McGeorge Bundy was appointed as Special Assistant to the President for National Security. He was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan and educated at Groton and Yale. His mother was descended from the Lowells, a well known New England family. McGeorge, known as Mac, was born in 1919 and joined the right clubs and made the right friends at Groton and Yale. He was a top student and won many honors and awards. He had been the Dean of Harvard College and head of the Ford Foundation and was the author of two books. Bundy served in the Army during World War II and was one of President Kennedy's favorites.