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	January 24, 1920 Manhattan, Kansas, U.S.
Died	December 9, 1986 (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. 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. http://www.nytimes.com/1986/12/11/obituaries/walter-j-stoessel-jr-dies-at-66-a-former-ambassador-to-moscow.html

External links

• Walter John Stoessel Jr., Find a Grave
• Walter Stoessel, NNDB