Clark Clifford

Clark Clifford
Born	Clark McAdams Clifford 25 12, 1906
Birthplace	Fort Scott, Kansas, U.S.
Died	Template:Death date and age Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Lawyer, political adviser, government official
Known for	Adviser to four Democratic presidents; U.S. Secretary of Defense; role in U.S. recognition of Israel; BCCI scandal
Education	Washington University in St. Louis (LL.B.)
Children	3
Awards	Presidential Medal of Freedom (1969)

Clark McAdams Clifford (December 25, 1906 – October 10, 1998) was an American lawyer and political adviser who served four Democratic presidents during the Cold War era—Harry S. Truman, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Jimmy Carter. A figure of considerable influence in Washington, D.C., Clifford held formal government positions as White House Counsel (1946–1950), Chairman of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board (1963–1968), and United States Secretary of Defense (1968–1969). Between these official roles, he operated as one of the most sought-after private attorneys in the nation's capital, counseling presidents, corporate executives, and foreign governments alike. Clifford played a pivotal role in persuading President Truman to extend de facto recognition to the State of Israel in May 1948, and as Secretary of Defense under Johnson, he became instrumental in shifting American policy toward de-escalation of the Vietnam War. Known for his silver hair, patrician bearing, elegant suits, and polished manners, Clifford embodied the archetype of the Washington insider for nearly half a century. His reputation suffered in his final years when he became embroiled in the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI) scandal, which resulted in criminal indictment, though the charges were ultimately dropped due to his declining health.

Early Life

Clark McAdams Clifford was born on December 25, 1906, in Fort Scott, Kansas. His family had roots in the Midwest, and his middle name, McAdams, reflected family connections. Clifford grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, where he was exposed to the legal profession and civic life at an early age.

Clifford developed an early aptitude for public speaking and debate, qualities that would serve him throughout his career in law and politics. He grew up during a period of significant change in American life, witnessing the transformations of World War I, the Roaring Twenties, and the Great Depression. These formative experiences shaped his understanding of American governance and the role of the federal government in national affairs.

The Clifford family settled in St. Louis, Missouri, where young Clark attended local schools and became familiar with the city's established legal and business communities. St. Louis at the time was a major center of commerce and Democratic Party politics in the Midwest, and the environment helped cultivate Clifford's interest in both law and public service.

Education

Clifford attended Washington University in St. Louis, where he studied law. He earned his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree from Washington University's School of Law. His legal education provided him with the foundation for what would become one of the most prominent legal careers in Washington, D.C. At Washington University, Clifford honed the rhetorical and analytical skills that later made him a formidable advocate and counselor to presidents. After completing his legal studies, Clifford entered the practice of law in St. Louis, beginning a career that would eventually take him to the highest levels of the American government.

Career

Early Legal Career and Military Service

After graduating from law school, Clifford practiced law in St. Louis for over a decade, establishing himself as a capable trial lawyer. His practice in Missouri allowed him to build connections within the Democratic Party, which would prove essential to his later career in Washington.

During World War II, Clifford served in the United States Navy, entering service in 1944. He rose to the rank of Captain during his time in the Navy. His military service brought him into contact with key figures in the Truman administration, including James K. Vardaman Jr., a naval aide to President Truman. This connection proved to be the gateway to Clifford's entry into the White House.

White House Counsel under Truman (1946–1950)

In February 1946, Clifford was appointed White House Counsel, succeeding Samuel Rosenman in the role. At the age of 39, Clifford became one of President Harry S. Truman's most trusted advisers. He quickly distinguished himself as a shrewd strategist and a skilled drafter of policy memoranda and presidential speeches.

One of Clifford's most significant early contributions was the drafting of what became known as the Clifford-Elsey Report in 1946, a comprehensive assessment of Soviet-American relations that helped shape the Truman administration's approach to the emerging Cold War. The report catalogued perceived Soviet violations of agreements and recommended a firm posture of containment, anticipating the broader strategy that would define American foreign policy for decades.

Clifford also played a central role in the Truman Doctrine and the creation of the National Security Act of 1947, which established the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Council, and unified the military under the Department of Defense. His hand in shaping these foundational Cold War institutions underscored his influence far beyond the typical scope of a White House Counsel.

Perhaps the most historically consequential episode of Clifford's service under Truman involved the question of American recognition of the State of Israel. In May 1948, as the British Mandate for Palestine was about to expire and David Ben-Gurion prepared to declare Israeli independence, a fierce debate erupted within the Truman administration. Secretary of State George C. Marshall and much of the State Department opposed immediate recognition, fearing it would alienate Arab states and jeopardize American access to Middle Eastern oil. Clifford argued forcefully in favor of recognition, both on moral grounds and as a matter of geopolitical strategy. In a dramatic confrontation at the White House, Marshall threatened that if Truman followed Clifford's advice, Marshall would vote against Truman in the upcoming election. Truman ultimately sided with Clifford, and the United States extended de facto recognition to Israel eleven minutes after its declaration of independence on May 14, 1948.

Clifford was also a key architect of Truman's surprise victory in the 1948 presidential election. He helped devise the strategy of calling the Republican-controlled "do-nothing Congress" back into special session, forcing them to act on their own platform's promises—a gambit that highlighted Republican inaction and bolstered Truman's populist appeal.

Clifford served as White House Counsel until January 31, 1950, when he was succeeded by Charles S. Murphy.

Private Law Practice (1950–1963)

After leaving the White House in 1950, Clifford established a law practice in Washington, D.C., that quickly became one of the most prestigious and profitable in the city. His firm, Clifford & Miller (later Clifford & Warnke, and then Clifford & Warnke), attracted a clientele of major corporations, foreign governments, and prominent individuals who sought his access to the corridors of power.

Clifford's legal practice blurred the lines between law and political influence in ways that were characteristic of Washington's power structure during the mid-twentieth century. His clients included major corporations such as DuPont, General Electric, and Hughes Aircraft, as well as various foreign governments seeking favorable treatment from the U.S. government. He earned substantial fees for his services, and his practice made him a wealthy man.

During this period, Clifford continued to serve as an informal adviser to Democratic presidents and presidential candidates. He advised John F. Kennedy during the 1960 presidential campaign and assisted with the transition to the Kennedy administration. Though he did not accept a formal position in the Kennedy White House, Clifford's counsel was frequently sought on matters of national security and political strategy.

Chairman of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board (1963–1968)

On April 23, 1963, President Kennedy appointed Clifford as Chairman of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board (PIAB), succeeding James Rhyne Killian. In this role, Clifford oversaw the board responsible for evaluating the quality and adequacy of intelligence collection, analysis, and estimates provided to the president. He continued in this position under President Lyndon B. Johnson until February 29, 1968, when he was succeeded by Maxwell D. Taylor.

During his tenure on the PIAB, Clifford maintained his status as one of the most influential unofficial advisers in Washington. Johnson frequently consulted Clifford on a wide range of domestic and foreign policy issues, including the escalating American involvement in Vietnam. Initially, Clifford supported the American military commitment in Southeast Asia, but his views began to shift as the war dragged on without clear progress.

Secretary of Defense (1968–1969)

On March 1, 1968, Clifford succeeded Robert McNamara as the 9th United States Secretary of Defense, a position he held until January 20, 1969. His appointment came at one of the most turbulent moments of the Vietnam War and of American domestic politics.

Clifford's tenure as Secretary of Defense proved to be a turning point in the Vietnam War. Upon assuming office, he undertook a comprehensive review of American war policy. What he found disturbed him: military commanders could not articulate a clear path to victory, troop requests continued to escalate, and the Tet Offensive of January–February 1968 had shattered public confidence in the war effort despite the military's claims of progress.

Clifford became convinced that the war could not be won on terms acceptable to the American public and began advocating for de-escalation and negotiations. He told President Johnson that the Vietnam War was "a real loser" and urged a shift toward peace talks. In late March 1968, Clifford helped organize a meeting of the "Wise Men"—a group of senior former government officials and foreign policy experts—who advised Johnson that the war was no longer sustainable. Their counsel, combined with Clifford's persistent advocacy within the administration, contributed to Johnson's dramatic announcement on March 31, 1968, that he would halt most bombing of North Vietnam, seek negotiations, and would not seek re-election.

Clifford's role in shifting Vietnam policy represented a significant departure from his earlier hawkish positions and demonstrated his capacity for reassessing deeply held views in light of new evidence. His deputy during this period was Paul Nitze, himself a veteran Cold War strategist.

During his brief tenure, Clifford also worked to maintain the readiness and morale of the armed forces during a period of intense domestic opposition to the war. He served until the end of the Johnson administration on January 20, 1969, and was succeeded by Melvin Laird under President Richard Nixon.

Adviser to President Carter

After leaving the Pentagon, Clifford returned to his lucrative law practice in Washington but remained active in Democratic Party politics. When Jimmy Carter won the 1976 presidential election, his transition team, eager to distance themselves from the Washington establishment, was determined that Clifford would have no influence in the new administration. A member of Carter's team reportedly declared: "If you ever see us relying on Clark Clifford, you'll know we have failed." Nevertheless, Carter eventually came to rely on Clifford's advice, particularly on foreign policy matters. Clifford undertook diplomatic missions on Carter's behalf, including a sensitive mission to Greece, Turkey, and Cyprus.

This pattern—the initial resistance to and eventual embrace of Clifford's counsel—underscored his unique position in the Washington power structure. Regardless of which Democrat occupied the White House, Clifford's combination of legal acumen, political judgment, and extensive network of contacts made him virtually indispensable.

BCCI Scandal

In his later years, Clifford became entangled in the scandal surrounding the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI), a global banking institution that was found to have engaged in massive fraud, money laundering, bribery, and the financing of terrorism and arms trafficking. Clifford had served as chairman of First American Bankshares, a Washington-area bank holding company that was secretly and illegally controlled by BCCI.

In 1992, Clifford and his law partner Robert Altman were indicted by a New York grand jury on charges of fraud and conspiracy, accused of knowingly helping BCCI secretly acquire First American Bankshares in violation of federal banking law. Clifford maintained that he had been deceived by BCCI's operators and was unaware of the bank's illegal activities.

The charges against Clifford were eventually dropped in 1993, in part because of his deteriorating health—he was in his late eighties and suffering from heart problems and other ailments. Altman was tried and acquitted. However, the BCCI affair severely damaged Clifford's reputation and cast a shadow over his decades of public service. He agreed to a settlement with the Federal Reserve in which he was barred from future involvement in banking.

The scandal raised broader questions about the culture of influence-peddling in Washington and the degree to which prominent lawyers and public figures could claim ignorance of the activities of their clients. A Senate investigation led by John Kerry produced a detailed report on the BCCI affair that examined Clifford's role extensively.

Personal Life

Clark Clifford married Margery Pepperell Kimball, known as "Marny," and the couple had three daughters. The Cliffords were fixtures of Washington social life for decades, and their home was a gathering place for political, legal, and diplomatic figures.

Clifford was known for his meticulous personal appearance—his silver hair, tall stature, elegant suits, and courtly manners became part of his public persona. He cultivated an image of patrician sophistication that served him well in the drawing rooms and boardrooms of the nation's capital.

In 1991, Clifford published his memoir, Counsel to the President: A Memoir, co-written with Richard Holbrooke. The book provided Clifford's account of his decades at the center of American political life and offered his perspectives on the major events and personalities he had encountered.

Clifford's health declined in his later years. He suffered from heart disease and other ailments that ultimately led to the dismissal of the criminal charges related to the BCCI scandal. Clark Clifford died on October 10, 1998, in Bethesda, Maryland, at the age of 91. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, a tribute to his military service and his decades of service to the nation.

Recognition

In January 1969, as he prepared to leave office, President Johnson awarded Clifford the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, in recognition of his long service to the country.

Clifford's role in the creation of the modern national security apparatus—including his contributions to the National Security Act of 1947—was recognized by historians as foundational to the structure of American governance during the Cold War. His advocacy for the recognition of Israel in 1948 earned him lasting recognition in the history of Israeli-American relations.

His oral history interviews are preserved at the Harry S. Truman Library and the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library, providing a rich primary source record of his experiences and perspectives on major events of the twentieth century.

Clifford also appeared in the WGBH documentary series War and Peace in the Nuclear Age, providing firsthand testimony about Cold War decision-making.

Legacy

Clark Clifford's career spanned nearly the entire Cold War era, from the formulation of the containment doctrine under Truman to the winding down of the Vietnam War under Johnson. His influence on American foreign policy and governance was substantial, though his legacy is complicated by the BCCI scandal that marred his final years.

As White House Counsel, Clifford helped shape the institutional architecture of the Cold War, contributing to the establishment of the CIA, the National Security Council, and the unified Department of Defense. His advocacy for the recognition of Israel remained one of the defining moments of his career and of the early Cold War period.

As Secretary of Defense, Clifford's willingness to reassess the Vietnam War and advocate for de-escalation represented a significant moment in the conflict's trajectory. His influence on Johnson's decision to halt bombing and seek negotiations was a critical turning point, even if the war continued for several more years under subsequent administrations.

The BCCI scandal, however, raised enduring questions about the relationship between power, access, and accountability in Washington. Clifford's involvement with BCCI became a cautionary tale about the risks faced by Washington insiders who traded on their reputations and connections.

Emblematic of Clifford's unusual standing in Washington was the Carter transition team's initial vow to exclude him—and their subsequent inability to do so. This episode captured both the extent of Clifford's influence and the ambivalence it generated among those who saw the Washington establishment as insular and self-perpetuating.

Clifford is buried at Arlington National Cemetery alongside other notable figures in American military and governmental history.