Background
Snyder was born in Newark, New Jersey in 1919.
- Photos
- Works
- Photos
- Works
Richard Snyder
Edit ProfileEducation
Snyder graduated from Yale University in 1948 and completed a master’s degree in Russian studies at Harvard University in 1956.
Career
He spent 10 years in the United States Army Reserve and retired at the rank of major. From October 1949 to September 1950 Snyder served in the Central Intelligence Agency. By his own account, he had no further links to the agency after that date, although according to Agency records, he was used as a "spotter" at Harvard during his studies there to identify persons of potential interest to the Agency.
From 1950 to 1970 Snyder was employed as a United States Department of State Japanese and Russian specialist.
Much of his career was spent in Japan, but following a Russian studies masters in 1956, Snyder served as a senior consular official at the United States. Embassy in Moscow from July 1959 to July 1961. In Moscow he dealt with Lee Harvey Oswald (accepting Oswald"s United States passport in October 1959 and returning it to him in July 1961), and attended the trial of U2 pilot Francis Gary Powers.
After returning to Japan, Snyder was later involved in preparing the 1972 return of administrative control of the Ryukyu Islands back to Japan.
Achievements
-
Born
-
Died
January 9, 2012 (aged 92) -
Nationality
Soviet Union