Hossein Ghods-Nakhai
Encyclopedia
Hossein Ghods-Nakhaï (Tehran
, 1911–1977) was an Iranian
poet, politician
, cabinet minister, and diplomat
.
, also known as Haji Washington.
between 1961 and 1963. Before that he was ambassador to Baghdad
, London, Tokyo (Oct. 1956 to Jan. 1958) and Washington, D.C. (during John F. Kennedy
administration). He can be seen behind president Kennedy in this video http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=K1a5TAepYXs. Afterwards, he was appointed as the minister of the royal court, a post he held until 1968. He was replaced as the minister of court by Amir Assadollah Alam
. Afterwards, he became the ambassador to the Holy See
(Vatican).
He was the chairman of the committee that negotiated with the USSR on return to Iranian gold deposited with the government of the Tsar
.
), and prose (including "Trail lost in heaven"). Some of his works have been translated into English and other languages.
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
, 1911–1977) was an Iranian
Iranian peoples
The Iranian peoples are an Indo-European ethnic-linguistic group, consisting of the speakers of Iranian languages, a major branch of the Indo-European language family, as such forming a branch of Indo-European-speaking peoples...
poet, politician
Politics of Iran
The politics of Iran take place in a framework of theocracy guided by an Islamist ideology. The December 1979 constitution, and its 1989 amendment, define the political, economic, and social order of the Islamic Republic of Iran, declaring that Shi'a Islam of the Twelver school of thought is...
, cabinet minister, and diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
.
Family background
He was the son of the Iranian cleric, Hajj Agha Hasan Nakhai, originally from Hezar-Jarib in the Mazandaran province. Like his father, Hossein's surname was initially Nakhai. In his youth, he was the editor of a literature magazine, called Ghods, and so became known as "Mr. Ghods" to everyone. He then added the word Ghods to his surname. He was married to the only daughter of another Iranian ambassador to US, Sadr es-SaltanehHaji Washington
Haji Hossein-Gholi khan Noori , also known as Haji Washington , was an Iranian politician, cabinet minister, and diplomat.- Early life and education :...
, also known as Haji Washington.
Diplomatic and political career
He held the position of the minister of foreign affairsMinister of Foreign Affairs (Iran)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is an Iranian government ministry. The Minister for Foreign Affairs is the Cabinet member in charge....
between 1961 and 1963. Before that he was ambassador to Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
, London, Tokyo (Oct. 1956 to Jan. 1958) and Washington, D.C. (during 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....
administration). He can be seen behind president Kennedy in this video http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=K1a5TAepYXs. Afterwards, he was appointed as the minister of the royal court, a post he held until 1968. He was replaced as the minister of court by Amir Assadollah Alam
Asadollah Alam
Amir Asadollah Alam was an Iranian politician who was Prime Minister from 1962 to 1964. He was also Minister of Royal Court, President of Pahlavi University and Governor of Sistan and Baluchestan Province.-Early life:...
. Afterwards, he became the ambassador to the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
(Vatican).
He was the chairman of the committee that negotiated with the USSR on return to Iranian gold deposited with the government of the Tsar
Tsar
Tsar is a title used to designate certain European Slavic monarchs or supreme rulers. As a system of government in the Tsardom of Russia and Russian Empire, it is known as Tsarist autocracy, or Tsarism...
.
Literary life
He wrote extensive volumes of poetry (including his RubaiyatRubaiyat
"Rubāʿī" is Arabic for "quatrain", and is used to describe a Persian quatrain, or its derivative form in English and other languages. The plural form of the word, rubāʿiyāt ,often anglicised rubaiyat , is used to describe a collection of such quatrains.There are a number of possible rhyme schemes...
), and prose (including "Trail lost in heaven"). Some of his works have been translated into English and other languages.