Dr. James Rodney Schlesinger is an American politician. He is best known for serving as Secretary of Defense from 1973 to 1975 under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. He became America's first Secretary of Energy under Jimmy Carter. While Secretary of Defense, he opposed amnesty for draft resisters, and pressed for development of more sophisticated nuclear weapon systems. Additionally, his support for the A-10 and the lightweight fighter program helped ensure that they were carried to completion. James Rodney Schlesinger was born in New York City, the son of Jewish parents, Julius... and Rhea Lillian Schlesinger. His mother was a Lithuanian emigrant from what was then part of the Russian Empire. James was educated at the Horace Mann School and Harvard University, where he earned a B.A. , M.A. , and Ph.D. in economics. Between 1955 and 1963 he taught economics at the University of Virginia and in 1960 published The Political Economy of National Security. In 1963, he moved to the Rand Corporation, where he worked until 1969, in the later years as director of strategic studies.
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| Birthdate: | February 15, 1929 |
| Birthplace: | New York City |
| Age: | 83 |
| Education: | Horace Mann School, Harvard University |
| Religion: | Lutheranism |
| Also known as: | James Schlesinger |