Caspar Weinberger

Caspar Willard Weinberger (born August 18, 1917) is best known as United States Secretary of Defense under President Ronald Reagan from 1981 through 1987, and for his related roles in the Strategic Defense Initiative program (popularly known as Star Wars), and in the Iran-Contra Affair.

Career highlights

• Election to the California State Assembly in 1952, 1954 and 1956.
• Chairman of the California Republican Party in 1962.
• Governor Ronald Reagan named him chairman of the Commission on California State Government Organization and Economy in 1967.
• Appointed as California State Director of Finance early in 1968.
• In January 1970 he became chairman of the Federal Trade Commission
• Subsequently serving as deputy director (1970-72) and director (1972-73) of the Office of Management and Budget under President Richard Nixon.
• Secretary of the United States Department of Health, Education and Welfare (HEW) 1973 - 1975 under President Richard Nixon.
• Early 1980s - strong proponent of the Strategic Defense Initiative, Star Wars
• 1986 - Iran-Contra Affair
• He was the United States Secretary of Defense from 1982 through 1987 under President Ronald Reagan.