18th U.S. Secretary of Defense and Congressman from Wisconsin
Les Aspin
Chair of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board
In office May 26, 1994 – May 21, 1995
President
Bill Clinton
Preceded by
William Crowe
Succeeded by
Warren Rudman (acting)
18th United States Secretary of Defense
In office January 21, 1993 – February 3, 1994
President
Bill Clinton
Deputy
William Perry
Preceded by
Dick Cheney
Succeeded by
William Perry
Chair of the House Armed Services Committee
In office January 3, 1985 – January 20, 1993
Preceded by
Melvin Price
Succeeded by
Ron Dellums
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 1st district
In office January 3, 1971 – January 20, 1993
Preceded by
Henry Schadeberg
Succeeded by
Peter Barca
Personal details
Born
Leslie Aspin Jr.
(1938-07-21)July 21, 1938 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Died
May 21, 1995(1995-05-21) (aged 56) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Political party
Democratic
Spouse
Maureen Shea
(m. 1969; div. 1979)
Education
Yale University (BA) University of Oxford (MPhil) Massachusetts Institute of Technology (PhD)
Military service
Branch/service
United States Army
Years of service
1966–1968
Rank
Captain
Les Aspin's voice
Aspin, as chair of the House Armed Services Committee, speaks on the use of force against Iraq Recorded January 12, 1991
Leslie Aspin Jr. (July 21, 1938 – May 21, 1995) was an American Democratic Party politician who served as the U.S. representative for Wisconsin's 1st congressional district from 1971 to 1993 and as the 18th United States Secretary of Defense under President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 1994.[1]
In Congress, Aspin had a reputation as an intellectual who took a middle-of-the-road position on controversial issues. He supported the Reagan administration regarding the MX missile and aid to the Nicaraguan Contras, but he opposed the B-2 bomber and the Strategic Defense Initiative. He played a major role in convincing the House to support the January 1991 resolution supporting the use of force by President George H. W. Bush against Iraq, after it invaded Kuwait.
As Secretary of Defense, Aspin faced complex social issues, such as the roles of homosexuals in uniform, and of women in combat, as well as major decisions regarding the use of military force in Somalia, Bosnia, and Haiti. He proposed budget cuts and restructuring of forces as part of the downsizing of the military after the end of the Cold War. The deaths of U.S. soldiers in Somalia because of inadequate military support led to his resignation.
^"Leslie Aspin - William J. Clinton Administration". Office of the Secretary of Defense - Historical Office.
Leslie Aspin Jr. (July 21, 1938 – May 21, 1995) was an American Democratic Party politician who served as the U.S. representative for Wisconsin's 1st...
close to this village Aspin valve, an automotive component LesAspin (1938–1995), U.S. Congressman and Secretary of Defense Neil Aspin (born 1965), English...
The LesAspin Center for Government, or simply the LesAspin Center or "LAC" is an educational program and extension of Marquette University based in the...
opportunity. Following the incident, in April 1993, Secretary of Defense LesAspin announced a revised policy on the assignment of women in the armed forces:...
Project. It also opened a Washington, D.C.-based study center called the LesAspin Center for Government, named after the former Secretary of Defense. MBA...
faced Congressman LesAspin and lost 58% to 41%, while spending $700,000. 1993 special election Shortly after defeating Neumann, Aspin was appointed U.S...
Kennedy should have appointed either Air Force chief of staff General Curtis LeMay, chief of naval operations Admiral George Anderson Jr., or commandant of...
20 January 1993 21 July 1993 182 LesAspin Bill Clinton 70 John H. Dalton 22 July 1993 16 November 1998 1943 LesAspin William J. Perry William Cohen 71...
July 13, 1993 174 days LesAspin Bill Clinton - Merrill A. McPeak (born 1936) Acting July 14, 1993 August 5, 1993 22 days LesAspin Bill Clinton 18 Sheila...
administrations, to serve as Counselor to the President. Secretary of Defense LesAspin resigned in the aftermath of the Battle of Mogadishu and was succeeded...
Clinton appointed 22-year incumbent congressman LesAspin as United States Secretary of Defense. Aspin therefore had to resign his seat in Wisconsin's...
actor, and director Antler, poet Lynne Arriale, musician; professor LesAspin, U.S. Secretary of Defense Steve Avery, NFL player for the Houston Oilers...
announced worldwide. In 1993, then United States Secretary of Defense LesAspin and his deputy William J. Perry held the "Last Supper" at the Pentagon...
who had been the targets of the 3 October raid. US Secretary of Defense LesAspin resigned his post late in 1993. He was specifically blamed for denying...
Joseph P. Kennedy, Lou Holtz, Kurt Vonnegut Jr., Charles Evans Hughes, LesAspin, and others. Forty-two brothers of the fraternity have sat in the United...
exclusion was lifted from aviation positions by Secretary of Defense LesAspin, permitting women to serve in almost any aviation capacity. Some restrictions...
Ban, which temporarily banned assault rifles. After the resignation of LesAspin in early 1994, Bentsen was seriously considered for the position of Secretary...
security and food relief. Cheney's successors as Secretary of Defense, LesAspin and William J. Perry, had to contend with both the Bosnian and Somali...
the original on August 14, 2021. Retrieved August 10, 2021. Moghe, Sonia; LeBlanc, Paul (March 1, 2021). "NY AG says she can start investigation into Cuomo...
(Chair: Edward Roybal; Ranking Member: Joe Skeen) Armed Services (Chair: LesAspin; Ranking Member: William L. Dickinson) Investigations (Chair: Bill Nichols;...
pounds (20,560 kg) of explosives. In August 1993, Secretary of Defense LesAspin directed the deployment of a Joint Special Operations Task Force (JSOTF)...
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