U.S. Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare during the Jimmy Carter administration (January 25, 1977 - August 3, 1979).
Member of the Democratic Party.
Since 1992, he has been the chairman of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA), a think/action organization which he founded.
Graduated from College of the Holy Cross in 1952 and graduated from Harvard Law School in 1955.
Held various legal positions in the United States Department of Defense, eventually becoming the general counsel of the United States Army. He was awarded the Distinguished Civilian Service Medal.