Political Leader: U.S. Department of State Secretary of State
Program Titles
- 63rd Secretary of State
Warren Christopher was sworn in as the 63rd Secretary of State on January 20, 1993. Served as Deputy Attorney General of the United States from June 1967 until January 20,1969.
Mr. Christopher was sworn in on February 26,1977, as the Deputy Secretary of State and served in that position until January 20,1981. As Deputy Secretary, he is credited with skillfully negotiating the release of 52 American hostages in Iran. He also spearheaded the normalization of relations with China, helped to win ratification of the Panama Canal treaties, and headed the first interagency group on human rights. President Carter awarded him the Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award, on January 16, 1981.
Chairman of the Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary of the American Bar Association, 1975-76; and Special Counsel to California Governor Edmund G. Brown in 1959.
Mr. Christopher’s civic activities have included the following: Foreign Relations; Director, World Affairs Council; Vice Chairman of the Governor’s Commission on the riots in 1965- 66; Special Consultant to Under Secretary George W. Ball on Foreign Economic Problems; President, Coordinating Council for Higher Education; and Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Mr. Christopher headed the vice presidential search for Governor Clinton and served as the Director of the Presidential Transition.
In addition to several honorary degrees, Mr. Christopher has received the following awards: the Jefferson Award from the American Institute for Public Service for the Greatest Public Service Performed by an Elected or Appointed Official; the UCLA Medal; the Harold Weill Medal from New York University; the Thomas Jefferson Award in Law from the University of Virginia Law School; and the Louis Stein Award from Fordham Law School.
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