William Cohen

William Cohen was an American politician, author, and businessman who served as the 20th United States Secretary of Defense under President Bill Clinton. A member of the Republican Party, he previously represented Maine in both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, establishing a reputation as a pragmatic centrist. His tenure at the Pentagon was marked by managing post-Cold War military transformation and overseeing operations in Kosovo and the Persian Gulf.

Early life and education

Born in Bangor, Maine, he was the son of a baker of Russian Jewish descent and an Irish American mother. He attended Bangor High School before graduating *summa cum laude* in Latin from Bowdoin College in 1962, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He then earned a Juris Doctor from the Boston University School of Law in 1965. During his education, he developed a keen interest in poetry and literature, publishing several volumes of verse and a novel early in his career.

Political career

His political career began in Bangor, serving on the City Council and as its mayor before winning election to the United States House of Representatives in 1972 from Maine's 2nd congressional district. In 1978, he was elected to the United States Senate, where he gained national prominence as a member of the Senate Watergate Committee and later for his work on the Senate Intelligence Committee. A moderate Republican, he often broke with his party, notably during the Iran–Contra affair and by supporting the nomination of Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the Supreme Court of the United States.

Secretary of Defense

In 1997, President Bill Clinton, a Democrat, appointed him as United States Secretary of Defense, a move seen as fostering bipartisan unity in foreign policy. His tenure focused on managing military downsizing after the Cold War, advocating for missile defense systems, and modernizing the United States Armed Forces. Key events included Operation Desert Fox in Iraq, the NATO bombing campaign during the Kosovo War, and responding to the embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania. He also oversaw the implementation of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy within the military.

Post-government career

After leaving the Pentagon in 2001, he founded The Cohen Group, an international business consulting firm based in Washington, D.C.. He remained active in public policy, serving on various corporate boards and as chairman of the United States Institute of Peace. He authored several books on governance and national security, taught at the University of Maine and other institutions, and was a frequent commentator for networks like CNN. He also served on the Defense Policy Board Advisory Committee and the Central Intelligence Agency's External Advisory Board.

Personal life

He has been married twice, first to Diane Dunn, with whom he had two children, and later to journalist and author Janet Langhart in 1996. An accomplished author, he has published poetry, novels, and non-fiction works, including *"A Baker's Nickel"* and *"Dragon Fire."* He is a recipient of the Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Medal and several honorary degrees from institutions such as Bowdoin College and the University of Maine.

Category:1940 births Category:United States Secretaries of Defense Category:United States Senators from Maine Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from Maine Category:Bowdoin College alumni Category:Boston University alumni Category:20th-century American politicians