Monteagle Stearns facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Monteagle Stearns
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Stearns in 1981
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| United States Ambassador to Ivory Coast | |
| In office 1976–1979 |
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| President | Gerald Ford Jimmy Carter |
| Preceded by | Robert S. Smith |
| Succeeded by | Nancy V. Rawls |
| United States Ambassador to Greece | |
| In office 1981–1985 |
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| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Robert J. McCloskey |
| Succeeded by | Robert Vossler Keeley |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 5, 1924 Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | May 14, 2016 (aged 91) Belmont, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Spouse | Antonia Riddleberger |
| Children | 6 |
| Education | Columbia University |
| Profession | Diplomat |
Monteagle "Monty" Stearns (born December 5, 1924 – died May 14, 2016) was an American diplomat and author. A diplomat is someone who represents their country in other nations. Stearns served as an Ambassador for the United States in two different countries: Côte d'Ivoire (also known as Ivory Coast) from 1976 to 1979, and Greece from 1981 to 1985.
Contents
Who Was Monteagle Stearns?
Monteagle Stearns was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the United States. He grew up in Carmel, California, and also in New England. He was a very important person in how the United States talked to other countries.
Early Life and Education
In 1943, while he was studying at Stanford University, Monteagle Stearns joined the Marine Corps. He completed Officer Candidate School and served on the U.S.S. West Virginia during World War II. After the war, he went to Columbia University and earned a degree in English in 1948.
He was a member of important groups like the American Academy of Diplomacy and the Council on Foreign Relations. These groups are made up of experts who study and work on how countries interact with each other. Stearns was married to Antonia Riddleberger for 57 years, and they had six children together.
A Career in Diplomacy
Monteagle Stearns worked as a Foreign Service officer for over 40 years. This means he worked for the U.S. government in different countries around the world. His job was to help build good relationships between the United States and other nations.
He served in many places, including Turkey, the Congo, the United Kingdom, and Laos. He also spent three different periods working in Greece. His last role in Greece was as the U.S. Ambassador.
Representing the U.S. Abroad
As an ambassador, Stearns was the top representative for the United States in a foreign country. He helped manage the relationship between the U.S. and the country he was serving in. His roles included:
- Ambassador to Ivory Coast (1976–1979) under Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter.
- Ambassador to Greece (1981–1985) under President Ronald Reagan.
Special Recognition
In 2014, Monteagle Stearns received a very special award from the president of Greece. He was made a Grand Commander of the Order of the Phoenix. This is a high honor given to people who have done great things for Greece.
Later Life
Monteagle Stearns passed away on May 14, 2016, when he was 91 years old. He died in Belmont, Massachusetts. He was remembered by his wife, Antonia, his sister, six children, and eight grandchildren.
Books Written
Monteagle Stearns also wrote books about his experiences and thoughts on diplomacy. Here are two of his books:
- Entangled Allies: U.S. Policy Toward Greece, Turkey, and Cyprus (published in 1992). This book explores how the U.S. dealt with these three countries.
- Talking to Strangers: Improving American Diplomacy at Home and Abroad (published in 1996). In this book, he shared ideas on how to make diplomacy better.
