Phyllis Dorothy Bernau (1924–2014) in . They lived in a Fifth Avenue apartment and had a summer home in Nantucket, Massachusetts.

Macomber died of complications related to Parkinson's disease at his home in Nantucket, on November 19, 2003.[7] [8]

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.adst.org/OH%20TOCs/Macomber,%20William%20B.%20Jr.toc.pdf
  2. Web site: 19 September 1993 . The Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training Foreign Affairs Oral History Project AMBASSADOR WILLIAM B. MACOMBER, JR . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240627032716/https://adst.org/OH%20TOCs/Macomber,%20William%20B.%20Jr.1993.toc.pdf . 27 June 2024 . 25 July 2024 . Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training.
  3. Web site: William Butts Macomber Jr. - People - Department History - Office of the Historian . history.state.gov . . 28 March 2019.
  4. News: Geniesse . Jane . A New Good‐Will Ambassador For the Metropolitan Museum . 28 March 2019 . . 10 February 1979.
  5. News: Service . New York Times News . WILLIAM B. MACOMBER JR., 82 . 28 March 2019 . . November 22, 2003.
  6. News: William Macomber, 82; Former Metropolitan Museum President . 28 March 2019 . . 22 November 2003.
  7. News: Saxon . Wolfgang . William Macomber, Diplomat and Met Chief, Dies at 82 . 28 March 2019 . . 22 November 2003.
  8. News: Sullivan . Patricia . Diplomat William Macomber Jr., 82, Dies . 28 March 2019 . . November 21, 2003 . en.