Willard Thorp

Who was Willard Thorp?

Willard L. Thorp was an economist and academic who served three US Presidents, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower as an advisor in both domestic and foreign affairs. He helped draft the Marshall Plan and was also prominent in business and education.

He was Assistant Secretary of State under Truman for Economic Affairs 1946–1952; A Member of the U.S. delegation serving as special adviser on economic matters at the Paris Peace Conference of 1946; special adviser on economic matters at the New York meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers in 1946; and American representative to the United Nations General Assembly, 1947–48.

He came under great strain and eventually resigned during the McCarthy 'witch-hunt' investigations into alleged Communists 1950–1954.