Malcolm Baldrige, Jr.

For his father the Congressman from Nebraska, see Howard M. Baldrige.

Malcolm Baldrige, Jr.
26th United States Secretary of Commerce
In office January 20, 1981 – July 25, 1987
President	Ronald Reagan
Preceded by	Philip Klutznick
Succeeded by	William Verity, Jr.
Personal details
Born	October 4, 1922(1922-10-04) Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Died	July 25, 1987(1987-07-25) (aged 64) California, U.S.
Spouse(s)	Margaret Baldrige
Alma mater	Yale University
Occupation	Foundryman, Rodeo performer, Businessman
Religion	Congregationalist

Howard Malcolm "Mac" Baldrige, Jr. (October 4, 1922 – July 25, 1987) was the 26th United States Secretary of Commerce. He was the son of H. Malcolm Baldrige, a Congressman from Nebraska, and the brother of Letitia Baldrige.

Malcolm Baldrige was nominated to be Secretary of Commerce by President-elect Ronald Reagan on December 11, 1980, and confirmed by the United States Senate on January 22, 1981. During his tenure, Baldrige played a major role in developing and carrying out Administration trade policy. He took the lead in resolving difficulties in technology transfers with China and India. Baldrige held the first Cabinet-level talks with the Soviet Union in seven years which paved the way for increased access for U.S. firms to the Soviet market. He was highly regarded by the world's most preeminent leaders.

Malcolm Baldrige with Imelda Marcos

Leading the Administration's effort to pass the Export Trading Company Act of 1982, Baldrige was named by the President to chair a Cabinet-level Trade Strike Force to search out unfair trading practices and recommend ways to end those practices. He was the leader in the reform of the nation's antitrust laws.

Baldrige's award-winning managerial excellence contributed to long-term improvement in economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in government. Within the Commerce Department, Baldrige reduced the budget by more than 30% and administrative personnel by 25%.

Prior to entering the Cabinet, Baldrige was chairman and chief executive officer of Scovill, Inc., Waterbury, Connecticut. Having joined Scovill in 1962, he is credited with leading its transformation to a highly diversified manufacturer of consumer, housing and industrial goods from a financially troubled brass mill.

Baldrige began his career in the manufacturing industry in 1947 as a foundry hand in an iron company in Connecticut and rose to the presidency of that company by 1960. During World War II, Baldrige served in combat in the Pacific as Captain in the 27th Infantry Division. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska to H. Malcolm Baldrige, and graduated from Yale University with a bachelor's degree in 1944. At Yale he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon.

Baldrige worked during his boyhood as a ranch hand and earned several awards as a professional team roper on the rodeo circuit. He was a Professional Rodeo Man of the Year in 1980 and was installed in the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City in 1999. Baldrige once appeared on the television game show To Tell the Truth pretending to be rodeo tie-down roping champion Dean Oliver.

Howard Malcolm Baldrige

Malcolm Baldrige died July 25, 1987, in a rodeo accident in California at the age of sixty-four. His service as Secretary of Commerce was one of the longest in history. He is said to have been possibly the most colorful Secretary of Commerce and one of the most beloved. He is survived by his wife Margaret and his two children.^[1]

Baldrige was a proponent of quality management as a key to this country's prosperity and long-term strength. He took a personal interest in the legislation that became the Quality Improvement Act of 1987 and helped draft one of the early versions. In recognition of his contributions, Congress named the annual award (see Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award) for product quality in his honor.^[2]

On October 17, 1988, Baldridge was presented, posthumously, with the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Ronald Reagan.

Notes

1. ^ Malcolm Baldrige Biography and photo image
2. ^ Frequently Asked Questions and Answers about the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (November 2006)

External links

• Howard M. Baldrige at Find-A-Grave
• Remarks at the Presentation Ceremony for the Presidential Medal of Freedom - October 17, 1988

Political offices
Preceded by Philip Morris Klutznick	United States Secretary of Commerce Served under: Ronald Reagan January 20, 1981 – July 25, 1987	Succeeded by William Verity, Jr.

Persondata
Name	Baldrige, Malcolm
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	October 4, 1922
Place of birth	Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Date of death	July 25, 1987
Place of death	California, U.S.