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William B. Macomber Jr.

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William B. Macomber Jr.
12th President of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
In office
1978–1986
Preceded byC. Douglas Dillon
Succeeded byWilliam H. Luers
United States Ambassador to Turkey
In office
May 16, 1973 – June 15, 1977
PresidentGerald Ford
Preceded byWilliam J. Handley
Succeeded byRonald I. Spiers
6th and 10th Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs
In office
March 7, 1967 – October 2, 1969
Preceded byDouglas MacArthur II
Succeeded byDavid Manker Abshire
In office
October 21, 1957 – February 27, 1961
Preceded byRobert C. Hill
Succeeded byBrooks Hays
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
Rochester, New York, U.S.
DiedNovember 19, 2003(2003-11-19) (aged 82)
Nantucket, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political partyRepublican[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

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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 Juris Doctor 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

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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][5]

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.[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 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.[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

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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.[6] 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.[7]

Personal life

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Macomber was married to the Boston native and Simmons College graduate, Phyllis Dorothy Bernau (1924–2014) in c. 1964. They lived in a Fifth Avenue apartment and had a summer home in Nantucket, Massachusetts.[2]

Macomber died of complications related to Parkinson's disease at his home in Nantucket, on November 19, 2003.[2][8]

References

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  1. ^ "AMBASSADOR WILLIAM B. MACOMBER, JR" (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. ^ "The Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training Foreign Affairs Oral History Project AMBASSADOR WILLIAM B. MACOMBER, JR" (PDF). Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training. 19 September 1993. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  6. ^ Service, New York Times News (November 22, 2003). "WILLIAM B. MACOMBER JR., 82". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  7. ^ "William Macomber, 82; Former Metropolitan Museum President". Los Angeles Times. 22 November 2003. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  8. ^ Sullivan, Patricia (November 21, 2003). "Diplomat William Macomber Jr., 82, Dies". Washington Post. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
[edit]
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
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