Lawrence Eagleburger Explained

Lawrence Eagleburger
Office:62nd United States Secretary of State
President:George H. W. Bush
Term Start:December 8, 1992
Term End:January 20, 1993
(Acting: August 23, 1992 – December 8, 1992)
Predecessor:James Baker
Successor:Warren Christopher
Office1:10th United States Deputy Secretary of State
President1:George H. W. Bush
Term Start1:March 20, 1989
Term End1:December 8, 1992
Predecessor1:John C. Whitehead
Successor1:Clifton R. Wharton Jr.
Office2:12th Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs
President2:Ronald Reagan
Term Start2:February 12, 1982
Term End2:May 1, 1984
Predecessor2:Walter Stoessel
Successor2:Michael Armacost
Office3:12th Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs
President3:Ronald Reagan
Term Start3:May 14, 1981
Term End3:January 26, 1982
Predecessor3:George S. Vest
Successor3:Richard Burt
Office4:United States Ambassador to Yugoslavia
President4:Jimmy Carter
Ronald Reagan
Term Start4:June 21, 1977
Term End4:January 24, 1981
Predecessor4:Laurence Silberman
Successor4:David Anderson
Birth Name:Lawrence Sidney Eagleburger
Birth Date:1 August 1930
Birth Place:Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.
Death Place:Charlottesville, Virginia, U.S.
Restingplace:Arlington National Cemetery
Party:Republican
Children:3
Education:University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point
University of Wisconsin–Madison (BA, MA)
Signature:Lawrence Eagleburger Signature.svg
Branch: United States Army
Serviceyears:1952–1954
Rank:First lieutenant

Lawrence Sidney Eagleburger (August 1, 1930 – June 4, 2011) was an American statesman and career diplomat, who served briefly as the secretary of state under President George H. W. Bush from December 1992 to January 1993, one of the shortest terms in modern history. Previously, he had served in lesser capacities under Presidents Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, and Ronald Reagan, and as deputy secretary of state to James Baker under George H. W. Bush. Eagleburger is the only career Foreign Service Officer to have served as secretary of state.[1] He was also Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (international security affairs) from January to May 1973. As a career member of the United States Senior Foreign Service, he attained the rank of Career Ambassador on April 12, 1984.[2]

Early life and education

Eagleburger was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of Helen, an elementary school teacher, and Leon Sidney Eagleburger, a medical doctor.[3] 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 College of William & Mary from 1996 to 2000 and from 2002 to 2006.

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,[4] and subsequently was appointed as ambassador to Yugoslavia by President Jimmy Carter, a post he held from 1977 to 1980. While working as Executive Secretary to Kissinger in 1975 he carried out secret talks with the Cubans in New York City.[5]

From May 14, 1981, to January 26, 1982, Eagleburger was assistant secretary of state for European affairs.[4] 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 attained the rank of Career Ambassador in the Senior Foreign Service on April 12, 1984.[2] He then became president of Kissinger Associates, a consultancy firm which provided firms with advice on international politics.[6] 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 Serbian partisan. This perceived partisanship led the European press to dub him Lawrence of Serbia[7] (a reference to Lawrence of Arabia). Eagleburger had controversial ties to Yugoslavia both in promoting loans to Yugoslavia as a government official and later serving on the board of a Yugoslav-government-owned LBS Bank (Ljubljanska Banka) as well as with Yugo Motors, USA.[8] About one-quarter of LBS Bank's business came from Banca Nazionale del Lavoro, whose Atlanta branch was instrumental in diverting U.S. agricultural loans to arms purchases by Saddam Hussein.[9]

In 1991, President Bush awarded him the Presidential Citizens Medal. He was a member of the board of directors of the International Republican Institute.[10]

International Commission on Holocaust-Era Insurance Claims

Eagleburger became chairman of the International Commission on Holocaust Era Insurance Claims, or ICHEIC, which was set up in 1998. The purpose of the commission was to resolve unpaid Nazi-era insurance claims for survivors of the Holocaust. In 2005, Eagleburger announced that the ICHEIC was offering approximately 16 million dollars to Holocaust victims and their heirs, noting as he did so the research ability of the ICHEIC staff which allowed them to evaluate claims from companies which no longer existed.[11] In the years prior to this there had been some controversy about the commission, including reports that it was over-budgeted and too slow, and that insurance companies which had previously agreed to work with the ICHEIC had failed to disclose policyholder lists.[12] Eagleburger responded to these accusations by saying, among other things, that it was difficult to work quickly when many of the claimants lacked basic information such as the name of the insurance company involved.[13]

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."[14] 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.[15] 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."[16]

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.[17]

After the election of Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Eagleburger seemed to think that Iran was moving in a direction which may at some point call for military action, saying in an interview that while "we should try everything else we can first", at some point it would probably be necessary to use force to ensure that Iran did not obtain or use nuclear weapons.[18]

He was chairman of the board of trustees for The Forum for International Policy, and a member of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP) Board of Advisors.

2008 presidential election

Before the Republican primaries, Eagleburger endorsed John McCain for president.[19] In an NPR interview on October 30, 2008, he described McCain's running-mate Sarah Palin as "not prepared" for top office. He also stated that many vice presidents have not been ready.[20] The next day, in an interview on Fox News, he retracted his comments about Palin.[21]

On October 30, 2008, on the Fox News Channel, Eagleburger referred to Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama as a "charlatan", citing his fundraising methods and other aspects of his presidential campaign.

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.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Ex-Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger dies at 80. . Politico. 2011-06-04 . 2011-06-04.
  2. Web site: Lawrence Sidney Eagleburger - People - Department History - Office of the Historian.
  3. Book: Current Biography Yearbook. 1992. 1 February 2015.
  4. Web site: Lawrence Sidney Eagleburger – People – Department History – Office of the Historian. 30 September 2017.
  5. Web site: KISSINGER CONSIDERED ATTACK ON CUBA FOLLOWING ANGOLA INCURSION. 1 February 2015.
  6. Profile pages 42–44: Time, September 7, 1992
  7. News: Lawrence Eagleburger: The only career diplomat to serve as US Secretary of State . Rupert Cornwell . The Independent . June 5, 2011 . December 18, 2017.
  8. News: Anderson . Jack . Van Atta . Dale . The Ins and Outs of Eagleburger . The Washington Post . February 21, 1989.
  9. Mcallister . J. F. O. . 1992-09-07 . Comfortable In His Own Ample Skin: LAWRENCE EAGLEBURGER . en-US . Time . 2023-03-30 . 0040-781X.
  10. Web site: Board of Directors . 1 February 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100428062156/http://www.iri.org/learn-more-about-iri/board-directors-and-officers . 28 April 2010 .
  11. Web site: ICHEIC offers additional $16 million to holocaust era insurance claimants . https://web.archive.org/web/20111005042241/http://www.icheic.org/pdf/ICHEIC%20announces%20additional%20humanitarian%20awards%208-19-05.pdf . 2011-10-05 . May 31, 2006.
  12. Web site: Rep. Henry Waxman - Issues and Legislation - Foreign Affairs . https://web.archive.org/web/20060601213618/http://www.henrywaxman.house.gov/htbin/email_pg1/issues/foreignaffairs/issues_foreign_affairs_HRR_jewjournal_2_15_02.htm . 2006-06-01 .
  13. News: 2001-11-16 . Holocaust insurance body blasted for not paying claims . 2024-01-18 . jweekly.com . en-US.
  14. Web site: CNN.com - Eagleburger questions possible Iraqi move - August 22, 2002 . 2024-01-18 . edition.cnn.com.
  15. Web site: Transcript: Lawrence Eagleburger on FNS . Fox News . https://web.archive.org/web/20060820063700/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,60704,00.html . 2006-08-20 . en-US.
  16. Web site: Mirror.co.uk - BUSH'S CALL TO SYRIANS . . https://web.archive.org/web/20031206001213/http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/page.cfm?objectid=12844873&method=full&siteid=50143&headline=BUSH%27S%20CALL%20TO%20SYRIANS . 2003-12-06 .
  17. Web site: Reuters AlertNet - Eagleburger to join U.S. Iraq study group . https://web.archive.org/web/20071111050207/http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N10277240.htm . 2007-11-11 .
  18. Web site: Interview With Former Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger . https://web.archive.org/web/20161001154240/http://www.lexisnexis.com/hottopics/lnacademic/?_m=50fef0c3fffa02964ca6aac06f3c9a88&_docnum=1&wchp=dGLbVtb-zSkVb&_md5=3298310cbef7a0f1e1832d5f24979231 . May 31, 2006. 2016-10-01 .
  19. Web site: Supporters. 1 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150129053340/http://johnmccain.com/supporters/. 29 January 2015. dead.
  20. Web site: NPR . October 30, 2008. Eagleburger Questions Gov. Palin's Abilities As a Vice Presidential Candidate. .
  21. Web site: Eagleburger Tries To Walk Back "Stupid" Palin Criticism. The Huffington Post. December 2008. 1 February 2015.
  22. News: Lawrence Eagleburger, a Top Diplomat, Dies at 80 . Bernard Gwertzman . . June 4, 2011.
  23. News: Lawrence S. Eagleburger, diplomat and onetime secretary of state dies, at 80 . The Washington Post . June 4, 2011.
  24. Web site: 5 June 2011 . Lawrence Eagleburger . 1 February 2015 . Telegraph.co.uk.
  25. News: Obama, Bush pay tribute to Lawrence Eagleburger. USA Today . June 4, 2011 .
  26. News: Former Secretary Of State Dies . Huffington Post . June 4, 2011.
  27. Web site: Burial detail: Eagleburger, Lawrence Sidney . March 4, 2023 . ANC Explorer .
  28. Web site: August 17, 2009 . Biography of Lawrence Eagleburger . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110602061208/http://www.academyofdiplomacy.org/members/bios/Eagleburger.htm . June 2, 2011 . 2010-01-26 . The American Academy of Diplomacy . AODbio.
  29. Web site: 2011-06-04 . Lawrence Eagleburger dies at 80 . 2023-07-21 . POLITICO . en.