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McNamara was Defense Secretary for two presidents during the Vietnam War.

Originally tapped by President John F. Kennedy, he stayed on during the administration of President Lyndon Johnson after Kennedy was assassinated. As a primary overseer of the Vietnam War, McNamara was one of the most controversial public figures of the turbulent 1960s.

He later acknowledged deep misgivings and regrets about Vietnam.

Born in 1916, McNamara was a successful Ford Motors executive before accepting Kennedy’s offer to be defense chief.

After leaving office in 1968, McNamara was named president of the World Bank.