Bob Nimmo

{{Infobox officeholder |name = Bob Nimmo |office = Administrator of Veterans Affairs |president = Ronald Reagan |term_start = July 15, 1981 |term_end = January 5, 1983 |predecessor = Max Cleland |successor = Harry Walters |state_senate1 = California |district1 = 17th |term1 = December 6, 1976 - November 30, 1980 |preceded1 = Donald L. Grunsky |succeeded1 = Henry J. Mello |state_assembly2 = California |district2 = 29th |term2 = January 8, 1973 - November 30, 1976 |preceded2 = William M. Ketchum |succeeded2 = Carol Boyd Hallett |birth_date = {{birth date|1922|2|5}} |birth_place = Balboa, California, U.S. |death_date = {{death date and age|2005|11|7|1922|2|5}} |death_place = Atascadero, California, U.S. |party = Republican |branch = {{flag|United States Army}}<br>United States Army Air Corps |battles = World War II |education = California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo }} '''Robert Nimmo''' (February 5, 1922 – November 7, 2005) was an American military officer and politician who served as the Administrator of Veterans Affairs from 1981 to 1983. He previously served in both chambers of the California State Legislature.

==Early life and education== Nimmo was born in Balboa Peninsula, Newport Beach. He attended California Polytechnic State University.

== Career == Nimmo left college to join the United States Army Air Corps in 1940. He flew missions over France and Germany in World War II, but was shot down over Poland and interned in Sweden for three months. After returning to the U.S. he served as a flight instructor until the end of the war.<ref>Ellen Holland, Atascadero News, [https://archive.today/20130215132209/http://www.atascaderonews.com/V2_news_articles.php?heading=0&page=&story_id=959 Resolution Dedicates Part of Highway 41 to Bob, Pat Nimmo], July 18, 2008</ref>

After the war Nimmo joined the California National Guard, where he served until 1970. He commanded Camp San Luis Obispo and served as the United States Property & Fiscal Officer, and retired as a colonel.<ref>San Luis Obispo Tribune, [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SO&s_site=sanluisobispo&p_multi=SO&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=10DCE7E595A5EE60&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Atascadero's Public Servant Robert Nimmo Dies], November 9, 2005</ref>

A Republican, Nimmo served in the California State Assembly (1973 to 1976) and California State Senate (1976 to 1980).<ref>United Press International, Pittsburgh Press, [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fHgfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Dl0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=7020,54289&dq=bob+nimmo+california+assembly+senate&hl=en Reagan Names VA Chief], May 1, 1981</ref>

In 1981, President Ronald Reagan appointed Nimmo to head the Veterans' Administration, and he served until 1982. Nimmo was known for his preference for cutting funding for VA programs. He referred to veterans groups as "greedy", and to Agent Orange as not much worse than a "little teenage acne", although his supporters argued that these quotes were taken out of context.<ref>MacPherson, Myra, ''Long Time Passing: Vietnam and the Haunted Generation'', Indiana University Press, 2001, [https://books.google.com/books?id=bo0fGCHVx3kC&dq=Long+Time+Passing%3A+Vietnam+and+the+Haunted+Generation+teen+age+acne&pg=PR34 p. xxxvi]</ref><ref>United Press International, Ben (Oregon) Bulletin, [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ROU0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=uYYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6736,3092593&dq=bob+nimmo+california+assembly+senate&hl=en Unpopular Chief of veterans Administration Resigns], October 6, 1982</ref> His Deputy, Chuck Hagel, resigned in 1982 over disagreements with Nimmo.<ref>Associated Press, Bangor Daily News, [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=RSY0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=w-AIAAAAIBAJ&pg=1211,986560&dq=veterans+administration+chuck+hagel+resign&hl=en Two Veterans Head List for Chief of VA], October 18, 1982</ref>

As VA Administrator, Nimmo was also accused of excessive expenditures on redecorating his office, leasing an expensive sedan as his official vehicle, and improperly using the employee designated as his driver. Nimmo reimbursed the government more than $6,000 to compensate for the driver's unauthorized overtime.<ref>Associated Press, Toledo Blade, [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MklPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JgMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6825,1878125&dq=nimmo+va+driver&hl=en VA Administrator Reimburses U.S.], June 16, 1982</ref>

After returning to California, Nimmo remained active in civic causes and local government, including service on the Atascadero City Council and a term as the city's mayor (June 26, 1990 to June 1994).<ref>San Luis Obispo Tribune, [http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SO&s_site=sanluisobispo&p_multi=SO&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=10DE71688C7EDA40&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM Obituary, Bob Nimmo], November 12, 2005</ref>

==External links== * California State Assembly, [http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_0101-0150/acr_122_bill_20080428_amended_asm_v98.html Resolution Designating The Robert and Pat Nimmo Memorial Highway], April 1, 2008 * [http://www.joincalifornia.com/candidate/5784 Robert Nimmo] at Join California

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=Max Cleland}} {{s-ttl|title=Administrator of Veterans Affairs|years=1981–1983}} {{s-aft|after=Harry Walters}} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nimmo, Bob}} Category:1922 births Category:2005 deaths Category:American prisoners of war in World War II Category:Republican Party California state senators Category:Republican Party members of the California State Assembly Category:National Guard (United States) colonels Category:People from Atascadero, California Category:Shot-down aviators Category:United States Army Air Forces pilots of World War II Category:California National Guard personnel Category:United States Department of Veterans Affairs officials Category:World War II prisoners of war held by Germany Category:20th-century members of the California State Legislature Category:Military personnel from Newport Beach, California