Lawrence Eagleburger
Lawrence Eagleburger | |
---|---|
United States Ambassador to Yugoslavia | |
In office June 21, 1977 – January 24, 1981 | |
President | Jimmy Carter Ronald Reagan |
Preceded by | Laurence Silberman |
Succeeded by | David Anderson |
Personal details | |
Born | Lawrence Sidney Eagleburger August 1, 1930 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
Died | June 4, 2011 Charlottesville, Virginia, U.S. | (aged 80)
Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse |
Marlene Heinemann
(m. 1966; died 2010) |
Children | 3 |
Education | University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point University of Wisconsin–Madison (BA, MA) |
Signature | |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | United States Army |
Years of service | 1952–1954 |
Rank | First lieutenant |
Lawrence Sidney Eagleburger (August 1, 1930 – June 4, 2011) was an American
Early life and education
Eagleburger was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of Helen (née Van Ornum), an elementary school teacher, and Leon Sidney Eagleburger, a medical doctor.[2] He graduated from Jacobs High School in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, then attended Stevens Point State College (now the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point), before earning his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Wisconsin. During his time at Wisconsin, he joined Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity.
He was also a member of the Board of Visitors at the
Eagleburger also served in the United States Army (1952–1954), attaining the rank of first lieutenant.
Governmental career
In 1957, Eagleburger joined the United States Foreign Service, and served in various posts in embassies, consulates, and the Department of State. From 1961 to 1965 he served as a staffer at the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade, Yugoslavia. He was known as the person who handled the Skopje 1963 earthquake crisis, and managed the first US-Soviet humanitarian cooperation, after which he was nicknamed Lawrence of Macedonia.
Starting in 1969, he served in the Nixon administration as an assistant to National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger. He stayed in this appointment until 1971; thereafter he took on several positions, including advisor to the U.S. Mission to NATO in Brussels, and, following Kissinger's appointment as secretary of state, a number of additional posts in the State Department and deputy assistant secretary of defense (1971–73).
Following Nixon's resignation, he briefly left government service. He was then named the executive secretary to the secretary of state from 1975 to 1977,
From May 14, 1981, to January 26, 1982, Eagleburger was assistant secretary of state for European affairs.[3] In 1982, Reagan appointed him as undersecretary of state for political affairs (the State Department's third-ranking position), a position he held for several years. He then became president of Kissinger Associates, a consultancy firm which provided firms with advice on international politics.[5] In 1989, President George H. W. Bush appointed him deputy secretary of state (the department's second-ranking position); he also served as the President's primary advisor for affairs relating to the quickly disintegrating Yugoslavia. On August 23, 1992, James Baker resigned as secretary of state (to manage Bush's unsuccessful re-election campaign), and Eagleburger served as acting secretary of state until Bush gave him a recess appointment for the remainder of the Bush administration.
His period as advisor for Yugoslavian affairs from 1989 to 1992 was controversial as he gained a reputation for being a strong
In 1991, President Bush awarded him the Presidential Citizens Medal. He was a member of the board of directors of the International Republican Institute.[9]
International Commission on Holocaust-Era Insurance Claims
Eagleburger became chairman of the
Stance on Middle Eastern conflict
After serving in the Foreign Service for 27 years, Eagleburger retained an interest in foreign policy and was a familiar figure on current events talk shows. He caused some discussion with public comments about President George W. Bush's foreign policy. In August 2002, Eagleburger questioned the timing of possible military action in Iraq, saying, "I am not at all convinced now that this is something we have to do this very moment."[13] He did indicate he believed that Iraqi regime change could be a legitimate U.S. endeavor at some point, but that at that time he did not believe the administration was fully prepared for such a conflict.[14] In April 2003, following warnings by the Bush administration to the government of Syria, Eagleburger condemned the possibility of military action in Syria or Iran, saying that public opinion would not support such a move and that "If President Bush were to try it now, even I would feel he should be skinned alive."[15]
On January 5, 2006, he participated in a meeting at the White House of former Secretaries of Defense and State to discuss United States foreign policy with Bush administration officials. On November 10, 2006 it was announced that he would replace Secretary of Defense designate Robert Gates in the Iraq Study Group.[16]
After the
He was chairman of the board of trustees for
2008 presidential election
Before the
On October 30, 2008, on the
Death
Eagleburger died of pneumonia at the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, Virginia, on June 4, 2011.[22][23] He was 80 years old and had lived outside Charlottesville since 1990. He is survived by his three sons.[24]
President Barack Obama described Eagleburger as a "distinguished diplomat and public servant who devoted his life to the security of our nation and to strengthening our ties with allies and partners." Former President George H. W. Bush described Eagleburger as "a tireless patriot, principled to the core, selflessly devoted to America and his duty."[25] Vice President Joe Biden remarked "The post-Cold War world . . . is more stable and secure because of Eagleburger's service." "Larry believed in the strength of America's values, and he fought for them around the world," said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.[26]
Lawrence and his wife Marlene Ann are both interred at Arlington National Cemetery.[27]
Personal life
He had three sons, all of whom are named Lawrence Eagleburger, though they have different middle names (Scott, Andrew and Jason).[28] When discussing his decision to give his three children the same first name, Eagleburger stated "It was ego," adding "and secondly, I wanted to screw up the Social Security system."[29]
His eldest son is from his first marriage, which ended in divorce. The younger two are from his second marriage, which was to Marlene Ann Heinemann from 1966 until her death in 2010.[24]
See also
References
- ^ "Ex-Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger dies at 80". Politico. Associated Press. 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2011-06-04.
- ^ Current Biography Yearbook. 1992. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
- ^ a b "Lawrence Sidney Eagleburger – People – Department History – Office of the Historian". Retrieved 30 September 2017.
- ^ "KISSINGER CONSIDERED ATTACK ON CUBA FOLLOWING ANGOLA INCURSION". Retrieved 1 February 2015.
- ^ Profile pages 42–44: Time, September 7, 1992
- ^ Rupert Cornwell (June 5, 2011). "Lawrence Eagleburger: The only career diplomat to serve as US Secretary of State". The Independent. Retrieved December 18, 2017.
- ^ Anderson, Jack; Van Atta, Dale (February 21, 1989). "The Ins and Outs of Eagleburger". The Washington Post.
- ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 2023-03-30.
- ^ "Board of Directors". Archived from the original on 28 April 2010. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
- ^ "ICHEIC offers additional $16 million to holocaust era insurance claimaints" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-10-05. Retrieved May 31, 2006.
- ^ "Rep. Henry Waxman - Issues and Legislation - Foreign Affairs". Archived from the original on 2006-06-01.
- ^ "Holocaust insurance body blasted for not paying claims". jweekly.com. 2001-11-16. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
- ^ "CNN.com - Eagleburger questions possible Iraqi move - August 22, 2002". edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 2024-01-18.
- ^ "Transcript: Lawrence Eagleburger on FNS". Fox News. Archived from the original on 2006-08-20.
- ^ "Mirror.co.uk - BUSH'S CALL TO SYRIANS". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on 2003-12-06.
- ^ "Reuters AlertNet - Eagleburger to join U.S. Iraq study group". Archived from the original on 2007-11-11.
- ^ "Interview With Former Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger". Archived from the original on 2016-10-01. Retrieved May 31, 2006.
- ^ "Supporters". Archived from the original on 29 January 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
- ^ "Eagleburger Questions Gov. Palin's Abilities As a Vice Presidential Candidate". NPR. October 30, 2008..
- ^ "Eagleburger Tries To Walk Back "Stupid" Palin Criticism". The Huffington Post. December 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
- YouTube
- ^ Bernard Gwertzman (June 4, 2011). "Lawrence Eagleburger, a Top Diplomat, Dies at 80". The New York Times.
- ^ "Lawrence S. Eagleburger, diplomat and onetime secretary of state dies, at 80". The Washington Post. June 4, 2011.
- ^ a b "Lawrence Eagleburger". Telegraph.co.uk. 5 June 2011. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
- ^ "Obama, Bush pay tribute to Lawrence Eagleburger". USA Today. June 4, 2011.
- ^ "Former Secretary Of State Dies". Huffington Post. June 4, 2011.
- ^ "Burial detail: Eagleburger, Lawrence Sidney". ANC Explorer. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- ^ "Biography of Lawrence Eagleburger". The American Academy of Diplomacy. August 17, 2009. Archived from the original on June 2, 2011. Retrieved 2010-01-26.
- ^ "Lawrence Eagleburger dies at 80". POLITICO. 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
External links
- Profile at SourceWatch
- Lawrence Eagleburger has been interviewed as part of Frontline Diplomacy: The Foreign Affairs Oral History Collection of the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training, a site at the Library of Congress.
- University of Virginia Health System — Secretary Lawrence Eagleburger
- Appearances on C-SPAN