Dick Quinn was tidying up his office the other day and forwarded some materials regarding James Nance, the last President of The Packard Motor Car Company and the first President of The Studebaker-Packard Corporation. Mr. Nance passed away over the weekend of July 21/22, 1984 at his home in Bellaire, Michigan.
Nance refused to discuss Studebaker-Packard for many years, but finally consented to interviews and reflections later in life. He spoke to The Packard Cormorant magazine for an interview in 1976.
When factors combined to start Packard's final descent into oblivion in early 1956, Nance was asked if he had considered approaching then-President Dwight Eisenhower about -ahem- "intervening" in the corporation's affairs. This was about the time when former General Motors man Charlie Wilson was appointed to head up Defense Department procurement and steered defense contracts to his former employer, cancelling many that had been Packard's.
Said Nance, "I knew President Eisenhower and could have approached him, I think, but I never asked him for any favors. I really don't think you ought to ask the government to bail you out."
It would appear that more than Mr. Nance's earthly remains were interred during his funeral. BP
Nance refused to discuss Studebaker-Packard for many years, but finally consented to interviews and reflections later in life. He spoke to The Packard Cormorant magazine for an interview in 1976.
When factors combined to start Packard's final descent into oblivion in early 1956, Nance was asked if he had considered approaching then-President Dwight Eisenhower about -ahem- "intervening" in the corporation's affairs. This was about the time when former General Motors man Charlie Wilson was appointed to head up Defense Department procurement and steered defense contracts to his former employer, cancelling many that had been Packard's.
Said Nance, "I knew President Eisenhower and could have approached him, I think, but I never asked him for any favors. I really don't think you ought to ask the government to bail you out."
It would appear that more than Mr. Nance's earthly remains were interred during his funeral. BP
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