The dynastic rivalries among the Army, Navy and Air Force after World War II prompted President Truman to unify the services under a Secretary of Defense. Old Soldier Eisenhower stripped the individual service secretaries of their power to deploy troops. Later, the exigent Robert McNamara took command of all departmental decisions by unifying military-budgetary decisions through the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Last week Richard Nixon's Secretary of Defense, Melvin Laird, introduced his three service secretaries; all fit the pat tern of administrator now prescribed for the job.
Laird reappointed Stanley R. Resor, 51, who has been Secretary of the Army...
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