Robert V. Keeley facts for kids

Robert Vossler Keeley (born September 4, 1929, died January 9, 2015) was a diplomat from the United States. He worked for the U.S. Foreign Service for 34 years, from 1956 to 1989.

He served as an Ambassador three times. An ambassador is a country's top representative in another country. Robert Keeley was the U.S. Ambassador to Greece (1985–1989), Zimbabwe (1980–1984), and Mauritius (1976–1978). From 1978 to 1980, he was a Deputy Assistant Secretary of State. In this role, he helped manage U.S. relations with countries in southern and eastern Africa.

Earlier in his career, he worked in other important roles. He was a Deputy Chief of Mission in Cambodia (1974–1975) and Uganda (1971–1973). He also helped lead a special team for Indochina refugees. He worked as a political officer in Jordan, Mali, and Greece. When he retired in 1989, he held the high rank of Career Minister.

Keeley received several awards for his excellent work. He earned the Christian Herter Award in 1989 for his "extraordinary accomplishment." He also received the Superior Honor Award for his work in Cambodia. He got a Presidential Citation for helping refugees. For his service in Zimbabwe, he received a Presidential Distinguished Service Award. In 1985, he was chosen to be the President of the American Foreign Service Association.

After retiring from the Foreign Service, Ambassador Keeley led the Middle East Institute. This organization helps people in the United States learn more about the Middle East. He was its president from 1990 to 1995.

Early Life and Education

Robert Keeley was born in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1929. His father, James Hugh Keeley, Jr., was also an American diplomat. He was serving as the American Consul in Beirut at the time.

Keeley went to school in several countries. He studied in Canada, Greece, Belgium, and the United States. He graduated from Princeton University in 1951 with top honors. He studied English literature there. He also did military service in the United States Coast Guard during the Korean War. From 1953 to 1955, he was the commanding officer of a patrol boat.

Family Life

Robert Keeley was married to Louise Benedict Schoonmaker. They got married on June 23, 1951. They had two children together. Their daughter, Michal Mathilde Keeley, became a retired editor. Their son, Christopher John (Chris), is an artist and a social worker. He works for the D.C. Government, helping children.

Organizations and Interests

Keeley was a member of several important groups. These included the Cosmos Club and the American Foreign Service Association. He was also part of the American Academy of Diplomacy.

After retiring, Keeley became the Chairman of the Board for the Council for the National Interest. He also worked as a writer, speaker, and advisor. He wrote two books about his experiences as a diplomat. One book was about his time in Uganda when Idi Amin was in power (1971–1973). The other book was about Greece during the time of "the Colonels" (1966–1968). This book was called The Colonels’ Coup and the American Embassy.

In 1995, Ambassador Keeley started a publishing company called Five and Ten Press Inc.. He wanted to publish short books and articles that other publishers might have overlooked. The company's name came from his plan to price the books between five and ten dollars.

Keeley also contributed to other books. In 2000, he wrote a chapter for a book about the CIA. He also edited a book for the American Academy of Diplomacy. This book, called First Line of Defense, argued for more support for American diplomacy. He believed diplomacy was important for solving conflicts and protecting national security.

In 2004, Keeley was one of 27 retired diplomats and military leaders. They publicly stated that the administration of President George W. Bush did not understand the world well. They felt the administration was not handling global leadership responsibilities effectively. On June 16, 2004, the Diplomats and Military Commanders for Change group spoke out against the Iraq War. Robert Keeley passed away in January 2015 after a stroke.