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Walt Rostow
American economist, political theorist and government official (1916–2003) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Walt Whitman Rostow OBE (rahs-TOU; October 7, 1916 – February 13, 2003) was an American economist, professor and political theorist who served as national security advisor to president of the United States Lyndon B. Johnson from 1966 to 1969.[1][2]
Walt Rostow | |
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![]() Rostow in 1968 | |
6th United States National Security Advisor | |
In office April 1, 1966 – January 20, 1969 | |
President | Lyndon B. Johnson |
Deputy | Francis Bator |
Preceded by | Mac Bundy |
Succeeded by | Henry Kissinger |
14th Counselor of the United States Department of State | |
In office December 4, 1961 – March 31, 1966 | |
President | John F. Kennedy Lyndon Johnson |
Preceded by | George McGhee |
Succeeded by | Robert Bowie |
6th Director of Policy Planning | |
In office December 4, 1961 – March 31, 1966 | |
President | John F. Kennedy Lyndon Johnson |
Preceded by | George McGhee |
Succeeded by | Henry Owen |
1st Deputy National Security Advisor | |
In office January 20, 1961 – December 4, 1961 | |
President | John F. Kennedy |
Preceded by | Position established |
Succeeded by | Carl Kaysen |
Personal details | |
Born | Walt Whitman Rostow (1916-10-07)October 7, 1916 New York City, U.S. |
Died | February 13, 2003(2003-02-13) (aged 86) Austin, Texas, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Elspeth Davies |
Children | 2 |
Education | Yale University (BA, MA, PhD) Balliol College, Oxford (BLitt) |
Rostow worked in the Office of Strategic Services during World War II and later was a foreign policy adviser and speechwriter for presidential candidate and then President John F. Kennedy; he is often credited with writing Kennedy's famous "New Frontier" speech.[3] Prominent for his role in shaping US foreign policy in Southeast Asia during the 1960s, he was a staunch anti-communist, noted for a belief in the efficacy of capitalism and free enterprise, and strongly supported US involvement in the Vietnam War. Rostow is known for his book The Stages of Economic Growth: A Non-Communist Manifesto (1960), which was used in several fields of social science. Rostow's theories were embraced by many officials in both the Kennedy and Johnson administrations as a possible counter to the increasing popularity of communism in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
His elder brother Eugene Rostow also held a number of high government foreign policy posts.