Dillon, Clarence Douglas

Dillon, Clarence Douglas dĭl´ən [key], 1909–2003, U.S. secretary of the treasury (1961–65), b. Geneva, Switzerland (of American parents). After graduation (1931) from Harvard he became a member of the New York Stock Exchange and joined the family investment firm, becoming its chairman in 1946. Dillon became active in Republican politics and in 1953 was appointed ambassador to France. In 1958 he was appointed under secretary of state for economic affairs and strongly advocated free trade and close cooperation with the European Economic Community (or Common Market, now the European Union ). Despite Dillon's support of the Republican presidential candidate in 1960, President Kennedy chose him as secretary of the treasury. Dillon's policies included an overhaul of U.S. foreign trade policy. Retiring (1965) from public life, he returned to the world of finance. Dillon was later (1977–83) chairman of the board of trustees of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City.

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