C. Douglas Dillon

Clarence Douglas Dillon (August 21, 1909 – January 10, 2003) was an influential American diplomat and politician. He served as U.S. Ambassador to France from 1953 to 1957 and was the 57th Secretary of the Treasury from 1961 to 1965. Notably, he was a member of the Executive Committee of the National Security Council during the Cuban Missile Crisis, where he played a role in shaping U.S. policy. As Secretary of the Treasury, he implemented conservative economic strategies aimed at stabilizing the U.S.

Early Life

Dillon was born in Geneva, Switzerland, to American parents, Anne McEldin (née Douglass) and financier Clarence Dillon. His upbringing was marked by privilege, but his paternal roots trace back to Samuel Lapowski, a poor Jewish immigrant from Poland who settled in Texas after the Civil War. Dillon's father later anglicized the family name from "Dylion" to Dillon. His mother came from the Graham family, with ancestral ties to Tamrawer Castle in Scotland.

Dillon's education began at Pine Lodge School in Lakehurst, New Jersey, followed by Groton School in Massachusetts. He went on to Harvard College, graduating magna cum laude in American history and literature in 1931. During his senior year, he also earned a varsity letter in football.