James R. Schlesinger

Born: 1929-02-15

James Rodney Schlesinger (February 15, 1929 – March 27, 2014) was an American economist and public servant who was best known for serving as Secretary of Defense from 1973 to 1975 under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford. Prior to becoming Secretary of Defense, he served as Chair of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) from 1971 to 1973, and as CIA Director for a few months in 1973. He became America's first Secretary of Energy under Jimmy Carter in 1977, serving until 1979. 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 (later the F-16) helped ensure that they were carried to completion.


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The Fall of Saigon

as Self
Released: 1995-01-01

In April 1975 -- despite a ceasefire agreement -- the North Vietnamese communists took Saigon...

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Ghosts of Abu Ghraib

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2007-01-19

An examination of the prisoner abuse scandal involving U.S. soldiers and detainees at Iraq's Abu...

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Henry Kissinger: Secrets of a Superpower

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Released: 2008-12-15

Though Henry Kissinger is often giving short statements to the media, he refuses detailed...

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The Man Nobody Knew: In Search of My Father, CIA Spymaster William Colby

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Released: 2011-09-23

A personal exploration into the life of America's controversial former CIA Director told through...

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The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money & Power

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Released: 1992-12-07

The globe-spanning story of the oil industry from the first strikes of the 19th century through...

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First Strike

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Released: 1979-01-01

Dramatization of a devastating nuclear strike against the United States by the Soviet Union,...

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U.S. Strategic Nuclear Policy

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Released: 2005-01-01

U.S. Strategic Nuclear Policy, An Oral History explores the origins of United States strategic...

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NOVA

as Self (archive footage)
First aired: 1974-03-03

PBS' premier science series helps viewers of all ages explore the science behind the headlines....

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60 Minutes

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First aired: 1968-09-24

America's popular television News magazine in which an ever changing team of CBS News...

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