The Resume

(November 15, 1906-October 1, 1990)
Organized the strategic bombing campaign against the Japanese during World War II
Reorganized the Strategic Air Command as a nuclear arm for conducting the Cold War
Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force (1961-1965)
Vice presidential candidate to segregationalist George Wallace (1968)

Why he might be annoying:

His policy of low-flying firebombing of Japanese cities killed over 100,000 Japanese civilians.
In Japan, he is known as 'brutal LeMay.'
He called the peaceful end of the Cuban Missile Crisis 'the greatest defeat in our history.'
During the crisis, he advocated an all-out air raid on Cuba and nuclear retaliation on the Soviet Union if they responded.
He was unsuccessful as Chief of Staff and lost many appropriation battles because of his inflexibility.
His mantra: 'If you kill enough of them, they stop fighting.'
He lamented over the fact that the U.S. did not nuke the Soviet Union when they had no nuclear weapons.
His colleagues in the Air Force gave him the nickname 'Iron Ass.'
His infamous solution to the Vietnam War: 'Bomb them back into the Stone Age.'

Why he might not be annoying:

He never masked his true feelings on war and current events like other high-ranking military officers.
He reorganized the U.S. Air Force into an all-jet fighting force and kept it the best in the world.
He always felt that he was doing what was in the best interest of his nation.
His political career did not get off the ground.
He retreated from the public eye after his defeat and humiliation in the 1968 presidential election.
It is said that he is the inspiration for George C. Scott's hilarious performance as General Turgidson in the black comedy 'Dr. Strangelove.'

Credit: Captain Howdy

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• Captain Howdy's Profiles [Series 3]
• Cold War Participants
• Generals and Admirals
• I Attended Ohio State University
• I Died in 1990 (Ranked: 83)
• I Sought Political Office
• Jane Fonda Doesn’t Like Me
• Look at Me, I'm on the Cover of Time
• Look at Me, I'm Wearing Military Garb
• Look at Me, I've Been Caught Smoking
• Look at My Magazine Cover
• Person to Person - Guests [L-Z]
• Profiles 14001-14250 (Ranked: 14029)
• Served in the Vietnam War
• Served in World War II

Year In Review:

In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 10 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 5 Votes: 20.0% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 9 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 37 Votes: 59.46% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 11 Votes: 36.36% Annoying
In 2016, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
In 2015, Out of 17 Votes: 23.53% Annoying
In 2014, Out of 33 Votes: 48.48% Annoying
In 2013, Out of 24 Votes: 54.17% Annoying
In 2012, Out of 12 Votes: 41.67% Annoying
In 2011, Out of 13 Votes: 46.15% Annoying
In 2010, Out of 34 Votes: 58.82% Annoying
In 2009, Out of 30 Votes: 53.33% Annoying
In 2008, Out of 39 Votes: 53.85% Annoying
In 2007, Out of 64 Votes: 56.25% Annoying
In 2006, Out of 133 Votes: 63.91% Annoying
In 2005, Out of 177 Votes: 63.84% Annoying