Caspar (Willard) Weinberger - Early life, Political career, Secretary of Defense, Iran-Contra Affair, Later career, Death

US statesman, born in San Francisco, California, USA. After military service (1941–5) he worked as a lawyer, before entering politics as a member of the California state legislature in 1952. He was state finance director of California during Ronald Reagan's governorship (1968–9). He served in the Nixon and Ford administrations, then became secretary of defense after Reagan's election victory in 1980. Briefed to supervise a major military build-up, he developed such high-profile projects as the Strategic Defense Initiative. A ‘hawk’ on East–West issues, he opposed detente, resigned his office in 1987, and returned to private life. He became publisher and then chairman of Forbes magazine, contributing regular articles on defense and national security issues. His book Fighting for Peace (1996) was an account of his years at the Pentagon. In 1988 he received an honorary knighthood for his services to Britain, notably during the Falklands War (1982).

Caspar Weinberger

15th Secretary of Defense
In office
January 21, 1981 – November 23, 1987
Preceded by	Harold Brown
Succeeded by	Frank Carlucci
Born	August 18, 1917 San Francisco, CA, USA
Died	March 28, 2006 Bangor, ME, USA
Political party	Republican

Caspar "Cap" Willard Weinberger, GBE (August 18, 1917 – March 28, 2006), was an American politician and Secretary of Defense under President Ronald Reagan from January 21, 1981, until November 23, 1987, making him the second longest-serving defense secretary to date, after Robert McNamara.

Early life

Weinberger was born in San Francisco, California as the son of Colorado-born lawyer Herman Weinberger and Cerise Carpenter Hampson, whose parents were immigrants from England. Between 1945 and 1947, Weinberger worked as a law clerk for a federal judge before joining a San Francisco law firm.

Political career

He won election to the California State Assembly in 1952 and reelection in 1954 and 1956. Although unsuccessful in his 1958 campaign for California Attorney General, Weinberger continued to be active in politics, becoming chairman of the California Republican Party in 1962.

Governor Ronald Reagan named him chairman of the Commission on California State Government Organization and Economy in 1967 and appointed him State director of finance early in 1968. Weinberger moved to Washington in January 1970 to become chairman of the Federal Trade Commission. For the next five years, Weinberger was vice president and general counsel of the Bechtel Corporation in California.

Secretary of Defense

Although not widely experienced in defense matters, Weinberger had a reputation in Washington as an able administrator; Belying his nickname, at the Pentagon Weinberger became a vigorous advocate of Reagan's plan to increase the Department of Defense budget. In his early years at the Pentagon, Cap Weinberger was known as "Cap the Ladle" for advocating large increases in defense spending.

As Secretary of Defense, Weinberger oversaw a massive rebuilding of US military strength. Weinberger pushed for dramatic increases in the United States' nuclear weapons arsenal and was a strong advocate of the controversial Strategic Defense Initiative, popularly known as Star Wars, an initiative which proposed a space-based missile defense shield. However Weinberger said there would be no change in the U.S.'s Lebanon policy and aborted the mission, reportedly because of his concerns that it would harm U.S. relations with other Arab nations.

Iran-Contra Affair

Though he claims to have been opposed to the sale on principle, Weinberger participated in the transfer of United States TOW anti-tank missiles to Iran during the Iran-Contra Affair. By 1987, the disclosure of the Iran-Contra Affair and increasing difficulties with Defense budgets weighed on Weinberger. Weinberger resigned on November 23, 1987, citing his wife's declining health.

Following his resignation as Secretary of Defense, Weinberger was placed under indictment by Independent Counsel Lawrence E. The formal indictment charged Weinberger with several felony counts of lying to the Iran-Contra independent counsel during its investigation. Weinberger received a Presidential pardon from President George H.

Later career

Weinberger had been Secretary of Defense for six years and ten months, longer than any of his predecessors except Robert McNamara. After Weinberger left the Pentagon, he joined Forbes, Inc., in 1989 as publisher of Forbes magazine. In 1996, Weinberger co-authored a book entitled The Next War, which raised questions about the adequacy of U.S. military capabilities following the end of the Cold War.

Death

While residing on Mount Desert Island, Maine, Weinberger was treated for and died from complications due to pneumonia at Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor on March 28, 2006. Bush in a public statement said:

"Caspar Weinberger was an American statesman and a dedicated public servant.

Current United States Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld stated:

"Cap Weinberger was a friend. Caspar Weinberger was awarded the Gold Star Award by the International Strategic Studies Association for Oustanding Contributions to Strategic Progress Through Humanitarian Achievement.