McCloy, John J. (John Jay), 1895-1989

McCloy, John Jay (1895-1989), U.S. administrator, born in Philadelphia, Pa.; president, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (1947-49); U.S. High Commissioner for West Germany, (1949-52); Assistant Secretary of War (1941-45); coordinator of the U.S. disarmament activities, (1961-63); founder Arms Control and Disarmament Agency; chairman Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation trustee; awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom, 1963.

Graduate of Amherst College (1916) and Harvard Law School (1921); Army Captain in World War I; Lawyer, New York City, 1921-1989; was involved in World War I sabotage case known as "Black Tom," 1930-41; Assistant Secretary of War 1941-1945; President of the World Bank, 1947-1949; member, Eberstadt Committee on the National Security Organization, 1948-1949; High Commissioner of Germany, 1949-1952; Chairman, Ford Foundation, 1952-1965; Chairman, Chase Manhattan Bank, 1953-1960; Chairman, Council on Foreign Relations, 1953-1971; Member of United Nations advisory team overseeing Suez Canal clearance operations, 1956-1957; Chairman, General Advisory Committee on Arms Control and Disarmament, 1961-1974; Chairman of Coordinating Committee of the US on Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962-1963; member, Warren Commission to Investigate the Assassination of President Kennedy, 1963-1964; member of Special Project Team to gain asylum in the US for the Shah of Iran, 1979-1981; member, Reagan presidential transition team, 1980-1981. Died 1989.

Graduate of Amherst College, 1916. American diplomat and lawyer; adviser to every U.S. president from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Ronald Reagan. Died 1989. (See the main record or finding aid for more biographical information.).

Graduate of Amherst College, 1916; American diplomat and lawyer; adviser to every U.S. president from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Ronald Reagan. Died 1989. (See the main record or finding aid for more biographical information.).

Lawyer, government official.

John J. McCloy (1895-1989) has been described as a "minister without portfolio" and "the most influential private citizen in America" (Harper's, Feb 1983). It was said that he held the record for the most Cabinet positions offered and refused. Among the positions that he did hold were: Assistant Secretary of War during World War II, High Commissioner of Germany after the war, President of the World Bank, Chairman of the Chase Manhattan Bank, Chairman of the General Advisory Committee on Arms Control and Disarmament. In addition, he served official or unofficial advisor to every US president from Roosevelt through Reagan; his advice and assistance were sought by political and business leaders in the US and around the world.

McCloy was known as a skilled mediator and facilitator. What has been debated is the extent of his role in making policy, as opposed to articulating it. During his career, he was involved in some of the biggest--and most controversial--American policy decisions of his day. Among the issues with which he was involved and which are represented in the papers are: the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II; the shaping of Germany's post-war economy; civilian vs. military control of early atomic energy development; the Cuban missile crisis; numerous arms control and disarmament treaties; negotiations with OPEC on behalf of the major oil companies; and efforts to gain asylum in the US for the deposed Shah of Iran.

McCloy had strong ties to Amherst College; he graduated cum laude with the Class of 1916 and served on the Board of Trustees from 1947-1989. He thought of himself as a public servant and in his speeches often emphasized the importance of public service.

He died in 1989 at the age of 93.