Melvin Laird
1922 – 2016

Melvin Laird

20th-century American politician (1922–2016)

military officerministerpolitician
Born
1922-09-01, Omaha
Died
2016-11-16
Birthplace state
Nebraska

Biography

Melvin Laird was born in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1922 and worked as a military officer, minister, and politician. He served in the House of Representatives for Wisconsin's 7th district from 1953 to 1969, then as Secretary of Defense under President Richard Nixon from 1969 to 1973. During his tenure at the Defense Department, he shaped the administration's approach to withdrawing American soldiers from the Vietnam War and introduced the term "Vietnamization" to describe the transfer of combat responsibility to South Vietnamese forces. He died in 2016.

Occupation

Melvin Laird is recorded as a military officer, a minister and a politician, born in Nebraska (1922–2016).

Connections to Nebraska

Melvin Laird was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1922. Explore other notable figures from Nebraska, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Nebraska›Nebraskahistory ›Historic sites in Nebraska›
Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Omaha

Melvin Laird came from Omaha. A full Aubrey report on Omaha pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Omaha report
Or see a real report first

More notable figures from Nebraska

Other historical figures born in Nebraska, ranked by historical prominence.

Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
president of the United States from 1974 to 1977 (1913–2006)
Marlon Brando
Marlon Brando
American actor (1924–2004)
Malcolm X
Malcolm X
American Black rights activist (1925–1965)
Dick Cheney
Dick Cheney
Vice President of the United States from 2001 to 2009 (1941–2025)
Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire
American dancer, actor, and singer (1899–1987)
Henry Fonda
Henry Fonda
American actor (1905–1982)
Harold Lloyd
Harold Lloyd
American actor and comedian (1893–1971)

Frequently asked about Melvin Laird

Who was Melvin Laird?
Melvin Laird was 20th-century American politician (1922–2016), born in Nebraska (1922 – 2016).
When and where was Melvin Laird born?
Melvin Laird was born on 1922-09-01 in Omaha.
When did Melvin Laird die?
Melvin died on 2016-11-16.
What was Melvin Laird known for?
Melvin Laird is recorded as a military officer, a minister and a politician.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your locationView a free sample report