Caspar Weinberger - Grave of a Famous Person on Waymarking.com

Caspar W. Weinberger was born on August 18, 1917 in San Francisco, California. During World War II he served in the 41st Infantry Division while being assigned to the Pacific Theater. In 1953 he began his political career, serving in the California State Assembly from 1953-1959. On December 31, 1969, President Richard Nixon appointed him as the 42nd Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, a post he held until August 6, 1970. On June 12, 1972, President Nixon once again tapped Weinberger to become Director of the Office of Management and Budget. He served in this post until February 1, 1973, when he resigned to become Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare. He held this position until August 8, 1975, serving both President Nixon and President Gerald Ford. Weinberger’s most prominent political position came in 1981 when President Ronald Reagan tapped him to be the 15th Secretary of Defense. “Cap” Weinberger assumed command of the Defense Department on January 21, 1981. As Secretary of Defense, Weinberger oversaw a massive rebuilding of the United States Military, overseeing such programs as the B-1B Bomber and the 600-ship Navy. Weinberger also pushed for increases in the United States' nuclear weapons arsenal and was a strong advocate of the controversial Strategic Defense Initiative, an initiative which proposed a space and ground-based missile defense shield.The programs contributed to the end of the Cold War and the downfall of the Soviet Union. Weinberger served as Secretary of Defense for 6-years and ten months, longer than any man except for Robert McNamara and Donald Rumsfeld. After Weinberger left the Pentagon, he joined Forbes, Inc., and in 1989 was named publisher of Forbes magazine. “Cap” Weinberger retired to Mount Desert Island, Maine where he died on March 28, 2006 from complications of pneumonia. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on April 4, 2006.

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Description: Caspar Weinberger was born on August 18, 1917 and served in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He entered politics in 1953 when he was elected to the California Assembly. During this time he caught the attention of then Vice-President Richard Nixon who would later appoint Weinberger as Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission. Nixon would also tap Weinberger to become Director of the Office of Management and Budget and later as Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare. President Ronald Reagan would nominate Weinberger to be the Secretary of Defense. After being confirmed by the United State Senate, Weinberger took office on January 21, 1981. He served as Defense Secretary for 6-years and 10-month, during which time he oversaw the development of the B-1B Bomber and the strengthening of the Military. In addition to his political accomplishments, Weinberger also served as vice president and general counsel of the Bechtel Corporation in California and as publisher of Forbes magazine. In 1987, Weinberger was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In 1988 the he was made an Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire in 1988, in recognition for an "outstanding and invaluable" contribution to military cooperation between the United Kingdom and the US, particularly during the Falklands War of 1982. Caspar Weinberger died on March 28, 2006 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Date of birth: 08/18/1917 Date of death: 03/28/2006 Area of notoriety: Politics Marker Type: Headstone Setting: Outdoor Visiting Hours/Restrictions: 8am-7pm (April-September), 8am-5pm (October-March) Fee required?: No Web site: [Web Link]

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