William Tapley Bennett Jr.

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William Tapley Bennett Jr.
U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic
In office
March 23, 1964 – April 13, 1966
PresidentLyndon B. Johnson
Preceded byJohn Bartlow Martin
Succeeded byJohn Hugh Crimmins
Personal details
Born(1917-04-01)April 1, 1917
Washington D.C.
SpouseMargaret Rutherfurd White
Alma materUniversity of Georgia
George Washington University Law School
National War College

William Tapley Bennett Jr. (April 1, 1917 – November 29, 1994) was an American

Ambassador to the Dominican Republic during the 1965 civil war
and who recommended that President Johnson intervene with United States troops.

Early life

Bennett was born in

née Little) Bennett (1894–1965).[1][2]

His maternal grandparents were Peyton Brantley "Mem" Little and Julia Elizabeth (née Neal) Little.[1]

Bennett attended the University of Georgia where he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. After doing graduate work at the University of Freiburg in Germany from 1937 to 1938, he returned to the United States and earned a law degree from George Washington University Law School.[3]

Career

After graduation from law school, Bennett joined the

Athens, Greece.[4]

President

coup d'etat. While Ambassador, Bennett "advised President Johnson and members of Congress that the revolt was led by Communists" and recommended President Johnson intervene with United States troops during the Dominican Civil War.[3] Bennett was heavily criticized for his report and recommendation.[5]

Reportedly "seeking relief from the tropical heat of the Dominican Republic,"

Ambassador to Belgium.[3]

Beginning in 1972, he began to serve concurrently as Ambassador to the

United States Permanent Representative to NATO, serving from 1977 through 1983, including when Ronald Reagan became president in 1981.[3]

On November 14, 1983, he was appointed Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs, serving from November 17, 1983, to January 4, 1985.[6]

Later career

After retiring in 1985 he served as adjunct professor of international law at the University of Georgia.[3] From 1991 to 1992, he served as president of the Atlantic Treaty Association.[4]

Personal life

On June 23, 1945, Bennett was married to Margaret Rutherfurd White in

Haiti),[8] a granddaughter of Henry White
(the U.S. Ambassador to France and
U.S. Ambassador to Canada.[10] Together, they were the parents of five children:[3]

He died after a long illness in Washington D.C., on November 29, 1994.[3][13]

References

  1. ^
    Atlanta, Georgia
    : Dwight Tabor. 1995. p. 357. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  2. ^ Tapley, Ray (1993). Tapley: A Family of Georgia and the South. Greencrest Press. p. 1999. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Lueck, Thomas J. (1 December 1994). "William Tapley Bennett Jr., 77, Envoy to Dominican Republic". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d "William Tapley Bennett, Jr. Papers". russelldoc.galib.uga.edu. University of Georgia. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  5. ISBN 9780813150024
    . Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  6. ^ "William Tapley Bennett Jr. - People - Department History - Office of the Historian". history.state.gov. Office of the Historian, Bureau of Public Affairs United States Department of State. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  7. ^ "Margaret R. White Prospective Bride; Their Engagements Are Announced". The New York Times. 12 March 1945. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  8. ^ "JOHN C. WHITE, 83, A CAREER DIPLOMAT". The New York Times. 12 June 1967. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  9. ^ "MARGARET R. WHITE MARRIED IN JERSEY; Daughter of Ex-Ambassador to Peru Becomes Bride of Lieut. William T. Bennett Jr. WEARS IVORY SATIN GOWN Rev. Robert Bosher Performs Ceremony in Bernardsville Church--Reception Held". The New York Times. 24 June 1945. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  10. ^ "Elizabeth White, 94, An Environmentalist". The New York Times. 22 June 1993. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  11. The Atlanta Constitution
    . April 27, 1980. p. 103. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  12. ^ "Twins to William T. Bennetts Jr" (PDF). The New York Times. 30 June 1950. Retrieved 29 March 2019.
  13. ^ "W.T. BENNETT, AMBASSADOR FOR LBJ, DIES". The Washington Post. December 1, 1994. Retrieved 29 March 2019.

External links

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic

March 23, 1964 – April 13, 1966 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
George W. Anderson, Jr.
U.S. Ambassador to Portugal

July 20, 1966 – July 21, 1969 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
U.S. Ambassador to NATO

April 26, 1977 – March 31, 1983 		Succeeded by
Government offices
Preceded by Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs
November 17, 1983 – January 4, 1985 		Succeeded by
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