McNamara, General Dynamics, and the F-111: A business and political history
Dixon, Ford
Dixon, Ford
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Date
1972
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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the interrelated history of Robert McNamara, General Dynamics Corporation, and the aircraft, the F-111, in the decade between 1960 and 1970. To fulfill this examination, such topics as the origins of the TFX, the concept of commonality, and the nature of the competition in the aircraft industry was investigated. After establishing the background of the TFX, .it was shown that the appointment of Robert McNamara as Secretary of Defense in 1960 set off a chain of events which resulted in the Senator John McClellan hearings of 1963. The effects of the McClellan hearings and the resulting publicity were examined in connection with a brief survey of the history of the General Dynamics Corporation. Such areas as the corporate structure, the market, and the financial condition of the company were studied. Major conclusions of the study were that the TFX was an illogical concept from the beginning, that McNamara threatened the military establishment with the TFX, .and that the McClellan hearings were conducted in such a manner as to permanently damage the reputations of both the Secretary of Defense and the Corporation. The final conclusion of the study was that the future of the F-111 program and that of its builder was severely limited by the McClellan hearings and that future military contracts for General Dynamics will be subjected to the closest scrutiny by Congress.
Contents
Subject
Subject(s)
McNamara, Robert S., 1916-General Dynamics Corporation
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Genre
Dissertation
Description
Format
iv, 203 leaves, bound : chart
Department
History