William Sebastian Cohen (b. August 28, 1940) is a Republican politician from Maine. He was born in Bangor, Maine, and attended the public schools, receiving his B.A. from Bowdoin College in Brunswick; and his law degree from Boston University.
Cohen was an attorney and law professor before entering politics. He entered local politics with his election to the Bangor City Council (1969-1972). He was also elected to the Bangor School Board (1970-1971), and following that was elected Mayor of Bangor in 1971. In 1972 he ran successfully for the U.S. House seat being vacated by Democrat Bill Hathaway.
After three terms in the United States House of Representatives, he was elected to the United States Senate in 1978, defeating Bill Hathaway in his first bid for reelection. Cohen went on to be reelected in 1984 and 1990 and served from 1979 to 1997. Both of Maine's current senators, Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, worked for him. Snowe worked for him while he was in the House and Collins while he was in the Senate. Cohen retired from the Senate in 1996 and Collins was elected to succeed him.
Cohen then served as Secretary of Defense from 1997 to 2001 in the cabinet of President Bill Clinton, who was from the rival Democratic Party. As Defense Secretary he played a large role in directing the United States military actions in Iraq and Kosovo, including the dismissal of Wesley Clark from his post as NATO Supreme Allied Commander.
His second wife is former Black Entertainment Television commentator Janet Langhart.
| Preceded by: Bill Hathaway |
U.S. Senators from Maine | Succeeded by: Susan Collins |
| Preceded by: William J. Perry |
U.S. Secretaries of Defense | Succeeded by: Donald H. Rumsfeld |