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William B. Macomber Jr.
William B. Macomber Jr.
12th President of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
	In office; 1978–1986
Preceded by	C. Douglas Dillon
Succeeded by	William H. Luers
United States Ambassador to Turkey
	In office; May 16, 1973 – June 15, 1977
President	Gerald Ford
Preceded by	William J. Handley
Succeeded by	Ronald I. Spiers
6th and 10th Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs
	In office; March 7, 1967 – October 2, 1969
Preceded by	Douglas MacArthur II
Succeeded by	David Manker Abshire
	In office; October 21, 1957 – February 27, 1961
Preceded by	Robert C. Hill
Succeeded by	Brooks Hays
United States Ambassador to Jordan
	In office; April 5, 1961 – December 25, 1963
President	John F. Kennedy
Preceded by	Sheldon T. Mills
Succeeded by	Robert G. Barnes
Personal details
Born	William Butts Macomber Jr.; March 28, 1921; Rochester, New York, U.S.
Died	November 19, 2003 (aged 82); Nantucket, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Phyllis Dorothy Bernau
Education	Yale University (BA, MA); Harvard University (JD); University of Chicago (MA)

William Butts Macomber Jr. (March 28, 1921 – November 19, 2003) was an American diplomat who served in several positions in the United States Department of State. He was the 12th president of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Early life and education

Macomber was born in Rochester, New York, on March 28, 1921. He attended Phillips Academy, graduating in 1940, and Yale University, graduating in 1943.^[2]

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 Juris Doctor 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.^[2]

Career

Macomber worked in the U.S. Government for decades, serving under five presidents. His positions were unstable, however, because he was always a political appointee and not a career Foreign Service officer.^[3]

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 Dwight D. Eisenhower nominated Macomber as assistant secretary of state for legislative affairs and served until February 27, 1961.^[4]^[5]

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.^[4] In 1964, he became assistant administrator of the United States Agency for International Development.^[2]

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.^[4]

Richard Nixon appointed Macomber deputy under secretary of state for management on September 26, 1969, and he served in this role from October 3, 1969, to April 4, 1973.^[4]

President Richard Nixon appointed him United States ambassador to Turkey on March 27, 1973. He presented his credentials on May 16, 1973, and served until he left his post on June 15, 1977.^[4] In 1975, he published a book, The Angels' Game: A Handbook of Modern Diplomacy. He retired from the United States Foreign Service in 1977.^[4]

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.^[3] He retired in 1986 due to the Met's mandatory retirement age of 65.^[6] 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.^[7]

Personal life

Macomber was married to the Boston native and Simmons College graduate, Phyllis Dorothy Bernau (1924–2014) in c. 1964. They lived in a Fifth Avenue apartment and had a summer home in Nantucket, Massachusetts.^[2]

Macomber died of complications related to Parkinson's disease at his home in Nantucket, on November 19, 2003.^[2]^[8]

References

^ "AMBASSADOR WILLIAM B. MACOMBER, JR" (PDF).
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Saxon, Wolfgang (22 November 2003). "William Macomber, Diplomat and Met Chief, Dies at 82". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
^ ^a ^b Geniesse, Jane (10 February 1979). "A New Good‐Will Ambassador For the Metropolitan Museum". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "William Butts Macomber Jr. - People - Department History - Office of the Historian". history.state.gov. Office of the Historian, Bureau of Public Affairs United States Department of State. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
^ "The Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training Foreign Affairs Oral History Project AMBASSADOR WILLIAM B. MACOMBER, JR" (PDF). Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training. 19 September 1993. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
^ Service, New York Times News (November 22, 2003). "WILLIAM B. MACOMBER JR., 82". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
^ "William Macomber, 82; Former Metropolitan Museum President". Los Angeles Times. 22 November 2003. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
^ Sullivan, Patricia (November 21, 2003). "Diplomat William Macomber Jr., 82, Dies". Washington Post. Retrieved 28 March 2019.

External links

September 30, 1989 Interview with William B. Macomber Jr. at the Library of Congress.
Oral history interview with William B. Macomber , 1994 June 28-Dec. 15 from The Metropolitan Museum of Art Archives, New York.

Government offices
Preceded by Robert C. Hill	Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs October 21, 1957 – February 27, 1961	Succeeded by Brooks Hays
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Sheldon T. Mills	United States Ambassador to Jordan April 5, 1961 – December 25, 1963	Succeeded by Robert G. Barnes
Government offices
Preceded by Douglas MacArthur II	Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs March 7, 1967 – October 2, 1969	Succeeded by David Manker Abshire
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by William J. Handley	United States Ambassador to Turkey 1973 – 1977	Succeeded by Ronald I. Spiers
Cultural offices
Preceded by C. Douglas Dillon	President of the Metropolitan Museum of Art 1978-1986	Succeeded by William H. Luers