Max Kampelman
Encyclopedia
Max Kampelman, born Max Kampelmacher (born November 7, 1920), is former head of the American
delegation to the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe. He was born in New York. He served as Ambassador to the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe from 1980–1983, Ambassador and Head of the United States Delegation to the Negotiations with the Soviet Union on Nuclear and Space Arms in Geneva from 1985–1989, and as Counselor to the Department of State from 1987-1989. He then rejoined the law firm of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver, & Jacobson LLP, which he is now of counsel
.
Kampelman is a member of the board of advisors for the think tank Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs
(JINSA). He is currently co-chair of the American Committee for Peace in Chechnya
and a member of the Committee on the Present Danger
, a policy institute that favors larger defense budgets and arms buildups. Kampelman received his B.A. from New York University in 1940 and LL.B., also from New York University, in 1947 and an honorary LL.D. from Bates College
in 1986.
Kampelman's career started in World War II as a conscientious objector
. To fulfill his draft obligation he volunteered for the infamous Minnesota Starvation Experiment
at the University of Minnesota undertaken by nutritionist Ancel Keys
. Upon completing the one year experiment he renounced pacifism and went on to become a lawyer, diplomat and educator.
On January 18, 1989, President Reagan
awarded Mr. Kampelman the Presidential Citizens Medal
. On August 11, 1999, President Clinton
awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom
. On May 22, 2008 Kampelman was presented by the National Endowment for Democracy
with its Democracy Service Medal in recognition of his lifetime achievement in advancing the principles of freedom, human rights, and democracy at a ceremony held at the US State Department in Washington, DC.
Recently, Kampelman served as a motivating force behind the groundbreaking op-ed "A World Free of Nuclear Weapons," published on January 4, 2007 in the Wall Street Journal by George P. Shultz
, Henry Kissinger
, Sam Nunn
, and William Perry
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
delegation to the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe. He was born in New York. He served as Ambassador to the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe from 1980–1983, Ambassador and Head of the United States Delegation to the Negotiations with the Soviet Union on Nuclear and Space Arms in Geneva from 1985–1989, and as Counselor to the Department of State from 1987-1989. He then rejoined the law firm of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver, & Jacobson LLP, which he is now of counsel
Of counsel
Of counsel is often the title of an attorney who is employed by a law firm or an organization, but is not an associate or a partner. Some firms use titles like "counsel," "special counsel," and "senior counsel" for the same concept...
.
Kampelman is a member of the board of advisors for the think tank Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs
Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs
The Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs is a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit think-tank focusing on issues of United States and Israel in national security. JINSA's stated aim is threefold: to ensure a strong and effective U.S...
(JINSA). He is currently co-chair of the American Committee for Peace in Chechnya
American Committee for Peace in Chechnya
Founded in 1999, the American Committee for Peace in Chechnya is the only private, non-governmental organization in North America exclusively dedicated to promoting the peaceful resolution of the Second Chechen war...
and a member of the Committee on the Present Danger
Committee on the Present Danger
The Committee on the Present Danger is an American foreign policy interest group. Its current stated single goal is "to stiffen American resolve to confront the challenge presented by terrorism and the ideologies that drive it" through "education and advocacy"...
, a policy institute that favors larger defense budgets and arms buildups. Kampelman received his B.A. from New York University in 1940 and LL.B., also from New York University, in 1947 and an honorary LL.D. from Bates College
Bates College
Bates College is a highly selective, private liberal arts college located in Lewiston, Maine, in the United States. and was most recently ranked 21st in the nation in the 2011 US News Best Liberal Arts Colleges rankings. The college was founded in 1855 by abolitionists...
in 1986.
Kampelman's career started in World War II as a conscientious objector
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
. To fulfill his draft obligation he volunteered for the infamous Minnesota Starvation Experiment
Minnesota Starvation Experiment
The Minnesota Starvation Experiment, also known as the Minnesota Semi-Starvation Experiment, the Minnesota Starvation-Recovery Experiment and the Starvation Study, was a clinical study performed at the University of Minnesota between November 19, 1944 and December 20, 1945...
at the University of Minnesota undertaken by nutritionist Ancel Keys
Ancel Keys
Ancel Benjamin Keys was an American scientist who studied the influence of diet on health. In particular, he hypothesized that different kinds of dietary fat had different effects on health....
. Upon completing the one year experiment he renounced pacifism and went on to become a lawyer, diplomat and educator.
On January 18, 1989, President Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
awarded Mr. Kampelman the Presidential Citizens Medal
Presidential Citizens Medal
The Presidential Citizens Medal is the second highest civilian award in the United States, second only to the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It is awarded by the President of the United States, and may be given posthumously....
. On August 11, 1999, President Clinton
William Clinton
Bill Clinton is the 42nd President of the United States. William Clinton may also refer to:*William de Clinton, 1st Earl of Huntingdon , English nobleman from prominent Norman family dating to William the Conqueror; Lord High Admiral as of 1333*William Henry Clinton , British general from...
awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Presidential Medal of Freedom
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award bestowed by the President of the United States and is—along with thecomparable Congressional Gold Medal bestowed by an act of U.S. Congress—the highest civilian award in the United States...
. On May 22, 2008 Kampelman was presented by the National Endowment for Democracy
National Endowment for Democracy
The National Endowment for Democracy, or NED, is a U.S. non-profit organization that was founded in 1983 to promote US-friendly democracy by providing cash grants funded primarily through an annual allocation from the U.S. Congress...
with its Democracy Service Medal in recognition of his lifetime achievement in advancing the principles of freedom, human rights, and democracy at a ceremony held at the US State Department in Washington, DC.
Recently, Kampelman served as a motivating force behind the groundbreaking op-ed "A World Free of Nuclear Weapons," published on January 4, 2007 in the Wall Street Journal by George P. Shultz
George P. Shultz
George Pratt Shultz is an American economist, statesman, and businessman. He served as the United States Secretary of Labor from 1969 to 1970, as the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury from 1972 to 1974, and as the U.S. Secretary of State from 1982 to 1989...
, Henry Kissinger
Henry Kissinger
Heinz Alfred "Henry" Kissinger is a German-born American academic, political scientist, diplomat, and businessman. He is a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. He served as National Security Advisor and later concurrently as Secretary of State in the administrations of Presidents Richard Nixon and...
, Sam Nunn
Sam Nunn
Samuel Augustus Nunn, Jr. is an American lawyer and politician. Currently the co-chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nuclear Threat Initiative , a charitable organization working to reduce the global threats from nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, Nunn served for 24 years as a...
, and William Perry
William Perry
William James Perry is an American businessman and engineer who was the United States Secretary of Defense from February 3, 1994, to January 23, 1997, under President Bill Clinton...
.
Sources
Additional Resources
- The Papers of Max M. Kampelman are available for research use at the Minnesota Historical Society.