William J. Driver, Career Civil Servant, Dies at 67
- Share via
WASHINGTON — William J. Driver, the first career civil servant to become head of both the Veterans and Social Security administrations, has died of kidney failure. He was 67.
He died Tuesday at Arlington Hospital near his home in Falls Church, Va.
A much-decorated veteran of World War II and the Korean War, Driver rose through the ranks at the VA and after 16 years was named its administrator by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965. He served until 1969.
During the final year of the Carter Administration, 1980-81, he was Social Security commissioner. Most recently he had been executive vice chairman of Save Our Security, a coalition of labor and other groups opposed to cuts in Social Security.
A native of Rochester, N.Y., Driver was graduated from Niagara University and held a law degree from George Washington University.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
