Founding chairman of Sept. 11 Museum, ex-deputy secretary of state under Reagan dies at 92

A World War II veteran who served as deputy secretary of state under President Ronald Reagan and was founding chairman of the National Sept. 11 Memorial & Museum has died. John C. Whitehead was 92.

The museum confirmed his death Saturday in a release.

Whitehead was acknowledged for overcoming obstacles to help ensure the memorial and museum reached fundraising goals, finished with an acceptable design and got built. He also chaired the Lower Manhattan Development Corp., which helped lead the area's rebuilding after Sept. 11, 2001.

Those roles came after numerous other achievements, beginning with his role among those storming the beaches of Normandy during World War II. He worked in finance, eventually heading Goldman Sachs. He was appointed by Reagan as deputy secretary of state in 1985.