Hanford MacNider

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Hanford MacNider (1889–February 18, 1968) was a United States diplomat and United States Army General, serving in both World War I and World War II.

MacNider was born in Mason City, Iowa, the son of a prominent banker. He attended boarding school in Milton, Massachusetts and subsequently attended Harvard University, where he graduated in 1911 before returning to Iowa.

MacNider subsequently joined the United States National Guard and served during the Pancho Villa Expedition during the Mexican Revolution. During World War I, he was sent to France and participated in the founding of the American Legion. After the war, he remained the commander of the Legion for the State of Iowa from 1920 to 1921, before being elevated to the national commander.

After the election of Calvin Coolidge as President of the United States in 1923, MacNider was made an Assistant Secretary of War. He married Margaret McAuley in 1925. In 1928, he was considered a possible Republican candidate for President, but after the death of his father, MacNider returned to Iowa to handle the family's business affairs.

In 1930, MacNider was made the United States ambassador to Canada by President Herbert Hoover. In 1932, he resigned in an unsuccessful attempt to be made the Republican candidate for Vice President. In 1940, he again failed receive the Republican nomination for President and declined the Vice Presidential candicacy under Wendell Lewis Willkie. He also turned down a cabinet position offered by President Dwight Eisenhower.

MacNider was eventually promoted to Brigadier General in the United States Army, and then Major General until his retirement in 1951. (After retirement, he was promoted to Lieutenant General.) During World War II, he was wounded while commanding the Buna Task Force in New Guinea. After recovery, he was given the command of the 158th Regimental Combat Team, also known as the Bushmasters, at the Vicol Peninsula.l Peninsula.

His awards include 2 Purple Hearts, 2 Bronze Stars, 3 Silver Stars, and 3 times awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

On February 18, 1968, while on vacation in Sarasota, Florida, he died at a hospital. Cause of death was a pulmonary edema.

Preceded by William Phillips

United States Ambassador to Canada 1930–1932

Succeeded by Nathan William MacChesney