Cyrus Roberts Vance was an American lawyer and United States Secretary of State under President Jimmy Carter from 1977 to 1980. Prior to that position he was the Secretary of the Army and the Deputy Secretary of Defense. As Secretary of State, Vance approached foreign policy with an emphasis on negotiation over conflict and a special interest in arms reduction. In April 1980, Vance resigned in protest of Operation Eagle Claw, the secret mission to rescue American hostages in Iran. He was succeeded in the position by Edmund Muskie. Vance was the cousin of 1924 Democratic presidential candidate and lawyer John W. Davis. He is the father of Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr. 

March 27th, 1917 in New York City  /  Died:   Jan 12th, 2002 - Alzheimer's disease