THE MOST INFLUENTIAL MEMBER OF JFK'S ECONOMIC POLICY TEAM

JFK+50:  Volume 6, No. 2044

JFK HOSTS RECEPTION FOR TREASURY SECRETARY DILLON

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) Fifty-five years ago this evening, August 19, 1961, President John F. Kennedy hosted a reception at the White House for his Secretary of Treasury, C. Douglas Dillon*.

Mr. Dillon, who had just returned from the Inter-American Economics & Social Conference at Punta del Este, Uruguary, was given a reception in the Blue Room.  Mrs. Dillon also attended as did Secretary of State Dean Rusk and his wife.

According to the United States Department of Treasury, Secretary Dillon was the most "unrepentant Republican in the midst of Kennedy's Democratic cabinet" and was "the most influential member" of JFK's team on economic policy.

The Miller Center says that Secretary Dillon was instrumental in convincing President Kennedy that the nation's "most pressing economic problem" was the balance of payment deficits.  Dillon also was instrumental in pushing JFK's tax cut legislation in the administration of President Lyndon B. Johnson.

*Clarence Douglas Dillion (1910-2003) was born in Geneva, Switzerland.  He attended Groton School & Harvard University.  CDD served as director & president of the US & Foreign Securities Corp.  CDD served in the US Navy in WWII & in 1953 became Ambassador to France & later deputy undersecretary of state for economic affairs in the Eisenehower administration.

CDD was Secretary of Treasury under JFK & LBJ from 1961 to 1965.  He served as president of the Metropolitan Museum of Art from 1970 to 1977 & chairman 1977-1983.

SOURCES

"C. Douglas Dillon (1961-1965) U.S. Department of Treasury, www.treasury.gov/

"C. Douglas Dillon (1961-1963) Secretary of Treasury," American President, www.millercenter.org/

Signature Card

Sent to John White in 1962

Photo by John White (2016)

C. Douglas Dillon

by Charles J. Fox