Charles Rivkin
Encyclopedia
Charles Hammerman Rivkin (born April 1962) is the current United States Ambassador to France
. Selected by President Barack Obama
, he was sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
following unanimous confirmation by the United States Senate
on July 10, 2009.
At his Senate confirmation hearing, Senator John Kerry, Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, said that Rivkin's "life-long ties to France and to French culture make this a particularly fitting assignment."
Ambassador Rivkin is the youngest Ambassador in nearly 60 years to serve as his country’s senior representative in France. Embassy Paris is America’s first and one of its largest diplomatic missions, which now has seven constituent posts throughout France and represents over 50 federal agencies and departments.
in 1984 where he graduated with distinction in political science and international relations. At Yale he also sang with the famed Whiffenpoofs, America's oldest collegiate a cappella singing group. He then earned an M.B.A. from Harvard University
in 1988.
He speaks fluent French and spent years as a youth studying, traveling and working in France, including studying in Rennes with School Year Abroad
and working as an intern at Renault
. Business interests have taken him to Paris or Cannes
every year for the past 20 years.
Rivkin's father, William R. Rivkin
, was United States Ambassador to Luxembourg
under President John F. Kennedy
and United States Ambassador to Senegal
and Gambia under President Lyndon B. Johnson
. His family has presented the "Rivkin Award" at the United States Department of State
since 1968 as a way to honor intellectual courage and constructive dissent in the American Foreign Service. The award was created in part with the help of Charles Rivkin's godfather, Hubert H. Humphrey, after the elder Rivkin's death at 47, in 1967.
Rivkin married his wife, Susan Tolson, in 1990. Until becoming U.S. Ambassador to France, Rivkin and Tolson lived in Santa Monica, California
. They have two children, Elias and Lily.
Ambassador Rivkin has made youth outreach one of his key priorities and has connected the embassy to the next generation of leaders throughout France, including in disadvantaged communities often referred to as the banlieues. "Much of the embassy's outreach is meant to dispel 'mistruths' about the United States, Ambassador Rivkin said in an interview, adding, 'It's easier to hate something you don't understand' "
Prior to his appointment, Ambassador Rivkin worked in the media sector for over 20 years where he served as President and CEO of award winning entertainment companies such as The Jim Henson Company, home of the world-renowned "Muppets," and Wildbrain where Rivkin won a BAFTA Award as Executive Producer of the hit TV series "Yo Gabba Gabba." Rivkin helped engineer the sale of The Jim Henson Company to EM.TV in 2000 for nearly $1 billion. His contribution to the television landscape has influenced generations of viewers and helped shape American popular culture.
at the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Rivkin was the California finance co-chair for President Barack Obama
's 2008 presidential campaign.
United States Ambassador to France
This article is about the United States Ambassador to France. There has been a United States Ambassador to France since the American Revolution. The United States sent its first envoys to France in 1776, towards the end of the four-centuries-old Bourbon dynasty...
. Selected by President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
, he was sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Ruth Joan Bader Ginsburg is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Ginsburg was appointed by President Bill Clinton and took the oath of office on August 10, 1993. She is the second female justice and the first Jewish female justice.She is generally viewed as belonging to...
following unanimous confirmation by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on July 10, 2009.
At his Senate confirmation hearing, Senator John Kerry, Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, said that Rivkin's "life-long ties to France and to French culture make this a particularly fitting assignment."
Ambassador Rivkin is the youngest Ambassador in nearly 60 years to serve as his country’s senior representative in France. Embassy Paris is America’s first and one of its largest diplomatic missions, which now has seven constituent posts throughout France and represents over 50 federal agencies and departments.
Early life, family and education
Rivkin earned a B.A. from Yale UniversityYale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 1984 where he graduated with distinction in political science and international relations. At Yale he also sang with the famed Whiffenpoofs, America's oldest collegiate a cappella singing group. He then earned an M.B.A. from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1988.
He speaks fluent French and spent years as a youth studying, traveling and working in France, including studying in Rennes with School Year Abroad
School Year Abroad
School Year Abroad is an academic program which places American high school juniors, seniors, and post-graduates in 5 countries including China, Italy, France, Spain or Vietnam for a year. Students intensively learn the respective language of their country and live with a host family...
and working as an intern at Renault
Renault
Renault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, and in the past, autorail vehicles, trucks, tractors, vans and also buses/coaches. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's third largest automaker...
. Business interests have taken him to Paris or Cannes
Cannes
Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....
every year for the past 20 years.
Rivkin's father, William R. Rivkin
William R. Rivkin
William R. Rivkin, 1919–1967, was born in Muscatine, Iowa. He received a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Iowa in 1941 and a law degree from Northwestern University in 1948. While at Iowa, he was the national intercollegiate oratorical champion...
, was United States Ambassador to Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
under President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
and United States Ambassador to Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
and Gambia under President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
. His family has presented the "Rivkin Award" at the United States Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
since 1968 as a way to honor intellectual courage and constructive dissent in the American Foreign Service. The award was created in part with the help of Charles Rivkin's godfather, Hubert H. Humphrey, after the elder Rivkin's death at 47, in 1967.
Rivkin married his wife, Susan Tolson, in 1990. Until becoming U.S. Ambassador to France, Rivkin and Tolson lived in Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
. They have two children, Elias and Lily.
Professional career
Ambassador Rivkin's service in France comes at one of the bilateral relationship's strongest moments in recent history. On the 10th anniversary of 9/11, Ambassador Rivkin said that the U.S.-French relationship is as strong as on September 11, 2001, when Le Monde (newspaper) said, "On est tous americains"--"We are all Americans"--"and I think that spirit continues today."Ambassador Rivkin has made youth outreach one of his key priorities and has connected the embassy to the next generation of leaders throughout France, including in disadvantaged communities often referred to as the banlieues. "Much of the embassy's outreach is meant to dispel 'mistruths' about the United States, Ambassador Rivkin said in an interview, adding, 'It's easier to hate something you don't understand' "
Prior to his appointment, Ambassador Rivkin worked in the media sector for over 20 years where he served as President and CEO of award winning entertainment companies such as The Jim Henson Company, home of the world-renowned "Muppets," and Wildbrain where Rivkin won a BAFTA Award as Executive Producer of the hit TV series "Yo Gabba Gabba." Rivkin helped engineer the sale of The Jim Henson Company to EM.TV in 2000 for nearly $1 billion. His contribution to the television landscape has influenced generations of viewers and helped shape American popular culture.
Political involvement
Rivkin served as an at-large California delegate for Senator John Kerry at the 2004 Democratic National Convention and for Barack ObamaBarack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
at the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Rivkin was the California finance co-chair for President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
's 2008 presidential campaign.