LUCIUS CLAY (1947-74)

U.S. Army officer who became the first director of civilian affairs in defeated Germany after the end of World War II.

Graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. (1918), Clay served in army engineer assignments before becoming head of the first national civil airport program (1940-41). Soon after the U.S. entrance into the war (december 1941), he became a leading production and supply specialist and was placed in charge of the army procurement program (1942-44).

After brief assignments as base section commander in Normandy and as deputy for war mobilization and reconversion, Clay was assigned by Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt to be deputy military governor in Germany (1945) under Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Two years later he was elevated to commander in chief of the U.S. forces in Europe and military governor of the U.S. Zone in Germany. During these demanding years, he was sensitive to the need for balancing American public opinion with the problems of the German economy.

He had to gauge the requirements of food and shelter for a devastated civilian population and simultaneously supervise a de-Nazification and de-industrialization program that would harmonize with the postwar recovery of Germany´s neighbours.

In 1948-49 his administration was marked by the successful Allied airlift of food and supplies into Berlin during the Soviet blockade of that city.

Following his retirement in May 1949 with the rank of general and numerous decorations, Clay entered private business.

He also became active in plitics as a suporter and adviser of President Eisenhower (1953-61).

In 1961 and 1962 Pres. John F. Kennedy asked Clay to serve as his personal representative in Berlin, with the rank of ambassador, to help deal with the critical situation that had developed among the four occupying powers concerning that city´s future status.