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.
Early life[]
Macomber was born in Rochester, New York, on March 28, 1921. He attended Phillips Andover, graduating in 1940, and Yale University, graduating in 1943. 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.
Government career[]
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.
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.
In 1964, he became assistant administrator of the United States Agency for International Development.
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.
From 1969 to 1973, Richard Nixon named Macomber Deputy Under Secretary of State for Management.
Macomber then served as United States Ambassador to Turkey from 1973 to 1977. In 1975, he published a book, The Angels' Game: A Handbook of Modern Diplomacy. He retired from the United States Foreign Service in 1977.
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. 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.
Death[]
Macomber died of complications related to Parkinson's disease at his home in Nantucket, Massachusetts, on November 19, 2003.
References[]
- Wolfgang Saxon, "William Macomber, Diplomat and Met Chief, Dies at 82", New York Times, Nov. 22, 2003
- Patricia Sullivan, "Diplomat William Macomber Jr., 82, Dies", Washington Post, Nov. 21, 2003
The original article can be found at William B. Macomber, Jr. and the edit history here.