Richard H. Solomon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Richard Solomon
United States Ambassador to the Philippines
In office September 4, 1992 – March 1, 1993
President	George H. W. Bush
Preceded by	Frank G. Wisner
Succeeded by	John Negroponte
Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs
In office June 23, 1989 – July 10, 1992
President	George H. W. Bush
Preceded by	Richard Armitage
Succeeded by	William Clark, Jr.
Director of Policy Planning
In office March 3, 1986 – January 21, 1989
President	Ronald Reagan
Preceded by	Peter Rodman
Succeeded by	Dennis B. Ross
Personal details
Born	Richard Harvey Solomon June 19, 1937 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	March 13, 2017 (aged 79) Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.
Alma mater	Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MS, PhD)

Richard Harvey Solomon (born June 19, 1937 – died March 13, 2017) was an important American diplomat and scholar. He worked for the United States government in several key roles. He helped plan foreign policy, managed relations with countries in Asia, and served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines. After leaving government, he led a peace organization and continued his research.

Early Life and Education

Richard H. Solomon was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on June 28, 1937. He went to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). There, he first studied chemistry. Later, he earned a special degree in political science, focusing on how countries like China are governed.

A Career in Diplomacy

Richard Solomon started his career as a professor at the University of Michigan in 1966. He taught about politics.

In 1971, he began working for the United States National Security Council. This group helps the President make big decisions about other countries. Solomon focused on Asian affairs. He worked closely with Henry Kissinger to improve relations between the U.S. and China. This was a very important step in history.

After this, in 1976, he joined the RAND Corporation. This is a research organization where smart people study important global problems. He led their political science department for ten years.

Working for the State Department

In 1986, Solomon joined the United States Department of State. This is the part of the government that handles foreign relations. He became the Director of Policy Planning. In this role, he helped shape the country's plans for dealing with other nations.

Later, in 1989, President George H. W. Bush chose him to be the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs. This meant he was a top diplomat for countries in Asia and the Pacific region.

During this time, Solomon helped with many important talks:

• He worked on the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements. These agreements helped bring peace to Cambodia after a long conflict. They led to an international peacekeeping force helping Cambodia become independent.
• He also helped North Korea and South Korea talk about not making too many nuclear weapons.
• He played a part in starting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) group. This group helps countries in Asia and the Pacific work together on trade and economic issues.
• He also had direct talks with countries like Vietnam, Mongolia, and Japan.

Ambassador to the Philippines

In 1992, President George H. W. Bush nominated Richard Solomon to be the United States Ambassador to the Philippines. An ambassador is the main representative of one country to another. He served in this important role until 1993.

After Government Service

After leaving government, Solomon became the president of the United States Institute of Peace in 1993. This organization works to prevent and solve international conflicts peacefully. He led this group until 2012.

He then returned to the RAND Corporation as a senior researcher. Richard Solomon also wrote eight books about politics and international relations. He was a member of an advisory board that worked to bring different political groups together on foreign policy.

In 2012, he received an honorary degree from Whittier College.

Death

Richard Solomon passed away on March 13, 2017, at his home in Bethesda, Maryland. He was 79 years old and had brain cancer.