William "Bill" Gorham is an American economist

Economist

An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...

 and founding president of the Urban Institute

Urban Institute

The Urban Institute is a Washington, D.C.-based think tank that carries out nonpartisan economic and social policy research, collects data, evaluates social programs, educates the public on key domestic issues, and provides advice and technical assistance to developing governments abroad...

, a Washington, D.C.-based social and economic policy think tank.

Gorham served as Urban Institute president from its founding in 1968 until his retirement in 2000. Prior to his tenure at the helm of Urban Institute, Gorham served as Assistant Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare and Assistant Secretary of Defense. He was among a group of economists hand-selected by President Lyndon B. Johnson

Lyndon B. Johnson

Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...

 to launch a new, independent research organization to evaluate the Great Society

Great Society

The Great Society was a set of domestic programs in the United States promoted by President Lyndon B. Johnson and fellow Democrats in Congress in the 1960s. Two main goals of the Great Society social reforms were the elimination of poverty and racial injustice...

social programs, a mandate that led to the formation of the nonproft, nonpartisan Urban Institute.

Work and Career

• Researcher, Rand Corporation, 1953-1963
• Assistant Secretary of Defense, 1962-1965
• Assistant Secretary for Health, Education and Welfare, 1965-68
• President, the Urban Institute, 1968-2000

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