Word: laird
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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Like the Nixon Administration overall, Laird marches under no grand ensign. After seven months, the White House still has no catch phrase to match New Frontier or Great Society. Laird's Pentagon has no strategy label comparable to "flexible response" in Robert McNamara's day or even the "bigger bang for a buck" of Charles E. Wilson's time. Like Nixon himself, Laird seems unencumbered by?some would say unequipped with?any particularly abiding philosophy. He is the only Secretary of Defense to come from Congress. Half his life ? he will be 47 next week ? was spent...
...Nixon and Laird, the two partisans with well-earned reputations for maneuvering factions and votes and no experience at all in managing armies or industries, have launched much-needed studies of the nation's fundamental strategic goals and the military means needed to achieve them. David Packard, whom Laird drafted from the chairmanship of the Hewlett-Packard Co., to be Deputy Defense Secretary, heads one study group. Before many hard decisions...
From the standpoint of orthodox military thinking, almost any diminution of forces or equipment amounts to a weakening. Moreover, cutting training operations will obviously affect readiness. The question, however, is whether the force level or degree of preparedness can be reduced without damaging real security requirements. Laird did not address himself to that issue except by implication. If indeed the country's security interests are being put in jeopardy by any of the steps taken, however reluctantly, by the Pentagon, then Congress or the Administration or both should be called to account. It appears, to the contrary, that Laird...
Although the Administration's studies have yet to produce specific guidance for the next decade, Laird and others in the Administration believe that the American defense establishment of the future will be significantly smaller than it is today?and even somewhat below the pre-Viet Nam level as the war burden lessens. While the fiscal problem and Congress' attitude force Laird to cut more and earlier than he otherwise might, some of the reductions seem?despite his protests?to fit into his long-term intentions. In appearing to be dragged into making economies, of course, Laird also maintains his credentials...
...Laird's long-range plans start to come into focus, both for the overall design of the military apparatus and the internal operations of the Pentagon, a number of contrasts with the Kennedy and Johnson Administrations are becoming evident. Some represent reactions to changing conditions or the culmination of trends begun years ago. Others are conscious departures...