The Automotive Hall of Fame has a fancy website, a big building and lots of very important people on its board of directors. Yet its explanation for why Robert S. McNamara was inducted has surprisingly basic fact errors.
For example, the website states that “McNamara retired from Ford in 1963 to accept President John F. Kennedy’s invitation to serve in his cabinet as Secretary of Defense” (AHF, 2024). McNamara actually joined the administration on Jan. 21, 1961 (OSD, 2024). And why say that he “retired” when he was in his mid-40s at the time (Weiner, 2009)?
Another blooper was that “McNamara encouraged the development of Ford’s first compact cars, the reliable Falcon and Comet. The successes of these two models paved the way for the 1957 Fairlane, which was primarily responsible for Ford outselling Chevrolet for the first time in 30 years” (AHF, 2024).
Of course, the Falcon and Comet were introduced three years after the 1957 Fairlane. And since we’re nitpicking, an Automotive News reporter stated that Ford had last outsold Chevrolet 22 years earlier (Sherefkin, 2009) while other sources point to 20 years (auto editors of Consumer Guide, 1993; Wikipedia, 2023).
Career summary leaves out a key role at Ford
The Hall of Fame is all about resume polishing, so you’d think that it would thoroughly cover an inductee’s career arc within the auto industry. That wasn’t the case here. The website states, “McNamara was appointed Controller in 1949 and advanced to General Manager of Ford division in 1949. In 1960, he was selected to serve as President” (AHF, 2024).
Aaron Severson (2008, 2013) has offered a more complete — and accurate — overview: McNamara became Ford’s controller in mid-1948, the Ford Division’s general manager in January 1955, vice president of the Car and Truck Group in May 1957, and president in November 1960. Severson’s timeline aligns with that of Thomas Bonsall’s (2002).
It’s odd that the Hall of Fame doesn’t mention VP of the Car and Truck Group because there McNamara arguably had his greatest impact on the Ford Motor Company, such as by opposing the Edsel and championing compact cars (MacKenzie, 2009). And how much could McNamara have accomplished as president when he reportedly held that position only five weeks before accepting an invitation to join the Kennedy administration (OSD, 2024)?
Why doesn’t the Hall of Fame draw upon a historian?
I would have thought that the Hall of Fame would draw upon someone to edit the content of their website for factual accuracy. As a case in point, if they ran their draft copy through an automotive historian such as Severson, it’s a pretty safe bet that none of these errors would have occurred.
McNamara was inducted way back in 1995, so it makes me wonder how long these inaccuracies have been hanging out there — and whether other inductees have received similarly sloppy treatment.
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RE:SOURCES
- AHF; 2024. “Robert S. McNamara: Inducted 1995.” Automotive Hall of Fame. Accessed Jan. 17.
- Auto editors of Consumer Guide; 1993. Encyclopedia of American Cars. Publications International, Lincolnwood, Ill.
- Bonsall, Thomas E.; 2002. Disaster in Dearborn: The Story of the Edsel. Stanford General Books, Stanford, CA.
- MacKenzie, Angus; 2009. “Robert McNamara: Before Vietnam, There Was Ford.” MotorTrend. Posted July 7.
- OSD; 2024. “Robert S. McNamara.” Historical Office, Office of the Secretary of Defense. Accessed Jan. 17.
- Severson, Aaron; 2009. “The Salesman and the Statistician: Robert McNamara, Lee Iacocca, and the Ford Falcon.” Ate Up With Motor. Posted Nov. 2.
- ——; 2013. “A Historical Note: Ford General Managers.” Ate Up With Motor. Posted March 13.
- Sherefkin, Robert; 2009. “The rise of the bean counter: Robert S. McNamara.” Automotive News. Posted July 6.
- Weiner, Tim; 2009. “Robert S. McNamara, Architect of a Futile War, Dies at 93.” The New York Times. Posted July 6.
- Wikipedia; 2023. “U.S. Automobile Production Figures.” Page last edited Sept. 5.
ADVERTISING & BROCHURES
- oldcaradvertising.com: Ford (1957); Ford Falcon (1960)
PHOTOGRAPHY:
- Banner image: Official portrait of Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara dated Jan. 12, 1961 via Wikipedia (public domain).
I know I am preaching to the choir here, but I am for honesty, warts and all. I have a very good friend who is a great media reporter, writer and racing circuit historian, except for some very ugly truths, which he chooses to keep hidden to himself and upon which he will never share. On some observable facts, many local sports journalists know the score, but are truly of an older generation and never report or judge in public. (Some may share this information aloud when well-lubricated, however.) Having worked in and around Indianapolis media for over 45-years, I too have witnessed many local people in less than their optimal condition, making poor decisions and representing themselves and their organizations in less-than-ideal circumstances, especially in conversations with professional sports franchise owners “on-the-record”.
There are raging debates, for example, among local historians about Indianapolis automobile dealer, Prest-o-lite owner, co-founder of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and real-estate entrepreneur (Miami, FL) Carl G. Fisher. One of the best historians locally refuses to discuss his years-long research about the more alleged sordid aspects of Fisher’s life. Fear of retaliation from vested, established interests is one of those fears. (Just ask any serious biographer who tried to interview Henry Ford the First and Hank the Duece !)
I am a student of histories: Civilization, science, radio, mechanical contrivances and conveyances, politics and people. I want honesty and detail. I want to look into the eyes and hearts of the souls. I don’t necessarily need the gory details on one’s sexual peccadilloes, but I want understanding, if at all possible.
When it comes to historical subjects, l’ll “vote” for more historians and fewer journalists. Journalists can put forward many inaccuracies and make them sound good – and in a very entertaining way, too – kind of like some politicians. And both those professions often make big messes.