J. William Middendorf facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
J. William Middendorf
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Middendorf in 1969
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| United States Ambassador to the European Union |
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| In office July 12, 1985 – February 1, 1987 |
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| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | George S. Vest |
| Succeeded by | Alfred H. Kingon |
| 10th United States Ambassador to the Organization of American States | |
| In office July 1, 1981 – June 20, 1985 |
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| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Gale W. McGee |
| Succeeded by | Richard T. McCormack |
| 62nd United States Secretary of the Navy | |
| In office April 8, 1974 – January 20, 1977 |
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| President | Richard Nixon Gerald Ford |
| Preceded by | John Warner |
| Succeeded by | W. Graham Claytor Jr. |
| United States Ambassador to the Netherlands | |
| In office July 9, 1969 – June 10, 1973 |
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| President | Richard Nixon |
| Preceded by | William R. Tyler |
| Succeeded by | Kingdon Gould Jr. |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
John William Middendorf II
September 22, 1924 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Education | College of the Holy Cross (BNS) Harvard University (BA) New York University (MBA) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Navy |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
John William Middendorf II, born on September 22, 1924, is an important American figure. He has had many different jobs for his country. He has been a diplomat, which means he represented the U.S. in other countries. He also served as the Secretary of the Navy, leading the U.S. Navy. He has also written books about politics, security, and history.
Contents
Early Life and School
John William Middendorf II was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1924. He grew up nearby in Charleston, Maryland. He went to several schools, including Gilman School and Middlesex School. He was on the rowing team at Middlesex School. He finished school in 1943. He was 17 years old when the attack on Pearl Harbor happened, which brought the United States into World War II.
Education and Military Service
Middendorf studied at the College of the Holy Cross. He earned a special degree in Naval Science in 1945.
During World War II, he joined the United States Navy. From 1944 to 1946, he worked as an engineer and navigator. He served on a ship called the USS LCS(L) 53. He left the Navy in 1946.
After his military service, he continued his education. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard College in 1947. Later, in 1954, he received an MBA degree from New York University.
Early Career in Finance and Politics
After college, Middendorf became an investment banker. In 1963, he started his own company called Middendorf, Colgate and Company. This company even had a spot on the New York Stock Exchange.
He also became involved in politics early on. He was a key supporter of Barry Goldwater's campaign for president in 1964. Middendorf was the treasurer for that campaign. He continued to be the treasurer for the Republican National Committee from 1965 to 1969.
Serving the Government
Middendorf held several important roles in the U.S. government.
Ambassador to the Netherlands
In 1969, President Richard Nixon chose Middendorf to be the United States Ambassador to the Netherlands. An ambassador is a country's official representative in another country. Middendorf served in this role until June 1973.
After returning to the U.S., Middendorf became the Under Secretary of the Navy. Soon after, he was promoted to Secretary of the Navy. He served in this top Navy position from 1974 until 1977. This was during the presidencies of Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford.
As Secretary, Middendorf worked to increase the Navy's budget. He helped get more money for the Navy, while the Army and Air Force budgets stayed about the same. He supported important Navy programs, including:
- The Ohio-class submarine: These are large submarines that carry missiles.
- The Trident missile: These are powerful missiles launched from submarines.
- The Aegis missile system: This is a special defense system for Navy ships. It helps ships defend against attacks.
- The F/A-18 Hornet: This is a famous fighter jet used by the Navy. Middendorf helped name it "Hornet" to honor a Revolutionary War ancestor.
Later Ambassador Roles
When Jimmy Carter became president, Middendorf returned to the private sector. He became the head of a bank.
Later, in 1980, he helped President Ronald Reagan's team. Reagan then appointed him as the U.S. Ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS). This organization works to promote peace and cooperation in the Americas. He held this job until 1984.
After that, he became the U.S. Representative to the European Community. Today, this group is known as the European Union. He served in this role until 1987.
Other Interests and Contributions
Beyond his government service, Middendorf has many other interests.
Author and Composer
He has written several books. In 2006, he published Glorious Disaster. This book describes his work with the Barry Goldwater presidential campaign. It explains how that campaign helped start the modern conservative movement. In 2011, he wrote his autobiography, Potomac Fever.
Middendorf is also a talented composer of music. He has written symphonies, including the Holland Symphony. He presented this symphony to Queen Juliana of the Netherlands. He has also composed 100 marches for ships of the U.S. Navy.
Board Memberships
He is a member of the board of directors for the International Republican Institute. He also serves on the board of trustees for The Heritage Foundation. This is an important research group in Washington, D.C.
He is also a member of the Rhode Island Society of the Sons of the Revolution and the Naval Order of the United States.
Art and Education
Middendorf also studied stained glass production. He learned from a Dutch expert named Joep Nicolas. He is also on the board of the New York Studio School of Drawing, Painting and Sculpture.
Family Life
John William Middendorf was married to Isabelle Paine Middendorf. They had two children, a daughter named Frances and a son named John.
Honors and Awards
Middendorf has received many awards for his service and contributions.
Awards from the U.S.
- Superior Honor Award from the U.S. Department of State (1974)
- Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service (1975, 1976)
- Navy Distinguished Public Service Award (1976)
- Medals for his service in World War II, including the American Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.
Awards from Other Countries
- Grand Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau from The Netherlands (1985)
- Order of the Arab Republic of Egypt – Rank A (the highest foreign award) from President Anwar Sadat
- Grand Officer of the Order of Naval Merit from Brazil (1974)
Other Recognitions
He has also received awards for his music, including the "Edwin Franko Goldman Award" from the American Bandmasters Association. He is a member of the American Society of Composers and Performers (ASCAP).
He has also received honorary degrees from several universities, recognizing his achievements.
