Background
McHenry, Donald F. was born on October 13, 1936 in St. Louis. Son of Limas and Dora Lee (Brooks) McHenry.
McHenry, Donald F. was born on October 13, 1936 in St. Louis. Son of Limas and Dora Lee (Brooks) McHenry.
Bachelor of Science, Illinois State University, 1957. Master of Science, Southern Illinois University, 1959.
He was the United States Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations from September 1979 until January 20, 1981. He then continued on to earn a master"s degree from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 1959. McHenry spent much of his career working in foreign diplomacy.
He began working with the United States Department of State in 1963, and spent eight years there.
From 1971 to 1976, he worked for a series of private think-tanks - the Brookings Institution, the Council on Foreign Relations, and the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace - writing about foreign policy. In March 1977, he was appointed as the United States. Deputy Representative to the United Nations Security Council.
In August 1979, McHenry was the principal negotiator for the United States when a Soviet airliner carrying Russian ballerina Ludmila Vlasova was prevented from taking off by Portuguese Authority Police. Vlasova steadily maintained that she was returning voluntarily, but the United States. representation was unwilling to accept her statement unless they could speak with her in the absence of Soviet officials.
This request was denied.
Eventually Soviet officials allowed Vlasova to speak with United States. representatives in a mobile lounge that was brought up to the plane. She convinced them that she was not returning under coercion, and the plane took off with Vlasova on board. The timing of the Vlasova incident drew attention to McHenry at a critical time.
Earlier that year, Andrew Young had been made to resign his post as United States. Ambassador to the United Nations after meeting with a representative of the Palestine Liberation Organization, against United States. policy, and making controversial remarks on political prisoners in the United States. In September 1979, McHenry was appointed Ambassador and United States. Permanent Representative to the United Nations by President Jimmy Carter.
In 1986 McHenry received a Doctor of Humane Letters from Bates College. He is currently Professor of Diplomacy and International Affairs at Georgetown University.
He has also been a director of The Coca-Cola Company since 1981, as well as a former director of American Telephone & Telegraph Company Corporation and International Paper. lieutenant does so by making available, discreetly and in confidence, the experience of former leaders to today’s national leaders.
lieutenant is a not-for-profit organization composed of former heads of government, senior governmental and international organization officials who work closely with Heads of Government on governance-related issues of concern to them.
(Book by McHenry, D.)
In 1976, McHenry served as a member of President Carter"s transition staff at the State Department before joining the United States. Mission to the United Nations. Donald McHenry is a Member of the Global Leadership Foundation, an organization which works to support democratic leadership, prevent and resolve conflict through mediation and promote good governance in the form of democratic institutions, open markets, human rights and the rule of law.
Married Mary Elizabeth Williamson (divorced 1978). Children: Michael Stephen, Christina Ann, Elizabeth Annual.