Laurence Pope facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Laurence Pope
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Laurence Pope (second from right) at the burial service for Major Pope (his father), Arlington National Cemetery, September 15, 2009
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| 16th United States Ambassador to Chad | |
| In office September 3, 1993 – June 26, 1996 |
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| President | Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Richard Wayne Bogosian |
| Succeeded by | David C. Halsted |
| Chargé d’Affaires of United States in Libya | |
| In office October 11, 2012 – January 4, 2013 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | J. Christopher Stevens (As Ambassador) |
| Succeeded by | William Roebuck |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Laurence Everett Pope II
September 24, 1945 New Haven, Connecticut, United States |
| Died | October 31, 2020 (aged 75) Portland, Maine, United States |
| Spouse | Elizabeth |
| Profession | Diplomat |
Laurence Everett Pope II (born September 24, 1945 – died October 31, 2020) was an important American diplomat. He worked for the United States government in many different countries. He was the United States Ambassador to Chad from 1993 to 1996. He also served as the top U.S. diplomat in Libya for a short time.
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Laurence Pope: A Diplomat's Journey
Laurence Pope spent 31 years working for the U.S. government as a diplomat. A diplomat is someone who represents their country and helps manage relationships with other nations. It's a bit like being a special messenger and problem-solver for your country around the world.
Early Life and Education
Laurence Pope was born in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1945. He was the oldest son of Major Everett P. Pope, who was a brave soldier and received the Medal of Honor. Laurence Pope went to Bowdoin College and also studied at Princeton University. He learned to speak Arabic and French, which are very useful skills for a diplomat.
Important Roles in Diplomacy
Throughout his career, Laurence Pope held many important jobs in the U.S. Department of State. These jobs helped him gain a lot of experience in international relations.
- He was the Director for Northern Gulf Affairs from 1987 to 1990. This meant he focused on countries in the Middle East.
- From 1991 to 1993, he was the Associate Director for Counter-Terrorism. In this role, he helped the U.S. work against terrorism.
- His biggest role was serving as the U.S. Ambassador to Chad from 1993 to 1996. As an ambassador, he was the highest-ranking U.S. representative in Chad.
- He also worked as a political advisor to General Anthony Zinni from 1997 to 2000. This role involved giving advice on political matters to a top military commander.
Serving in Libya
In 2012, after he had retired, Ambassador Pope was asked to return to service. He became the U.S. Chargé d’Affaires in Libya. A Chargé d’Affaires is a diplomat who leads an embassy when there isn't an ambassador. He arrived in Tripoli on October 11, 2012. He served in this important role until January 4, 2013, when William Roebuck took over.
Retirement and Later Life
Ambassador Pope officially retired from the U.S. Foreign Service on October 2, 2000. Even after retiring, he continued to share his knowledge and experience. He worked as a consultant for different organizations. He was known as a respected expert on the Arab world, sometimes called an "arabist." Laurence Pope lived in Portland, Maine. He passed away at his home in Portland on October 31, 2020, at the age of 75.
