Biography:Willard Thorp

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Short description: American economist and presidential advisor
Willard Thorp
Monopoly Committee told huge corporations control American business. Washington, D.C., Dec. 2. Dr. Willard Thorp, Dun and Bradstreet Economist now with the Commerce Department, today by LCCN2016874478.jpg
Thorp testifies at public hearings of the Joint Congressional Executive Monopoly Committee (December 2, 1938)
1st Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs
In office
1946–1952
PresidentHarry S. Truman
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byHarold F. Linder
Personal details
Born
Willard Long Thorp

Oswego, New York, U.S.
DiedMay 10, 1992(1992-05-10) (aged 92)
Pelham, Massachusetts, U.S.
Alma materAmherst College
ProfessionEconomist, academic

Willard Long Thorp (May 24, 1899 – May 10, 1992) was an American economist and academic who served three US Presidents, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower as an advisor in both domestic and foreign affairs. He helped draft the Marshall Plan and was also prominent in business and education.[1]

Biography

He was born on 24 May 1899 in Oswego, New York. He was raised in Chelsea, Massachusetts and Duluth, Minnesota. He graduated Amherst College in 1920.[2] In 1939 he was elected as a Fellow of the American Statistical Association.[3]

He was Assistant Secretary of State under Truman for Economic Affairs 1946–1952;[1] a member of the U.S. delegation serving as special adviser on economic matters at the Paris Peace Conference of 1946;[1] special adviser on economic matters at the New York meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers in 1946;[4] and American representative to the United Nations General Assembly, 1947–48.[4]

He came under great strain during the McCarthy 'witch-hunt' investigations into alleged Communists 1950–1954[4] and eventually resigned, becoming a professor at Amherst College again instead.[1] In 1957, he served for a number of weeks as interim president of the college.[2]

He died on 10 May 1992 in Pelham, Massachusetts.

Works

  • Business Annals (New York: National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc., 1926)

References

External links