born June 26, 1901, Amherst, Mass., U.S.
died Dec. 14, 1988, New Canaan, Conn.
U.S. politician.
He served in World War I, attended Yale University (191923), and entered politics in 1945 as chairman of the Surplus Property Board in the administration of Pres. Harry S. Truman . He served as secretary of the air force (194650). As U.S. senator from Missouri (195377), he advocated a strong national defense but was an outspoken critic of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War , considering it unimportant to national security and harmful to the economy.