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Vernon A. Walters was nominated as United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations by President Ronald Reagan on February 8, 1985 and was sworn in on May 22, 1985 after being unanimously confirmed by the Senate. As chief United States Representative to the United Nations, he also serves as a member of President Reagan's Cabinet. |
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Prior to his appointment to the United States Mission to the United Nations, Ambassador Walters served as Senior Adviser to Secretary of State Alexander Haig, until his nomination by the President to serve as Ambassador-at-Large, a position he held from July 1981 to By 1985. In this capacity, he traveled to over 108 countries covering a million and a half miles as the |
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Reagan Administration's chief diplomatic |
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trouble-shooter. |
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Ambassador Walters served in the United States Army from 1941 to 1976 when he retired with the rank of Lieutenant General. In the course of his military career, he served as special aide and interpreter to a number of U.S. general officers, senior diplomats, and presidents. Following tours in Italy, Brazil, Vietnam, and France, during which time he also served as special aide and interpreter for Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, and Nixon on their foreign travels, General Walters was named Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency in 1972. The four and a half years in which he served the Agency included a five month period as Acting Director. From 1976 to 1981, he was a consultant, lecturer and author. |
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After his retirement, General Walters wrote his memoirs, Silent Missions, an autobiography which was published by Doubleday in 1978. His writings include Sunset at Saigon and The Mighty and the Meek. He has also written many articles and book reviews. |
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Born in New York City on January 3, 1917, Ambassador Walters lived there until 1923 when he went to Europe with his parents. He remained in Europe for more than ten years, attending St. Louis Gonzaga School in Paris, France and Stonyhurst College in Great Britain. He has received honorary degrees from several universities. |
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Ambassador Walters is fluent in seven foreign languages: French, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, German, Dutch, and Russian. He is also the recipient of many honors and distinguished service awards: the U. S. National Security Medal; the Distinguished Service Federal (two oak leaf clusters); the Legion of Merit (oak leaf cluster); the Bronze Star; the Air Medal; the Distinguished Intelligence Medal and many campaign medals. He has been decorated by the Governments of France (Legion of Honor), Italy, Brazil, Vietnam, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, and Peru. |
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