William B. Macomber Jr.

William Butts Macomber Jr. (March 28, 1921 – November 19, 2003) was an official in the United States Department of State and a United States diplomat who later became the first full-time president of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

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
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]
Spouse(s)Phyllis Dorothy Bernau
EducationPhillips Academy
Alma materYale University
Harvard Law School
University of Chicago

Early life

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 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.[2]

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.[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 of the United States Dwight D. Eisenhower nominated Macomber as Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs and Macomber held this office from October 21, 1957, until February 27, 1961.[4]

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 Gerald Ford 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

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.[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 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][7]

References

Government offices
Preceded by
Robert C. Hill
Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs
October 21, 1957 February 27, 1961
Succeeded by
Brooks Hays
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
Sheldon T. Mills
United States Ambassador to Jordan
April 5, 1961 December 25, 1963
Succeeded by
Robert G. Barnes
Government offices
Preceded by
Douglas MacArthur II
Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs
March 7, 1967 October 2, 1969
Succeeded by
David Manker Abshire
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
William J. Handley
United States Ambassador to Turkey
1973 1977
Succeeded by
Ronald I. Spiers
Cultural offices
Preceded by
C. Douglas Dillon

President of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

1978-1986
Succeeded by
William H. Luers
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