Basic Information
Name: Clark McAdams Clifford
Nickname: CC, Clark Kentford
Born: December 25, 1906 (Merry Xmas, Mom and Dad)
Died: October 10, 1998
Nationality: American
Hometown: Fort Scott, Kansas
WORK & EDUCATION
Occupation: Lawyer, Naval Assistant, White House Counsel—Truman Advisor, Chairman of the President's Intelligence Board (under JFK), Secretary of Defense (1968-1969 under LBJ)
Education: Washington University (Undergrad, Law School)
FAMILY & FRIENDS
Parents: Frank Clifford, Georgia McAdams Clifford
Spouse: Margery Pepperell "Marny" Kimball
Children: Three daughters—Margery "Gery" Clifford, Joyce Clifford Burland, Randall Clifford Wright
Friends: Harry Truman, George Elsey, George Marshall; Later years: JFK, Jimmy Carter
Foes: Joseph Stalin, Henry Wallace, Ronald Reagan (once referred to Reagan as an "amiable dunce")
Analysis
Another of Truman's most trusted cabinet members, Clark Clifford happened to meet the president by chance when he was working as an assistant to Truman's Naval Advisor. The two hit it off immediately and once Clifford was discharged from the Navy, he almost never left the President's side.
Clifford and Truman's friendship was basically like the jock becoming best friends with the high school dropout. On one hand, there was Clifford: super rich, Ivy-bred, known for his sense of refinement, charm, and elegance, And on the other hand, there was Truman, a guy who had once been bankrupt, had no college education…and liked to swear.
They definitely had that opposites attract thing going for them. And it worked.
When Truman wanted a secret report detailing the state of Soviet-American relations, he knew just who to ask. A huge chunk of the Truman Doctrine is taken straight from the Clifford-Elsey Report CC and Elsey put together in response to Truman's request. That whole thing about providing support to countries fighting "subjugation by armed minorities or by outside pressures"? Yeah, that was from this report.
Hogwarts House: Gryffindor: all around good guy, charming, loyal, dedicated, was brave enough to recommend LBJ end the war in Vietnam before anyone else would.