Alan Blinken facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alan Blinken
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| United States Ambassador to Belgium | |
| In office July 25, 1993 – December 27, 1997 |
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| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Bruce Gelb |
| Succeeded by | Paul L. Cejas |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Alan John Blinken
December 24, 1937 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Melinda Koch |
| Children | 4 |
| Relatives | Meir Blinken (grandfather) Donald M. Blinken (brother) Antony Blinken (nephew) |
| Residences | Ketchum, Idaho, U.S. |
| Education | Harvard University (BA) |
Alan John Blinken (born December 24, 1937) is an American businessman and former diplomat. A diplomat is someone who represents their country in another country. Blinken served as the United States Ambassador to Belgium from 1993 to 1997. He also ran for a political office in Idaho in 2002.
Early Life and Education
Alan Blinken was born in New York City on December 24, 1937. His father, Maurice Blinken, was an immigrant from Kyiv, which is now the capital of Ukraine. Alan has an older brother, Donald M. Blinken, who was also a diplomat. His nephew is Antony Blinken, who is currently the United States Secretary of State.
Alan grew up in Manhattan and Yonkers, New York. He went to the Horace Mann School. Later, he studied at Harvard University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. At Harvard, he focused on business and economics.
Career Highlights
After finishing college, Alan Blinken worked in the world of finance. This means he worked with money, investments, and companies. He held important roles, including being a president and a managing director at different firms. He also served on the board of directors for a company in Belgium called UCB, which makes medicines.
In 1990, Blinken ran for a seat in the New York State Assembly in Manhattan, but he did not win.
From 1993 to 1997, Alan Blinken served as the United States Ambassador to Belgium. This was a very important job where he represented the U.S. and worked to build good relationships with Belgium.
Later, Blinken moved to Sun Valley, Idaho. In 2002, he ran for the United States Senate in Idaho as a member of the Democratic Party. However, he lost the election to the person who was already in office, Larry Craig.
Personal Life and Family
Alan Blinken is married to Melinda Blinken, whose maiden name was Koch. Her father, Howard W. Koch, was a Hollywood producer.
Alan's father, Maurice Blinken, was an early supporter of Israel. He helped create the American Palestine Institute, which played a part in convincing the United States to support the creation of Israel.
Alan Blinken is part of a family with a history in public service and writing. His grandfather was the Ukrainian-born writer Meir Blinken. As mentioned, his brother is Donald M. Blinken and his nephew is Antony Blinken. There is an auditorium at The Washington Center named Blinken Auditorium, in his honor.
Alan and Melinda Blinken live in Ketchum, Idaho. In 2019, they hosted an event to help raise money for Joe Biden when he was running for president.
See Also
- United States Ambassador to Belgium
- Foreign relations of Belgium
