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Background
David M. Abshire was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1926. He graduated from Baylor University in 1944 and from West Point in 1951. He fought in the Korean War and was decorated as a company commander. Abshire received his doctorate in History from Georgetown University in 1959, where for many years he was an adjunct professor at its Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service.
Political life
In 1962, Dr. Abshire and Admiral Arleigh Burke founded the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Dr. Abshire served as Assistant Secretary of State for Congressional Relations from 1970-1973 and later as Chairman of the U.S. Board of International Broadcasting (1975–1977). He was a member of the Murphy Commission (1974–1975), the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board (1981–1982), and the President's Task Force on U.S. Government International Broadcasting (1991). During the transition of government in 1980, Dr. Abshire was asked by President-elect Reagan to head the National Security Group, which included the State and Defense Departments, the U.S. Information Agency, and the Central Intelligence Agency. He also served for nine years on the board of Proctor & Gamble.
Ambassador to NATO
In 1983-1987 Abshire was Ambassador to NATO where, in reaction to the threat posed by Soviet SS-20 missiles, he was appointed to oversee the deployment of Pershing and Cruise missiles. For his service, he was given the Distinguished Public Service Medal.
Special Counselor to President Reagan
Abshire was recalled as the Iran-Contra Affair unfolded to serve in the cabinet as Special Counselor to President Reagan with Cabinet rank. His charge was to assure a full investigation of the sale of arms to Iran so as to restore the confidence of the nation in the Reagan presidency.
Honors
- Doctor of Humane Letters from Virginia Theological Seminary in 1992.
- Doctor of Civil Law, honoris causa, from the University of the South in 1994.
- John Carroll Award for outstanding service by a Georgetown University alumnus.
- Distinguished Graduate Award of the United States Military Academy.
- 1994 U.S. Military Academy's Castle Award
- Gold Medal of the Sons of the American Revolution
- Baylor Distinguished Alumni Award
- Order of the Crown (Belgium)
- Commander de l'Ordre de Leopold (Belgium)
- Medal of the President of the Italian Republic, Senate, Parliament and Government.
- Grand Official of the Order of the Republic of Italy.
- Order of Diplomatic Service Merit Heung-In Medal (Korea)
- Insignia of the Commander, First Class, Order of the Lion of Finland
- Order of the Liberator (Argentina) in 1999.
- Order of the Sacred Treasure Gold and Silver Star (Japan) in 2001.
- Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service.
- Presidential Citizens Medal.
Bibliography
- The South Rejects a Prophet, 1967
- International Broadcasting: A New Dimension of Western Diplomacy, 1976
- Foreign Policy Makers: President vs. Congress, 1979
- Preventing World War III: A Realistic Grand Strategy, 1988
- Putting America's House in Order: The Nation as a Family, with Brock Brower, 1996.
- Saving the Reagan Presidency: Trust Is the Coin of the Realm, 2005.
- A Call to Greatness: Challenging Our Next President, 2008.
See also
References
- Dr. Abshire's Bio at the Center for the Study of the Presidency
- USC Center on Public Diplomacy Profile
- The Civility Defense Force, Washington Post article from April 7, 2006
- CSIS’ Abshire bio
- Richard Lounsbery Foundation’s Abshire bio
| Diplomatic posts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by W. Tapley Bennett, Jr. |
United States Permanent Representative to NATO 1983 - 1987 |
Succeeded by Alton G. Keel, Jr. |
