Donald McHenry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Donald McHenry
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| 15th United States Ambassador to the United Nations | |
| In office September 23, 1979 – January 20, 1981 |
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| President | Jimmy Carter |
| Preceded by | Andrew Young |
| Succeeded by | Jeane Kirkpatrick |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 13, 1936 St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Illinois State University (BS) Southern Illinois University, Carbondale (MS) Georgetown University |
Donald Franchot McHenry, born on October 13, 1936, is a well-known American diplomat. He served as the United States Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations from September 1979 to January 1981. This was a very important job where he represented the U.S. at the United Nations.
Contents
Donald McHenry's Life and Career
Early Life and Education
Donald McHenry was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He grew up nearby in East St. Louis, Illinois. He went to Illinois State University and earned his bachelor's degree in 1957. Later, he received a master's degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 1959. He also studied at Georgetown University.
Working as a Diplomat
McHenry spent most of his career in foreign diplomacy. This means he worked to build good relationships between the U.S. and other countries. He started working for the United States Department of State in 1963. He stayed there for eight years.
From 1971 to 1976, he worked for different research groups. These groups, called "think tanks," study and write about foreign policy. Some of these were the Brookings Institution and the Council on Foreign Relations.
Joining the United Nations Mission
In 1976, McHenry helped President Jimmy Carter's team with foreign policy. Soon after, he joined the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. In March 1977, he became the U.S. Deputy Representative to the United Nations Security Council. This role meant he helped represent the U.S. in important discussions about world peace and security.
A Key Negotiation
In August 1979, McHenry played a big role in a tense situation. A Soviet airplane was stopped from leaving a U.S. airport. On board was a Russian ballerina named Lyudmila Vlasova. Her husband, Alexander Godunov, had decided to stay in the U.S. and not return to the Soviet Union. He believed his wife was being forced to go back.
U.S. officials wanted to speak with Vlasova alone. They needed to make sure she was returning to her country willingly. Soviet officials at first did not allow this. Eventually, McHenry helped arrange for Vlasova to speak with U.S. representatives. She convinced them that she was leaving voluntarily. After that, the plane was allowed to take off.
Becoming Ambassador to the UN
This event brought attention to McHenry's skills as a negotiator. Earlier that year, the previous U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., Andrew Young, had resigned. In September 1979, President Jimmy Carter appointed Donald McHenry as the new U.S. Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the U.N.
Later Career and Contributions
After his time as Ambassador, McHenry continued to be active in global affairs. In 1986, he received an honorary degree from Bates College. He has served on the boards of several large companies, like The Coca-Cola Company. He was also a director for AT&T Corporation and International Paper.
Today, McHenry is a Professor of Diplomacy and International Affairs at Georgetown University. He is also an advisor for the Partnership for a Secure America. This group works to bring people together on national security and foreign policy issues.
Donald McHenry is also a member of the Global Leadership Foundation. This organization helps support democratic leadership around the world. They work to prevent conflicts and promote good governance. They do this by sharing the experiences of former leaders with current national leaders.
In 2004, McHenry joined other retired diplomats and military leaders. They publicly shared their concerns about the foreign policy of President George W. Bush's administration. They felt the administration was not handling global leadership responsibilities well.
Awards and Honors
- McHenry was honored by The Lincoln Academy of Illinois. He received the Order of Lincoln in 2021. This is the highest award given by the Governor of Illinois.
See also
In Spanish: Donald McHenry para niños
