Nov 2003----Dec 2003-Jan 2004----Feb 2004----Mar 2004----Apr 2004----May 2004----Jun 2004

People (July 2004)

The Person of the Month is Ambassador Armin Meyer, a great U.S. diplomat. He served as President Kennedy's ambassdor to Beirut, assisting in Lebanon's first peaceful presidential transition; as President Johnson's ambassador to the Shah's Iran, dealing with arms, oil, and Gulf median line challenges; and as President Nixon's ambassador to Japan where he mellowed the Nixon "China shock". Armin Meyer's distinguished career in public service spanned more than thirty tumultuous years of hot and cold, beginning in World War II with a secret mission to Eritrea. He also served as State's first coordinator for combating terrorism.

In November 2003, he published a new memoir, "Quiet Diplomacy - From Cairo to Tokyo in the Twilight of Imperialism".

In Quiet Diplomay, Ambassador Meyer analyzes experiences and lessons learned, and offers valuable guidance for today's diplomacy. The book has been addressed as a must read for Middle and Middle East history buffs and should be required reading for any American entering the U.S. Foreign Service. Some critics also says, "Somehow the U.S. abandoned 'soft diplomacy' as in Theodore Roosevelt's 'speak softly' approach. In this very well written book the author takes the reader through a behind the scenes diplomacy that took place in the Middle East at a very crucial time. Immediately one sees the direct relevance of this account to current events both in the Middle and Far East. In addition to being talented Ambassador to Lebanon, Iran and Japan, the author is a talented writer who engages the reader. Especially enjoyable is the annex, 'Nuggets of Wisdom'. "

In one chapter, Nixon's "China shock", Ambassador Meyer described this historic event in 1971-1972, also called "Ping-Pong Diplomacy". It says, "Unwittingly and without instructions, our embassy in Tokyo had played a supporting role in the PRC-US scenario." Ambassador Meyer is a great contributor to the US-China relationship.

Biography

• 1935-1941 Faculty member and administrator, Capital University, Columbus, Ohio
• 1942-1943 Radio operator, secret lend-lease WWII project in Gura, Eritrea, supporting British in Africa
• 1943-1944 News editor, U.S. Office of War Information, Cairo
• 1944-1948 OWI Rep. and Chief Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Embassy, Baghdad
• 1948-1952 Public Affairs Director for Near Eastern-South Asian Affairs, Dept. of State
• 1952-1955 Chief of Political Section, U.S. Embassy Beirut
• 1955-1957 Deputy Chief of Mission, Kabul, Afghanistan
• 1957-1958 Deputy Director for South Asian Affairs, Dept. of State
• 1958-1960 Deputy and then Director for Near Eastern and South Asia
• 1961-1965 U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon (President Kennedy)
• 1965-1969 U.S. Ambassador to Iran (President Johnson)
• 1969-1972 U.S. Ambassador to Japan (President Nixon)
• 1972-1973 Special Assit to Sec. of State, Chairman of Working Group for U.S. Cabinet Committee to Combat Terrorism (antecedent of current Homeland Security), Acting Deputy Asst. Sec. of State for South Asia
• 1974-1975 faculty member, American University
• 1974-2000 International business consultant
• 1976-1986 Faculty member, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service
• 1988-1989 President, Washington Institute of Foreign Affairs.