Background
ATHERTON, Alfred Leroy Jr. was born on November 22, 1921 in Pittsburgh. Son of Alfred Leroy Atherton and Joan (nee Reed) Atherton.
ATHERTON, Alfred Leroy Jr. was born on November 22, 1921 in Pittsburgh. Son of Alfred Leroy Atherton and Joan (nee Reed) Atherton.
Harvard University.
Joined Foreign Service 1947. Vice-Consul, Stuttgart and Bonn 1947-1952. Second Secretary, United States Embassy, Syria 1953-1956.
Consul, Aleppo, Syria 1957-1958, Calcutta, India 1962-1965. Institute Relations Officer, Bureau of Near Eastern and S. Asian Affairs, State Department 1959-1961, Deputy Director 1965-1966, Country Director (Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria) 1966-1967, (Israel and ArabIsraeli Affairs) 1967-1970. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State 1970-1974, Asst Secretary of State 1974-1978.
Ambassador at Large with Special Responsibility for Middle East Peace Negotiations 1978-1979. Ambassador to Egypt 1979-1983. Director-General, Foreign Service, State Department 1983-1985.
Director Harkness Fellowships since 1985. Director The Harkness Fellowships since 1985. Chairman New York-Cairo Sister City Committee since 1986.
Executive Director since 1989. President Distinguished Service.
Board Directors, US New Zealand Council since 1987.
Married Betty Wylie Kittredge in 1946.