Vernon A. Walters facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vernon A. Walters
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| United States Ambassador to Germany | |
| In office October 3, 1990 – August 18, 1991 |
|
| President | George H. W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Richard Barkley (East Germany) Himself (West Germany) |
| Succeeded by | Robert M. Kimmitt |
| United States Ambassador to West Germany | |
| In office April 24, 1989 – October 3, 1990 |
|
| President | George H. W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Richard Burt |
| Succeeded by | Himself (Germany) |
| 17th United States Ambassador to the United Nations | |
| In office May 22, 1985 – March 15, 1989 |
|
| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Jeane Kirkpatrick |
| Succeeded by | Thomas R. Pickering |
| Acting Director of Central Intelligence | |
| In office July 2, 1973 – September 4, 1973 |
|
| President | Richard Nixon |
| Preceded by | James R. Schlesinger |
| Succeeded by | William Colby |
| 10th Deputy Director of Central Intelligence | |
| In office May 2, 1972 – July 2, 1976 |
|
| President | Richard Nixon Gerald Ford |
| Director | Richard Helms James R. Schlesinger William Colby George H. W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Robert E. Cushman Jr. |
| Succeeded by | E. Henry Knoche |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 3, 1917 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | February 10, 2002 (aged 85) West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. |
| Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
Vernon Anthony Walters (January 3, 1917 – February 10, 2002) was an important United States Army officer and a diplomat. A diplomat is someone who represents their country in other nations. He rose to the rank of lieutenant general in the U.S. Army. He is also a member of the Military Intelligence Hall of Fame.
Walters held several key roles. From 1972 to 1976, he was the Deputy Director of Central Intelligence. This is a high position in the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Later, from 1985 to 1989, he served as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations. He then became the Ambassador to West Germany from 1989 to 1991. This was a very important time as Germany was reuniting.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Vernon Walters was born in New York City. His father was from Britain and worked selling insurance. When he was six, Vernon moved with his family to Britain and France.
He did not go to university. His main schooling was at Stonyhurst College, a Jesuit school in Lancashire, England. At 16, he returned to the United States. He worked for his father, helping with insurance claims. Walters often mentioned that he achieved a lot despite not having much formal education.
He was very good with languages. He spoke French, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese fluently. He also spoke German well and knew a little of several other languages. Once, he translated a speech for President Richard Nixon in France. The French President, Charles de Gaulle, was so impressed he told Nixon, "You gave a magnificent speech, but your interpreter was eloquent."
Military Career and Service
Starting in the 1940s
Walters joined the Army in 1941. He was one of the many Ritchie Boys who trained at Camp Ritchie. Soon after, he became an officer. He served in Africa and Italy during World War II. He helped connect the commands of the Brazilian Expeditionary Force and the U.S. Fifth Army. He earned awards for his military and intelligence work.
Walters often served as an aide and interpreter for U.S. Presidents. He was with President Harry S. Truman in important meetings. He helped Truman talk with Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking allies in Latin America. His language skills made Truman trust him. He even went with Truman to the Pacific in the early 1950s. There, he helped Truman try to work things out with General Douglas MacArthur in Korea.
In Europe during the 1950s, Walters helped President Dwight D. Eisenhower at NATO meetings. He worked as a translator and aide. He was part of Eisenhower's famous visit to General Franco. He also worked in Paris for the Marshall Plan. He helped set up the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers in Europe.
Working in the 1960s
In the 1960s, Walters was a U.S. military attaché in France, Italy, and Brazil. A military attaché is an expert who works at an embassy. In 1961, he suggested that the U.S. military should get involved in Italy. This was if the Socialist Party joined the government.
While in Paris from 1967 to 1972, Walters helped with secret peace talks. These talks were with North Vietnam. He secretly brought National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger into France for meetings. He then helped Kissinger leave without being noticed. He did this by borrowing a private plane from his friend, French President Georges Pompidou.
Important Roles in the 1970s
President Richard Nixon chose Walters to be the Deputy Director for Central Intelligence (DDCI) in 1972. He held this important role for four years. During this time, he worked closely with four different Directors.
He helped the CIA and the country deal with big world events. These included the 1973 Arab-Israeli war and the oil crisis that followed. He also saw the end of the Vietnam War. He was involved during the Chilean military coup against the Allende government.
Diplomatic Career
Starting in 1981, Walters worked for President Ronald Reagan as a roving ambassador. This meant he traveled to many countries. Reagan used important Catholic officials like Walters to talk with the Pope during the Cold War.
Walters then became the United States Ambassador to the United Nations. This was from 1985 to 1989. After that, he was the ambassador to West Germany from 1989 to 1991. He was in charge of the U.S. preparations for the Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany. This treaty was important for German reunification.
In 1986, he received the Golden Plate Award. This award is from the American Academy of Achievement.
Retirement and Death
After he retired from public life in the 1990s, Walters worked as a business consultant. He also gave many speeches. On November 18, 1991, President George H. W. Bush gave him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is one of the highest awards a civilian can receive in the U.S.
Walters also wrote a book called The Mighty and the Meek. It was published in 2001. The book shared stories about famous people he had worked with. He passed away in 2002. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
See also
In Spanish: Vernon Walters para niños
- 1964 Brazilian coup d'état
