Samuel De Palma
Encyclopedia
Samuel De Palma was an official in the United States Department of State
.
. He was educated at the University of Rochester
, graduating in 1940. After college, he took a job with the United States Department of War
in Washington, D.C.
as a civilian economic analyst and intelligence specialist.
After World War II
, in 1945, De Palma joined the United States Foreign Service
. In 1949, he was a member of the United States Department of State
's Bureau of International Organization Affairs
working at the United Nations
until 1952. In 1956, he became deputy director of the United Nations Office of Political and Security Affairs. He then spent a year at the National War College
. He moved to Paris
in 1961, becoming first secretary and political office at NATO. From 1961 to 1963, he worked at the U.S. embassy in the Netherlands
. He joined the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency
in 1963, becoming its assistant director in 1966.
In 1966, President of the United States
Lyndon B. Johnson
nominated De Palma as Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs
, and, after Senate Confirmation, De Palma held this office from February 7, 1969 until June 20, 1973.
De Palma left government service in 1973, becoming international analysis unit director of ITT Corporation
. He retired in 1983.
In retirement, De Palma was president of the American and international committees of the Community of Democracies
. He lived in Bethesda, Maryland
until his death from pneumonia
on March 21, 2002.
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...
.
Biography
Samuel De Palma was born in Rochester, New YorkRochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
. He was educated at the University of Rochester
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
, graduating in 1940. After college, he took a job with the United States Department of War
United States Department of War
The United States Department of War, also called the War Department , was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
as a civilian economic analyst and intelligence specialist.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, in 1945, De Palma joined the United States Foreign Service
United States Foreign Service
The United States Foreign Service is a component of the United States federal government under the aegis of the United States Department of State. It consists of approximately 11,500 professionals carrying out the foreign policy of the United States and aiding U.S...
. In 1949, he was a member of 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...
's Bureau of International Organization Affairs
Bureau of International Organization Affairs
The Bureau of International Organization Affairs is a bureau in the United States Department of State that creates and executes U.S. policy in the United Nations and other international organizations. It is headed by the Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs.The IO...
working at the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
until 1952. In 1956, he became deputy director of the United Nations Office of Political and Security Affairs. He then spent a year at the National War College
National War College
The National War College of the United States is a school in the National Defense University. It is housed in Roosevelt Hall on Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., the third-oldest Army post still active. It was officially established on July 1, 1946, as an upgraded replacement for the...
. He moved to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1961, becoming first secretary and political office at NATO. From 1961 to 1963, he worked at the U.S. embassy in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. He joined the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency
Arms Control and Disarmament Agency
The U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency was established as an independent agency of the United States government by the Arms Control and Disarmament Act , September 26, 1961, a bill drafted by presidential adviser John J. McCloy. Its predecessor was the U.S. Disarmament Administration, part...
in 1963, becoming its assistant director in 1966.
In 1966, President of the United States
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....
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...
nominated De Palma as Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs
The Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs is the head of the Bureau of International Organization Affairs within the American Department of State that creates and executes policy in international organizations such as the United Nations...
, and, after Senate Confirmation, De Palma held this office from February 7, 1969 until June 20, 1973.
De Palma left government service in 1973, becoming international analysis unit director of ITT Corporation
ITT Corporation
ITT Corporation is a global diversified manufacturing company based in the United States. ITT participates in global markets including water and fluids management, defense and security, and motion and flow control...
. He retired in 1983.
In retirement, De Palma was president of the American and international committees of the Community of Democracies
Community of Democracies
The Community of Democracies is an intergovernmental organization of democracies and democratizing countries with a stated commitment to strengthening and deepening democratic norms and practices worldwide...
. He lived in Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda, Maryland
Bethesda is a census designated place in southern Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, just northwest of Washington, D.C. It takes its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House , which in turn took its name from Jerusalem's Pool of Bethesda...
until his death from pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
on March 21, 2002.