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Melvin Laird Steps Down as Secretary of Defense

January 29, 1973

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Secretary of Defense designate Elliot L. Richardson (right) talks with Senator John C. Stennis (D-MS), the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, prior to Richardson’s nomination hearing at the U.S. Capitol. (National Archives)

After four years in office, Melvin R. Laird—a main architect of Vietnamization policy—steps down as Secretary of Defense. He later serves as counselor to the president for domestic affairs from June 1973 until February 1974. Laird is succeeded as Secretary of Defense by Elliot L. Richardson.1

1Spencer C. Tucker, ed., The Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War: A Political, Social, and Military History (2nd edition; Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2011), 616; “Melvin R. Laird,” Historical Office, Office of the Secretary of Defense http://history.defense.gov/Multimedia/Biographies/ArticleView/tabid/8347/Article/9631/melvin-r-laird.aspx (link is external) (accessed 1/12/15).