Charles Erwin Wilson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles Wilson
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| 5th United States Secretary of Defense | |
| In office January 28, 1953 – October 8, 1957 |
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| President | Dwight D. Eisenhower |
| Preceded by | Robert A. Lovett |
| Succeeded by | Neil H. McElroy |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 18, 1890 Minerva, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | September 26, 1961 (aged 71) Norwood, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Jessie Curtis |
| Education | Carnegie Mellon University (BS) |
Charles Erwin Wilson (born July 18, 1890 – died September 26, 1961) was an American engineer and a very successful businessman. He became the head of General Motors, a huge car company. Later, he served as the United States Secretary of Defense (like the boss of the military) for President Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1953 to 1957. People called him "Engine Charlie" because of his background with engines and cars. After the Korean War, he worked to lower the country's defense spending.
Contents
Early Life and First Jobs
Charles Wilson was born in Minerva, Ohio. His parents were Thomas E. and Rosalind Wilson. He loved learning about how things work. In 1909, he earned a degree in electrical engineering. This was from the Carnegie Institute of Technology.
After college, he joined the Westinghouse Electric Company in Pittsburgh. There, he helped design electrical parts for cars. During World War I, he also helped create special generators for the Army and Navy. Charles Wilson married Jessie Ann Curtis on September 11, 1912. They had five children together.
Leading General Motors
In 1919, Wilson joined Remy Electric. This company was part of General Motors. He quickly became their chief engineer and sales manager. By January 1941, he was the president of all of General Motors.
During World War II, Wilson led General Motors to make many things for the war effort. They produced a huge amount of defense equipment. For his important work, he received the Medal for Merit in 1946. He was still the CEO of General Motors when President Eisenhower chose him to be Secretary of Defense in 1953.
Becoming Secretary of Defense
Getting Approved for the Job
When President Eisenhower nominated Charles Wilson, there was a bit of a debate. This happened during his approval hearings in the Senate. The issue was that Wilson owned a lot of stock in General Motors. This stock was worth more than $2.5 million at the time.
Senators worried if he could make fair decisions for the country. They wondered if his choices might help General Motors too much. Wilson agreed to sell his stock to avoid any conflicts of interest. During the hearings, he famously said that what was good for the country was also good for General Motors. This quote is often misremembered as "What's good for General Motors is good for the country." Wilson tried to correct this misunderstanding for years.
Finally, the Senate approved him. He became Secretary of Defense with a vote of 77 to 6. He then started his new job at the Pentagon.
His Time as Secretary of Defense
Both Wilson and President Eisenhower wanted to make the US Department of Defense work better. They got Congress to approve a plan in June 1953. This plan changed how the Pentagon was organized. Wilson liked these changes. He thought they would help manage the Defense Department more efficiently. He treated the department like a big company. He gave more power to the leaders of the different military branches. This helped spread out the work and responsibility.
One of the biggest changes during Wilson's time was the "New Look" defense plan. President Eisenhower believed the U.S. needed a new way to protect itself. He wanted to keep the country safe but also spend less money.
The "New Look" plan had several main ideas:
- More Nuclear Weapons: The U.S. had an advantage in nuclear weapons. The plan relied more on these powerful weapons.
- Stronger Air Force: Strategic air power (planes that could deliver nuclear weapons) became very important.
- Fewer Ground Troops: The plan suggested reducing the number of regular soldiers. It was thought that allies would provide ground troops for their own defense.
- Better Home Defense: Protecting the U.S. homeland from attacks became a key part of the plan.
- Stronger Reserve Forces: The plan aimed to improve and enlarge reserve troops. This would help save money on active-duty forces.
Wilson worked hard to lower the defense budget. Spending went down at first, especially compared to the budgets during the Korean War. However, some people disagreed with the "New Look." The Army and Navy felt that focusing so much on air power and nuclear weapons was not balanced. They believed the country needed strong forces for all types of wars.
Wilson often said that defense spending should be enough to keep the country safe. But it should not be so high that it harms the country's economy. He believed true security came from more than just weapons.
Dealing with Military Branches
The "New Look" caused more competition among the different military branches. They argued about their roles, especially with new weapons like missiles. Wilson had to step in to solve these disagreements.
For example, he set clear rules for what kind of aircraft the Army could use. He also decided that the Air Force would be in charge of most tactical support for the Army. This meant the Air Force would help the Army with air attacks. He also made sure the Air Force handled land-based long-range missiles. The Navy was responsible for ship-based long-range missiles.
Wilson did not push for the military branches to become one single force. He believed that even if everyone wore the same uniform, they would still have disagreements.
Public Comments
Charles Wilson was known for being honest and speaking his mind. Sometimes, his casual remarks caused problems. For example, in 1957, he made a comment about some people who joined the National Guard during the Korean War. He called them "draft dodgers." This caused a lot of anger, and even President Eisenhower said it was an "unwise statement." Another time, he jokingly called the White House a "dung hill," which also caused a stir.
Leaving Office and Later Life
Wilson decided to retire shortly after President Eisenhower started his second term. He left his job on October 8, 1957. President Eisenhower praised Wilson. He said that under Wilson, the country's security forces became stronger. He also said Wilson managed the Defense Department well, keeping the economy healthy.
On October 9, 1957, President Eisenhower gave Wilson the Medal of Freedom.
After leaving the Pentagon, Wilson went back to Michigan. He spent his time on business and with his family. He passed away in Norwood, Louisiana, and was buried in Acacia Park Cemetery in Beverly Hills, Michigan.
Rules for Human Experiments
While he was Secretary of Defense, Wilson put in place stronger rules against testing on people. In 1953, he issued the "Wilson Memo." This memo made the military follow the Nuremberg Code. This code says that people must agree in writing to be part of any medical experiment. They must know what the experiment is about.
Wilson wrote that military personnel and civilians could take part in research. This was especially true for studies on defense against atomic, biological, or chemical weapons.
Historians Jonathan Moreno and Susan Lederer wrote about the Wilson Memo. They said it was kept secret until 1975. This made it hard for researchers to know about it. They found that the Air Force and Army tried to follow the rules. However, there were still some problems with how well they were followed in practice.
'Dynamic Programming' Term
A mathematician named Richard Bellman wrote about how the term "dynamic programming" came to be. He said that Charles Wilson did not like the word "research."
Bellman explained that in the 1950s, it was hard to do mathematical research. Wilson, as Secretary of Defense, really disliked the word "research." Bellman worked for a company called RAND Corporation, which worked for the Air Force. Wilson was essentially their boss.
So, Bellman felt he needed to find a new name for his work. He wanted to hide the fact that he was doing mathematics. He chose the word "programming" because he was interested in planning. He added "dynamic" to show that it was about things changing over time. He thought "dynamic programming" was a good name. It was a term that no one, not even a politician, could object to.
Who Was "Engine Charlie"?
It's important not to confuse Charles Erwin Wilson with Charles Edward Wilson. That Charles Wilson was the CEO of General Electric. He also worked for President Truman. To tell them apart, Charles Erwin Wilson was called "Engine Charlie." The other Charles Wilson was called "Electric Charlie."
Images for kids
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Charles Wilson at General Motors
