Togo D. West Jr.

Togo Dennis West Jr. (June 21, 1942 – March 8, 2018) was an American attorney and public official. A Democrat, he was the third person to occupy the post of Secretary of Veterans Affairs during the Bill Clinton administration serving from 1998 until his resignation in 2000. He was the second African American to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs.[1][2]

Togo West
3rd United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs
In office May 4, 1998 – July 10, 2000
President	Bill Clinton
Preceded by	Jesse Brown
Succeeded by	Anthony Principi
16th United States Secretary of the Army
In office November 22, 1993 – May 4, 1998
President	Bill Clinton
Preceded by	Gordon Sullivan (Acting)
Succeeded by	Mike Walker (Acting)
General Counsel of the Department of Defense
In office February 1, 1980 – January 20, 1981
President	Jimmy Carter
Preceded by	Deanne C. Siemer
Succeeded by	William Howard Taft IV
General Counsel of the Navy
In office April 22, 1977 – January 13, 1979
President	Jimmy Carter
Preceded by	Grey Lewis
Succeeded by	Coleman Hicks
Personal details
Born	Togo Dennis West Jr. (1942-06-21)June 21, 1942 Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.
Died	March 8, 2018(2018-03-08) (aged 75) between Barbados and Puerto Rico
Resting place	Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Virginia
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Gail Berry
Children	2 daughters
Education	Howard University (BS, JD)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1965–1973
Rank	Captain
Unit	Army Judge Advocate General's Corps
Awards	Legion of Merit Meritorious Service Medal

Early life

West was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where he became an Eagle Scout with Bronze Palms, and attended Atkins High School (where his parents were teachers), graduating as valedictorian in 1959.[3][2]

He subsequently entered Howard University, obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering in 1965.[2] He received his Juris Doctor degree from the Howard University School of Law in 1968, receiving cum laude honors and graduating first in his class.[4]

While a freshman at Howard University, he became a brother of Zeta Phi chapter of Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity.[5] West was a member of the Kappa Psi chapter of Omega Psi Phi fraternity.[5][2]

Early career

While a law student at Howard, West became the managing editor for the Howard Law Journal.[2] Around that time, he met Gail Berry, who later became his wife.[1]

A member of St. John's Episcopal Church, Lafayette Square, he served as a vestryman and Senior Warden.[5]

West was a member of the National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America, the organization's governing body.[3] He was named a Distinguished Eagle Scout by the Boy Scouts of America and was awarded the Silver Buffalo Award for his national contributions to America's youth.[3] He previously served as the President of the National Capital Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America.[3]

Military and government career

After completing law school and clerking for a federal judge, West entered the United States Army and served in the Judge Advocate General's Corps.[4] He was in the Army Field Artillery Corps from 1965–68 and the Army Judge Advocate General's Corps from 1969 to 1973.[1]

From his military service, he earned the Legion of Merit and the Meritorious Service Medal.[4] He subsequently practiced law at the firm of Covington & Burling before being appointed an Associate Deputy Attorney General in the administration of President Gerald Ford.[1]

West held several posts in the administration of Jimmy Carter: General Counsel of the Navy (1977–79), Special Assistant to the Secretary and to the Deputy Secretary of Defense (1979), and General Counsel of the Department of Defense (1980–81).[1] As the Secretary of the Army, West weighed in on the Aberdeen scandal, prompting stricter enforcement and investigation into the Army's sexual harassment policies.[4]

West returned to private practice in 1981 with the firm of Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler and later worked as senior vice president for government relations of the Northrop Corporation until he became a member of the Clinton administration.[6]

West was nominated by President Bill Clinton on January 27, 1998, during Clinton's second term, and was confirmed by the Senate on May 4, 1998.[4] He had previously served as Secretary of the Army from 1993 to 1998.[4] From January 2, 1998, through May 4, 1998, he served a dual role as Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of the Army while awaiting confirmation as Secretary of Veterans Affairs.[1]

Post-government career

After leaving office, West practiced law and served on the boards of various institutions.[1] From 2004 to 2006, he served as president of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, a Washington-based think tank focused on issues of concern to minorities.[7] He was a strong supporter of and past board member of the Mount Vernon preservation society.[1]

West and former Chief of Naval Operations retired Admiral Vernon Clark led the Defense Department's investigation into the Fort Hood massacre, issuing a report in January 2010.[8]

West died of a heart attack on March 8, 2018, at the age of 75, while on a cruise between Barbados and Puerto Rico.[1]

References

1. Togo D. West Jr., Clinton appointee who investigated Army abuses and led veterans affairs, dies at 75
2. "History Makers: Biography of Togo D. West". History Makers. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
3. Boy Scouts of America Annual Report 2011
4. "Togo D. West Jr., Clinton appointee who led Veterans Affairs and investigated Army abuses, dies at 75". Los Angeles Times. March 11, 2018. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
5. "Fall 2004: Togo West". Alpha Phi Omega @ VCU. Alpha Phi Omega, Alpha Delta Iota Chapter. Archived from the original on February 9, 2005. Retrieved December 10, 2008.
6. American President: Bill Clinton
7. "Togo West". Center for Infrastructure Protection & Homeland Security. George Mason University. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
8. Bumiller, Elisabeth; Shane, Scott (January 15, 2010). "Pentagon Report on Fort Hood Details Failures". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 26, 2015.

External links

• Appearances on C-SPAN

Political offices
Preceded by Grey Lewis	General Counsel of the Navy 1977–1979	Succeeded by Coleman Hicks
Preceded by Gordon Sullivan Acting	United States Secretary of the Army 1993–1997	Succeeded by Mike Walker Acting
Preceded by Jesse Brown	United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs 1998–2000	Succeeded by Anthony Principi