Walter J. Stoessel Jr.

Walter John Stoessel Jr.
7th United States Deputy Secretary of State
In office
February 11, 1982 – September 22, 1982
President Ronald Reagan
Preceded by William P. Clark Jr.
Succeeded by Kenneth W. Dam
United States Ambassador to Poland
In office
1968–1972
Preceded by John A. Gronouski
Succeeded by Richard T. Davies
United States Ambassador to the Soviet Union
In office
1974–1976
President Gerald Ford
Preceded by Jacob D. Beam
Succeeded by Malcolm Toon
United States Ambassador to West Germany
In office
1976–1980
Preceded by Martin J. Hillenbrand
Succeeded by Arthur F. Burns
Personal details
Born (1920-01-24)January 24, 1920
Manhattan, Kansas, U.S.
Died December 9, 1986(1986-12-09) (aged 66)
Washington, D.C.
Alma mater Stanford University
Columbia University
Profession Diplomat

Walter John Stoessel Jr. (January 24, 1920 – December 9, 1986) was an American diplomat.

Life and career

Born in Manhattan, Kansas, Stoessel was the son of Katherine (Haston) and Walter John Stoessel Sr. and attended high school in California. The paternal side of his family had migrated to US from Western Germany in the middle of 19th century. He graduated from Stanford University in 1941 and later undertook graduate studies at Columbia University.

A career officer of the United States Foreign Service, Stoessel served as the U.S. ambassador to Poland from 1968 to 1972, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs from 1972 to 1974, the U.S. ambassador to the Soviet Union between 1974 and 1976, and the ambassador to West Germany from 1976 through 1980. During his term as ambassador to Poland, Stoessel initiated contact with China and hosted talks on behalf of the United States, directly opening the door for President Richard Nixon's famous visit to China.[1] In 1981, while ambassador to West Germany, he joined the delegation, with Walter Mondale, greeting the U.S. hostages released by Iran when they deplaned.[2]

In 1982, President Ronald Reagan appointed Stoessel as the United States Deputy Secretary of State. During his term he served briefly as acting Secretary of State between the tenures of Alexander M. Haig and George P. Shultz.

He died in Washington, D.C. of leukemia[3] and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. The U.S. Department of State awards a Walter J. Stoessel Award for Distinguished Diplomatic Service in his honor.

References

  1. ↑ "Model of an Ambassador; Walter John Stoessel Jr". The New York Times. January 21, 1970.
  2. ↑ John Vinocur (22 Jan 1981). "52 Former Hostages Start Readapting In U.S. Air Force Hospital in Germany". The New York Times.
  3. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/1986/12/11/obituaries/walter-j-stoessel-jr-dies-at-66-a-former-ambassador-to-moscow.html
Government offices
Preceded by
Martin J. Hillenbrand		 Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs
August 9, 1972 – January 7, 1974		 Succeeded by
Arthur A. Hartman
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
Jacob D. Beam		 United States Ambassador to the Soviet Union
1973–1976		 Succeeded by
Malcolm Toon
Preceded by
Martin J. Hillenbrand		 United States Ambassador to Germany
1976–1981		 Succeeded by
Arthur F. Burns
Preceded by
William P. Clark Jr.		 U.S. Deputy Secretary of State
1982		 Succeeded by
Kenneth W. Dam
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