Stuart Symington, American lieutenant and politician, 1st United States Secretary of the Air Force (d. 1988)
William Stuart Symington III (; June 26, 1901 – December 14, 1988) was an American businessman and Democratic politician from Missouri. He served as the first Secretary of the Air Force from 1947 to 1950 and was a United States Senator from Missouri from 1953 to 1976.
Born in Amherst, Massachusetts, Symington worked as an executive in his uncle's iron products company and for other companies before becoming president of Emerson Electric. He resigned from Emerson in 1945 to take various positions in the administration of President Harry S. Truman, becoming the first Secretary of the Air Force in 1947. He was elected to the Senate in 1952, defeating incumbent Republican Senator James P. Kem. He joined the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and emerged as a prominent critic of McCarthyism.
Symington sought the Democratic nomination in the 1960 presidential election with the backing of former President Truman, but the nomination went to John F. Kennedy. After the Kansas City Athletics moved to Oakland, Symington threatened to revoke Major League Baseball's antitrust exemption, which in turn encouraged the formation of the Kansas City Royals. Symington declined to seek re-election in 1976 and was succeeded by John Danforth.
1901Jun, 26
Stuart Symington
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Events on 1901
- 15Feb
Alianza Lima
The association football club Alianza Lima is founded in Lima, Peru, under the name Sport Alianza. - 25Feb
U.S. Steel
J. P. Morgan incorporates the United States Steel Corporation. - 11Jun
Cook Islands
The boundaries of the Colony of New Zealand are extended by the UK to include the Cook Islands. - 14Sep
Assassination of William McKinley
U.S. President William McKinley dies after an assassination attempt on September 6, and is succeeded by Vice President Theodore Roosevelt. - 12Oct
White House
President Theodore Roosevelt officially renames the "Executive Mansion" to the White House.