World Bank Group Timeline
Robert S. McNamara becomes World Bank Group President
During his 13 years as World Bank Group president (1968-1981), McNamara will lead the largest and most rapid expansion of Bank lending in its history. The number of Bank staff will increase correspondingly. He will direct the Bank's attention to poverty and the sources of underdevelopment. Under McNamara, the Bank will significantly expand lending in sectors such as agriculture and urban poverty as well as social sectors like education and health.
Resource Gallery
Address to the Board of Governors by Robert S. McNamara
Document date: Sept. 30, 1968
The speech was President McNamara's first public speech as president of the World Bank Group.
International Bank Notes [Special farewell issue]
Document date: April 1, 1968
The issue of the International Bank Notes newsletter documents the transition from President Woods to President McNamara.
Interview with Robert S. McNamara
Interview date: Oct. 3, 1991
President McNamara was interviewed about his tenure at the World Bank Group on behalf of the World Bank Group Archives Oral History Program.
President McNamara arriving to work on his first day
May 1968
President McNamara becomes the fifth president of the World Bank Group (1894060; Credit: The World Bank).
Daily schedule for President McNamara's first day of work
April 1, 1968
President McNamara's first visitor is Hugh Ripman, Administration Department director. Later, he has lunch with former World Bank Group President George Woods (1773141).
William Clark diary entry for April 1, 1968
April 1, 1968
William Clark, incoming director of the Information and Public Affairs Department, describes his first day under President McNamara. McNamara describes himself as "a new boy who needs to learn," but Clark senses his new boss has "pretty decided views" (1557703).
The Development Philosophy of Robert S. McNamara
Document date: June 1, 1981
The booklet gathers together all of the principal statements President McNamara made during his tenure as World Bank Group president.
President Robert S. McNamara
5th World Bank Group President: 1968
1981.
