Jack F. Matlock Jr. facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jack F. Matlock Jr.
United States Ambassador to the Soviet Union
In office April 6, 1987 – August 11, 1991
President	Ronald Reagan George H. W. Bush
Preceded by	Arthur A. Hartman
Succeeded by	Robert S. Strauss
United States Ambassador to Czechoslovakia
In office September 28, 1981 – September 20, 1983
President	Ronald Reagan
Preceded by	Francis J. Meehan
Succeeded by	William H. Luers
Personal details
Born	Jack Foust Matlock Jr. (1929-10-01) October 1, 1929 (age 95) Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S.
Spouses	Rebecca Matlock ​ ​ (m. 1949; died 2019)​ Grace Baliunas Austin ​ (m. 2020)​
Children	5
Alma mater	Duke University Columbia University
Profession	Diplomat, educator, historian, linguist

Jack Foust Matlock Jr., born on October 1, 1929, is an American who worked as an ambassador, a Foreign Service Officer, a teacher, and a historian. He was an expert on the Soviet Union during the Cold War. He served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union from 1987 to 1991.

Matlock became interested in Russia while studying at Duke University. After more studies at Columbia University and teaching Russian at Dartmouth College, he joined the Foreign Service in 1956. His 35-year career covered much of the Cold War period between the Soviet Union and the United States.

His first job in Moscow was in 1961. From the embassy there, he experienced the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. He helped translate important messages between leaders during this tense time. Later, he worked in West and East Africa during a period when the U.S. and Soviet Union competed for influence.

Matlock was the director of Soviet affairs in the State Department during a time of reduced tension called détente. He attended almost all U.S.-Soviet summit meetings from 1972 to 1991. He returned to Moscow in 1974 as the second-in-command at the embassy.

When the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1980, the period of reduced tensions ended. Matlock was assigned to Moscow again in 1981 as acting ambassador. Ronald Reagan later appointed him as ambassador to Czechoslovakia. In 1983, Reagan asked him to work at the National Security Council. His job was to create a plan to end the arms race.

When Mikhail Gorbachev became the Soviet leader in 1985, arms talks and summit meetings started again. Matlock became ambassador to the Soviet Union in 1987. He saw the final years of the Soviet Union before he retired in 1991.

After leaving the Foreign Service, he wrote books about the end of the Soviet Union and the Cold War. These books helped him become known as a historian. He also taught diplomacy at several colleges.

Early Life and Education

Jack Matlock was born in 1929 in Greensboro, North Carolina. He finished high school in 1946. He married Rebecca Burrum in 1949. He graduated with high honors from Duke University in 1950. He later earned a master's degree from Columbia University in 1952.

From 1953 to 1956, he taught Russian language and literature at Dartmouth College.

Diplomatic Career

Matlock joined the Foreign Service in 1956. He worked in many places, including Vienna, Moscow, Accra, and Dar es Salaam. He was the Director of Soviet Affairs in the State Department from 1971 to 1974. He also served as U.S. ambassador to Czechoslovakia from 1981 to 1983.

From 1983 to 1986, he was a special assistant to the president for national security. He also worked as a senior director for European and Soviet affairs on the National Security Council Staff. He speaks Czech, French, German, Russian, and Swahili.

Ambassador to the Soviet Union

Ronald Reagan chose Matlock to be the ambassador to the Soviet Union. He served in this role from 1987 to 1991. Before this, he had worked in Moscow several times. He was a vice consul and third secretary from 1961 to 1963. He was also a minister counsellor and deputy chief of mission from 1974 to 1978. In 1981, he was a temporary acting ambassador.

Life After Diplomacy

After retiring from the Foreign Service in 1991, Matlock returned to teaching. He became a professor of international Diplomacy at Columbia University. After five years, he moved to the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey. He was a professor there from 1996 to 2001.

Matlock also taught at other universities, including Princeton University and Mount Holyoke College. He received his Ph.D. from Columbia University in 2013.

Jack and Rebecca Matlock had five children and three grandchildren. Rebecca passed away in 2019. Matlock later married Grace Baliunas Austin in 2020.

Interest in Russia

Matlock said he became fascinated by Russia after reading books by Dostoyevsky in college. He studied Russian language and culture at Columbia University. He believed that dealing with the Soviet Union would be the main challenge for American diplomacy after World War II.

In 1953, he became a Russian instructor at Dartmouth College. He also helped create an index for Joseph Stalin's writings for the State Department. Since the Soviet Union was a closed society in 1956, he decided the best way to learn about Russia was to become a diplomat. He had a clear goal from the start:

…when I entered the Foreign Service I shocked a lot of people by what seemed to be overweening ambition when I was asked "What do you want out of the Foreign Service?" I stated frankly, "I want to be the American ambassador to the Soviet Union."

First Time in Moscow

After working in Vienna, Matlock arrived in Moscow for the first time in 1961. He was a Vice Consul. He met with people who wanted to visit or move to the United States. One famous case was Lee Harvey Oswald, who asked for help to return to the U.S. after living in the Soviet Union. Matlock conducted the interview that allowed Oswald's family to leave the USSR in 1962.

After a year, Matlock became Third Secretary in the Political Section. American foreign policy toward the Soviet Union was called containment. This policy, created by George F. Kennan, aimed to stop the spread of Communism. It was believed that Communism would eventually collapse on its own. However, discussions between the Superpowers still happened.

In June 1961, President John F. Kennedy met with Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev. In December, the United Nations General Assembly approved a plan for disarmament talks. This time also saw the start of U.S.-USSR cultural exchanges.

The containment policy was seriously tested during the October 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Matlock helped translate messages between President John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev.

Work in Africa

In late 1963, the Matlocks moved to West Africa, to Accra, Ghana. Kwame Nkrumah was the first president of newly independent Ghana. Post-colonial Africa became a place where the U.S. and Soviet Union competed for influence.

In 1967, Matlock went to East Africa to work as a consul on Zanzibar. This was his first time leading a Foreign Service office.

Matlock's next job was as Deputy Chief of Mission in Dar es Salaam, the capital of Tanzania. Even in Africa, his knowledge of Soviet affairs was useful. With Leonid Brezhnev in power, Soviet foreign policy followed the Brezhnev Doctrine. This rule stated that once a country became Communist, it would stay in the Soviet sphere of influence.

Director of Soviet Affairs in Washington

In 1971, Matlock became Director of Soviet Affairs in the State Department. During Richard Nixon's presidency, there was a period of reduced Cold War tension called détente. Matlock helped negotiate arms control treaties and other agreements. He attended almost every U.S.-Soviet summit meeting from 1972 to 1991.

Deputy Chief of Mission in Moscow

After four years in Washington, Matlock spent four years as Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. This job, the second-highest position, made him a well-known Soviet expert. In 1976, it was revealed that the Soviet Union had been sending microwaves at the Moscow Embassy for years. This caused worries about health effects.

On August 26, 1977, a major fire broke out at the embassy. All staff were safely evacuated. President Jimmy Carter praised the embassy staff for their efforts. A former KGB agent later claimed the Soviets deliberately caused the fire to get into sensitive areas.

Return to the U.S.

Matlock returned to the United States and taught at Vanderbilt University for a year. The next year, he worked at the Foreign Service Institute, which is the State Department's language training school.

In January 1980, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. President Carter responded by delaying a treaty and stopping trade. Also in 1980, a new embassy building in Moscow was found to have many listening devices. This made it unusable for secure work.

Acting Ambassador in Moscow

Matlock returned to Moscow in 1981 as acting ambassador, also called chargé d'affaires. By April 24, President Reagan had lifted the trade ban, and trade restarted. Matlock showed America's desire for good relations with the Soviets:

We are seeking an active dialogue on all levels. But a dialogue is useful only if it is candid, and we must learn not to take offense at candor but to use it to help us understand each other. - Jack F. Matlock Jr. (New York Times Quote of the Day for July 5, 1981)

On August 6, 1981, President Reagan ordered the creation of a neutron bomb. This led the Soviets to start talks, and negotiations on limiting nuclear weapons in Europe began on November 30.

Ambassador to Czechoslovakia

In late 1980, President Jimmy Carter had appointed Matlock as ambassador to Czechoslovakia. However, the Senate did not approve the appointment before Carter lost the election. So, Ronald Reagan re-appointed him in 1981, and he became ambassador to Czechoslovakia. During his time there, he helped solve a problem: the return of 18.4 tons of gold. This gold had been stolen by the Nazis in World War II and held in American and British banks.

On March 23, 1983, President Reagan announced the Strategic Defense Initiative. This was a plan for a weapons system to protect against nuclear attacks. Matlock continued to advise the president on policy toward the Soviet Union. On September 1, 1983, when the Soviets shot down commercial flight KAL 007, Matlock returned to Washington to work with White House officials.

National Security Council in Washington

Reagan appointed Matlock as a special assistant to the president. He also became senior director of European and Soviet affairs in the National Security Council (NSC). His job was to create a plan to end the arms race. The long-standing containment strategy toward the U.S.S.R. was changed. It now included putting internal pressure on the Soviets while also negotiating for shared interests. In the following years, talks with the Soviets focused on Matlock's "Four-Part Agenda": Human Rights, Regional Issues, Arms Control, and Bilateral Issues.

On November 25, 1983, Soviet leader Yuri Andropov announced new nuclear missile deployments. This showed the increased tension. Relations began to improve with Ronald Reagan's speech on January 16, 1984. He said the U.S. and U.S.S.R. had "common interests," especially avoiding war and reducing arms. He also supported a "zero option" for nuclear arms. On June 30, 1984, the Soviets offered to start talks on nuclear and space-based weapons.

The Gorbachev Period

Mikhail Gorbachev became the leader of the Soviet Union on March 11, 1985. The next day, talks on nuclear and space-based weapons began in Geneva. Gorbachev proposed stopping the development of nuclear and space weapons during negotiations. He also suggested banning nuclear testing. Reagan rejected these ideas.

Gorbachev started a period of economic changes called perestroika. He also agreed to a series of meetings with the American president. Matlock played a key role in preparing Reagan for his first meeting with Gorbachev. He arranged for experts to create a "Soviet Union 101" course for Reagan. Matlock also acted as Gorbachev in a practice meeting, helping Reagan prepare.

Geneva Summit, with Matlock seated at the far end of the table

In June 1986, Matlock spoke at a conference in Jūrmala, Latvia. He told the crowd that the United States did not recognize the Soviet Union's control over the Baltic States. His words are believed to have encouraged the independence movement in Latvia.

U.S.-Soviet relations worsened when the Soviets arrested U.S. reporter Nicholas Daniloff. This seemed to be in response to the arrest of a suspected KGB agent. Matlock advised taking a firm stance. Charges against Daniloff were dropped, but a diplomatic dispute followed. This led to the expulsion of 100 Soviets from the U.S. and the U.S. losing many diplomats and staff from its Moscow Embassy.

Ambassador in Moscow

In April 1987, Reagan appointed Matlock as ambassador to the Soviet Union. Conditions at the embassy were difficult. A Marine Sergeant had been found to have put embassy security at risk. Within months, all U.S. intelligence assets in the Soviet Union were exposed. Americans suspected the embassy's code room was no longer safe. It was later discovered that spies within the CIA and FBI were responsible.

During 1987, relations steadily improved. U.S. military inspectors were present at Soviet military exercises. There was an agreement to create centers for reducing nuclear threats. Negotiations also began to ban nuclear tests. The improved relations were also seen in culture. Matlock invited ballerina Maya Plisetskaya to a reception. This was a way for Matlock to see Gorbachev's intentions, as earlier Soviet leaders would have seen it as a challenge.

A second fire at the embassy in February 1988 damaged several floors.

Improvements in relations continued with two summit meetings. One was in Moscow, and the other was in New York. An earthquake struck Armenia during the second summit, cutting it short. However, Gorbachev accepted a U.S. offer of help for the victims. This was the first official U.S. assistance since World War II.

The Berlin Wall fell on November 9, 1989. On November 15, the U.S. and U.S.S.R. made a joint statement to the United Nations about peace and cooperation. This was their first joint effort. A December meeting in Malta brought Gorbachev and George H. W. Bush together for their first summit.

The June 1990 summit in Washington led to several bilateral agreements. These covered chemical weapons, trade, aviation, and other areas. The September meeting in Helsinki was a place to discuss the Persian Gulf War.

A third fire happened at the embassy in April 1991. This time, the KGB may have sent agents disguised as firefighters.

In June 1991, Matlock learned of a planned coup against Gorbachev and warned him. But it was too late. Shortly after his July summit with Bush, and just after Matlock's term ended, Gorbachev was briefly removed from power by the August 1991 coup.

The Soviet Union collapsed by the end of 1991. This was just a few months after Matlock retired from his 35-year diplomatic career, having achieved his goal of becoming ambassador to the Soviet Union.

Books and Writings

After retiring, Matlock wrote Autopsy on an Empire: The American Ambassador's Account of the Collapse of the Soviet Union. This book describes the final years of the Soviet Union.

His next book, Reagan and Gorbachev: How the Cold War Ended, tells the story of the relationship between the two leaders. It describes their efforts to reduce arms. Matlock believes that Ronald Reagan's military buildup in the early 1980s has led to a wrong idea of Reagan as someone who wanted war. Reagan, according to Matlock, always aimed for a "reduction in the numbers of nuclear weapons."

His third book, Superpower Illusions: How Myths and False Ideologies Led America Astray--And How to Return to Reality, was published in 2010. It looks at the time after the Cold War and offers his ideas for policy.

Teaching Diplomacy

Matlock speaking at UCLA in November 2007

Matlock has taught diplomacy at Duke University, Princeton University, Columbia University, and Hamilton College. In a 1997 interview, Matlock gave advice to future diplomats: be optimistic, get a good education, don't expect to change the world alone, know the country you're in, know your own country, represent your government faithfully, find common interests, and remember that timing is everything.

Matlock also shared his thoughts on political systems:

I don't see much difference between a communist regime and a fascist regime. In fact, I think one of the greatest intellectual confusions that many have had over these decades is the whole right and left thing -- fascists are on the right, communists are on the left. Nonsense! They come together and overlap, and we're seeing this in Russia today where the allies are the nationalistic chauvinists and the communists. They are natural allies because they are authoritarians by nature. And more than authoritarians, they tend to be totalitarians, which means that they tend to destroy all of the elements of the civil society. To me that's much more important than whether you're philosophically right or left. You know, are you willing to create and live in a civil society, in an open society, or not? That to me is the basic issue.

Views on U.S. Policy

After leaving government, Matlock sometimes joined other experts to criticize U.S. foreign policy. In 1997, he signed an open letter to President Bill Clinton. It criticized plans for NATO expansion. He believed NATO expansion would prevent major nuclear arms reductions with Russia. This, he thought, would increase the risk of a nuclear attack by terrorists.

In 2004, Matlock signed a statement that criticized President George W. Bush's policies. He supported Senator John Kerry for president.

In 2007, Matlock joined others to support the goal of a world free of nuclear weapons. He has supported the Global Zero Initiative, a plan to eliminate all nuclear weapons by 2030. He also signed a letter in 2011 asking for public information on nuclear weapons. This was to promote openness and reduce mistrust.

In 2011, he co-signed a letter to President Obama. It urged a United Nations resolution condemning Israeli settlements in occupied territory.

Views on the Russo-Ukrainian War

Matlock was surprised by the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. He believed it could have been avoided if the United States had not pushed for Ukraine to join NATO. He sees the current policy as breaking a promise not to expand NATO, which he says was made to Gorbachev.

In late 2021, he argued that Ukraine is a state but not yet a nation. He said this was because of its deep language divisions. He stated that "it is not Russian interference that created Ukrainian disunity but rather the haphazard way the country was assembled from parts that were not always mutually compatible [...], not by Ukrainians themselves but by outsiders."

He published a review of an article in January 2022. He agreed that Russia wants a neutral Ukraine. He pushed back against claims that Russia wants to take over Ukraine. In February 2022, he wrote an opinion piece suggesting the invasion might be a "charade." He felt it was "grossly magnified by prominent elements of the American media, to serve a domestic political end."

Having seen the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, he understood the dangers of threatening a nuclear-armed state. He also warned that the war puts progress on other global issues at risk. He thought the war goals on both sides were unrealistic. He urged a cease-fire and a diplomatic solution to end the loss of lives and destruction in Ukraine. He suggested the U.S. could encourage talks by using its influence as a major arms supplier to Ukraine and a sponsor of sanctions on Russia. Matlock wrote:

What all the parties to the conflict in Ukraine seem to have forgotten is that the future of mankind will not be determined by where international borders are drawn — these have never been static in history and doubtless will continue to change from time to time. The future of mankind will be determined by whether nations learn to settle their differences peacefully.

In December 2021, Matlock wrote:

Interference by the United States and its NATO allies in Ukraine’s civil struggle has exacerbated the crisis within Ukraine, undermined the possibility of bringing the two easternmost provinces back under Kyiv’s control, and raised the specter of possible conflict between nuclear-armed powers. Furthermore, in denying that Russia has a "right" to oppose extension of a hostile military alliance to its national borders, the United States ignores its own history of declaring and enforcing for two centuries a sphere of influence in the Western hemisphere.

Published Works

• The function of the "governing organs" of the Union of Soviet writers (1934–1950) OCLC 56176736 Columbia University Masters Thesis (1952)
• An index to the collected works of J. V. Stalin External Research Staff, Office of Intelligence Research, Dept. of State, (1955)
• Soviet strategy and tactics in tropical Africa OCLC 1658097 Oberammergau : U.S. Army Field Detachment "R", Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, Intelligence Dept. of the Army, the Army's Institute of Advanced Russian Studies (1961)
• U.S.-Soviet relations : background and prospects OCLC 15103643 Washington, D.C. : U.S. Dept. of State, Bureau of Public Affairs, Office of Public Communication (1986)
• U.S.-Soviet relations : status and prospects OCLC 83571255 Studia diplomatica. - 39(6) 1986 : 635-648
• The Czechoslovak National Council of America, Chicago District, proudly presents its thirty-eighth annual ball OCLC 49382326 The Czechoslovak National Council of America (January 21, 1989)
• Autopsy on an Empire: The American Ambassador's Account of the Collapse of the Soviet Union Random House ISBN: 0-679-41376-6 (1995)
• Reagan and Gorbachev: How the Cold War Ended Random House ISBN: 0-679-46323-2 (2004)
• Superpower Illusions: How Myths and False Ideologies Led America Astray--And How to Return to Reality Yale University Press ISBN: 0-300-13761-3 (January 5, 2010)

Images for kids

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  Jack Matlock