Cohen, William Sebastian (1940-…), was United States secretary of defense from 1997 to 2001, under President Bill Clinton. He was the first Republican nominated for that position by a Democratic president.
Cohen was born on Aug. 28, 1940, in Bangor, Maine. He received a bachelor’s degree from Bowdoin College in 1962 and a law degree from Boston University in 1965. Cohen practiced law in Bangor from 1965 to 1972. In 1971, at the age of 31, he became the city’s youngest mayor ever. He held the position until 1972.
From 1973 to 1979, Cohen served in the U.S. House of Representatives as a Republican from Maine. From 1979 to 1997, he represented Maine in the U.S. Senate. Cohen chaired the Senate Special Committee on Aging and served on committees on governmental affairs, intelligence, and the armed services. Although he had never served in the military, he became known in the Senate for his expertise on defense issues. Cohen has written several books, including nonfiction works, mystery novels, and poetry collections.
