Clark Clifford replaces Robert McNamara as Secretary of Defense. McNamara, who had first taken office under President John F. Kennedy, left amid a debate over Vietnam policy precipitated by the Tet Offensive. In the summer of 1967, McNamara had become convinced that the United States should seek an end to the war through a negotiated settlement. In a memorandum submitted to President Johnson, he recommended that the U.S. freeze its troop levels, cease the bombing of North Vietnam, and turn over responsibility for the ground war to South Vietnam. Johnson rejected these proposals outright. After the communists launched the Tet Offensive in January 1968, an increasingly demoralized McNamara left Washington after eight years as Defense Secretary to become the president of the World Bank. Clifford, a successful Washington lawyer and Democratic Party powerbroker, served as Defense Secretary until January 1969, when he departed with the rest of the Johnson administration.
Also on This Day
- Lead Story
- Lindbergh baby kidnapped, 1932
- American Revolution
- Articles of Confederation are ratified, 1781
- Automotive
- Honda unveils new Civic, 2005
- Civil War
- Lincoln nominates Grant for lieutenant general, 1864
- Cold War
- Kennedy establishes Peace Corps, 1961
- Crime
- The Lindbergh baby is kidnapped, 1932
- Disaster
- Trains buried by avalanche, 1910
- General Interest
- Salem Witch Hunt begins, 1692
- Puerto Rican nationalists wound five representatives, 1954
- Peace Corps established, 1961
- Soviet probe crashes into Venus, 1966
- Hollywood
- Richard Zanuck and David Brown join Warner Brothers, 1971
- Literary
- E.M. Forster takes a passage to India, 1921
- Music
- James Taylor makes the cover of Time magazine, 1971
- Old West
- Yellowstone Park established, 1872
- Sports
- Mickey Mantle retires, 1969
- Vietnam War
- U.S. informs South Vietnam of intent to send Marines, 1965
- Clifford replaces McNamara, 1968
- Bomb explodes in Capitol building, 1971
- World War I
- Zimmermann Telegram published in United States, 1917
- World War II
- Bulgaria joins the Axis, 1941
Clifford replaces McNamara
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This Week in History, Mar 1 - Mar 7
- Mar 01, 1965
- U.S. informs South Vietnam of intent to send Marines
- Mar 01, 1968
- Clifford replaces McNamara
- Mar 01, 1971
- Bomb explodes in Capitol building
- Mar 02, 1965
- First Rolling Thunder raid conducted
- Mar 02, 1967
- Kennedy proposes plan to end the war
- Mar 03, 1965
- U.S. jets bomb Ho Chi Minh Trail
- Mar 03, 1971
- U.S. 5th Special Forces Group withdraws
- Mar 04, 1968
- Task Force sends memo to the president
- Mar 05, 1964
- U.S.A.F. advisory team sent to Laos
- Mar 05, 1971
- "Blackhorse" departs South Vietnam
- Mar 06, 1965
- U.S. is sending Marines to South Vietnam
- Mar 06, 1971
- Operation Lam Son 719 continues
- Mar 07, 1966
- U.S. jets launch heaviest air raids of the war
- Mar 07, 1967
- Republic of Korea forces operation launch
- Mar 07, 1972
- Jets engage in aerial combat
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