Complex sentence: Dr. James Rodney Schlesinger (February 15,1929--March 27,2014) was an American economist and public servant who was best known for serving as Secretary of Defense from 1973 to 1975 under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.
Split into simpler sentences: Dr. James Rodney Schlesinger (February 15,1929--March 27,2014) was an American public servant. He was best known for serving as Secretary of Defense from 1973 to 1975 under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.