Robert H. Tuttle
Encyclopedia
Robert Holmes Tuttle is a former United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom
. He held the post from July 2005 to February 2009.
A California native, he was nominated to be Ambassador by U.S. President
George W. Bush
. He had raised more than $200,000 for the Bush's 2004 re-election campaign and inauguration ceremony.
Tuttle previously worked in the White House during the Reagan administration as an Assistant to the President
in 1982, and Director of Presidential Personnel in 1985. Tuttle was also on the Board of Directors
of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
.
He is a graduate of Stanford University
, and earned his MBA degree at the University of Southern California
. Tuttle is a partner in an automobile dealership based in Beverly Hills, California
.
He is married to the former Maria Denise Hummer. Both Tuttle and his wife are avid collectors of contemporary art. He has two daughters from a previous marriage.
Per his middle name Holmes and birthplace in California, it is assumed his father is California and Arizona auto dealership magnate Holmes Tuttle
, who was part of Ronald Reagan's Kitchen Cabinet
.
. The embassy has claimed that the charge is a form of tax
ation, and the diplomats and their staff are therefore exempt under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations
. Transport for London
, which is headed by the Mayor of London
, considers the charge to be a fee for service rather than a tax, and points out that other embassies in London pay it, and US embassies in other cities pay similar road charges. The embassy says that the decision to stop paying was made before Tuttle became Ambassador, although the embassy only ceased payment after he took up the post.
In March 2006, the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone
, said that Tuttle was trying to "skive out of [paying] like some chiselling little crook". A survey published in 2007 showed that the United States
owed £1.5 million in outstanding congestion charge payments. Livingstone again chided Tuttle, and called him a "venal little crook" for his refusal to pay.
However, Tom Conti
, founder of campaign group London Motorists Action Group (LMAG), said: "I think the American ambassador's stance on this is very reasoned, I think he makes his case very well".
"Obviously, when you have got a parking ticket then you've done something wrong - so you should pay up. But in terms of the congestion charge I can see how some of these diplomats feel."
United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom
The office of United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom was traditionally, and still is very much so today due to the Special Relationship, the most prestigious position in the United States Foreign Service...
. He held the post from July 2005 to February 2009.
A California native, he was nominated to be Ambassador by U.S. President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
. He had raised more than $200,000 for the Bush's 2004 re-election campaign and inauguration ceremony.
Tuttle previously worked in the White House during the Reagan administration as an Assistant to the President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
in 1982, and Director of Presidential Personnel in 1985. Tuttle was also on the Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars , located in Washington, D.C., is a United States Presidential Memorial that was established as part of the Smithsonian Institution by an act of Congress in 1968...
.
He is a graduate of Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, and earned his MBA degree at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
. Tuttle is a partner in an automobile dealership based in Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is an affluent city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. With a population of 34,109 at the 2010 census, up from 33,784 as of the 2000 census, it is home to numerous Hollywood celebrities. Beverly Hills and the neighboring city of West Hollywood are together...
.
He is married to the former Maria Denise Hummer. Both Tuttle and his wife are avid collectors of contemporary art. He has two daughters from a previous marriage.
Per his middle name Holmes and birthplace in California, it is assumed his father is California and Arizona auto dealership magnate Holmes Tuttle
Holmes Tuttle
Holmes Tuttle was a successful California businessman and autodealer, and headed President Ronald Reagan's unofficial "Kitchen Cabinet".-Early life and career:...
, who was part of Ronald Reagan's Kitchen Cabinet
Kitchen Cabinet
The Kitchen Cabinet was a term used by political opponents of President of the United States Andrew Jackson to describe the collection of unofficial advisers he consulted in parallel to the United States Cabinet following his purge of the cabinet at the end of the Eaton affair and his break with...
.
Controversy over Congestion Fee
Tuttle is perhaps most widely-known for his (and the U.S. Embassy's) refusal to pay the London congestion chargeLondon congestion charge
The London congestion charge is a fee charged for some categories of motor vehicle to travel at certain times within the Congestion Charge Zone , a traffic area in London. The charge aims to reduce congestion, and raise investment funds for London's transport system...
. The embassy has claimed that the charge is a form of tax
Tax
To tax is to impose a financial charge or other levy upon a taxpayer by a state or the functional equivalent of a state such that failure to pay is punishable by law. Taxes are also imposed by many subnational entities...
ation, and the diplomats and their staff are therefore exempt under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations
Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations
The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 is an international treaty that defines a framework for diplomatic relations between independent countries. It specifies the privileges of a diplomatic mission that enable diplomats to perform their function without fear of coercion or...
. Transport for London
Transport for London
Transport for London is the local government body responsible for most aspects of the transport system in Greater London in England. Its role is to implement the transport strategy and to manage transport services across London...
, which is headed by the Mayor of London
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
, considers the charge to be a fee for service rather than a tax, and points out that other embassies in London pay it, and US embassies in other cities pay similar road charges. The embassy says that the decision to stop paying was made before Tuttle became Ambassador, although the embassy only ceased payment after he took up the post.
In March 2006, the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone
Ken Livingstone
Kenneth Robert "Ken" Livingstone is an English politician who is currently a member of the centrist to centre-left Labour Party...
, said that Tuttle was trying to "skive out of [paying] like some chiselling little crook". A survey published in 2007 showed that the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
owed £1.5 million in outstanding congestion charge payments. Livingstone again chided Tuttle, and called him a "venal little crook" for his refusal to pay.
However, Tom Conti
Tom Conti
Thomas "Tom" Conti is a Scottish actor, theatre director and novelist.-Early life:Born Thomas Conti in Paisley, Renfrewshire, he was brought up Roman Catholic, but he considers himself anti-religious...
, founder of campaign group London Motorists Action Group (LMAG), said: "I think the American ambassador's stance on this is very reasoned, I think he makes his case very well".
"Obviously, when you have got a parking ticket then you've done something wrong - so you should pay up. But in terms of the congestion charge I can see how some of these diplomats feel."