Clifford M. Hardin

Clifford Morris Hardin (October 9, 1915 – April 4, 2010) served as United States Secretary of Agriculture from 1969 to 1971.

Hardin was born near Knightstown, Indiana, to J. Alvin Hardin and Mabel (Macy) Hardin. He earned a B.S. (1937), an M.S. (1939) and a Ph.D. (1941) from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.

He taught Agricultural Economics at Michigan State University in Lansing from 1944 to 1948, when he became the assistant director and then director of the Agricultural Experiment Station. He became the school's Dean of Agriculture in 1953 and Chancellor of the University of Nebraska in 1954.

In 1969, Hardin was appointed Secretary of Agriculture by President Richard Nixon. As Secretary, he extended the food stamp program, and established both the Food and Nutrition Service to administer food programs for the poor, and the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to coordinate efforts with state and local officials. He served as Secretary until 1971, when he was succeeded by Earl Butz.

Hardin was the father of Sue Wood, Clifford W. Hardin, Nancy H. Rogers, Cynthia H. Milligan and James Hardin. Hardin died on April 4, 2010.

References

• Clifford M. Hardin's obituary
• Obituary - New York Times
• Former UNL chancellor, ag secretary Hardin dies at 94