Winston Lord
Encyclopedia
Winston Lord is a United States
diplomat and leader of non-governmental foreign policy organizations. He served as the president of the Council on Foreign Relations
between 1977 and 1985, Ambassador to China (1985-1989) and Assistant Secretary of State (1993-1997).
in the early 1970s and US-China relations eversince. From 1969–73, as a member of the United States National Security Council
’s planning staff, he was the special assistant to National Security Advisor
Henry Kissinger
, accompanying him on his secret trip to Beijing
in 1971. The following year, he was part of the U.S. delegation during President Richard Nixon's
historic visit to China and was on President Ford's visit in 1975. Lord became the State Department's
Director of Policy Planning and top policy adviser on China (1973–77), United States Ambassador to China
(1985–1989) under President Reagan, and Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs
(1993-1997) under President Clinton. Early in his career he served in the Foreign Service and the Defense Department.
Between governmental posts Ambassador Lord has headed and helped direct many private organizations related to international affairs. He was co-Chairman of the International Rescue Committee, Chairman of the National Endowment for Democracy and President of the Council on Foreign Relations (1977-1985). He has served on many other boards.
Lord is the third of three sons born to Oswald Bates Lord (1903–1986) and Mary Pillsbury Lord
(of the flour family, Pillsbury) (1904–1978). His older brother, Richard, died in 1935, aged three months. The oldest brother is Charles Pillsbury Lord. His father was a leader in the textile industry. His mother served for eight years as United States Delegate to the United Nations and U.S. Representative to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights
and she was the recipient of many awards including International Rescue Committee's
Freedom Award
. Mary Pillsbury Lord was a survivor of the sinking of the Clyde-Mallory Line's passenger liner SS Mohawk off the New Jersey Coast in January, 1935.
He is married to best selling author and human rights activist Bette Bao Lord
and has two children, Elizabeth Pillsbury and Winston Bao. He spoke to the USC U.S.-China Institute in November 2010 on the current state of U.S.-China relations.
After preparing at The Hotchkiss School, Lord graduated magna cum laude
from Yale University
in 1959 and obtained an M.A. at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in 1960 (first in class). Among his honors were the Pentagon's Outstanding Performance Award and the State Department's Distinguished Service Award. He has honorary doctorate
degrees from Williams College
, Tufts University
, Dominican College
, Bryant College
, and Pepperdine University. He is a member of the Yale secret society Skull and Bones
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
diplomat and leader of non-governmental foreign policy organizations. He served as the president of the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
between 1977 and 1985, Ambassador to China (1985-1989) and Assistant Secretary of State (1993-1997).
Biography
Lord was a key figure in the restoration of relations between the United States and ChinaSino-American relations
For the article on U.S.-Taiwan relations, see Republic of China – United States relations.Sino-American or People's Republic of China–United States relations refers to international relations between the United States of America and the government of People's Republic of China...
in the early 1970s and US-China relations eversince. From 1969–73, as a member of the United States National Security Council
United States National Security Council
The White House National Security Council in the United States is the principal forum used by the President of the United States for considering national security and foreign policy matters with his senior national security advisors and Cabinet officials and is part of the Executive Office of the...
’s planning staff, he was the special assistant to National Security Advisor
National Security Advisor (United States)
The Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, commonly referred to as the National Security Advisor , serves as the chief advisor to the President of the United States on national security issues...
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...
, accompanying him on his secret trip to Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
in 1971. The following year, he was part of the U.S. delegation during President Richard Nixon's
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
historic visit to China and was on President Ford's visit in 1975. Lord became the State Department's
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...
Director of Policy Planning and top policy adviser on China (1973–77), United States Ambassador to China
United States Ambassador to China
The United States Ambassador to China is the chief American diplomat to People's Republic of China . The United States has sent diplomatic representatives to China since 1844, when Caleb Cushing, as Commissioner, negotiated the Treaty of Wanghia. Commissioners represented the United States in...
(1985–1989) under President Reagan, and Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs
The Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs is the head of the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs within the United States Department of State. The Assistant Secretary guides operation of the U.S...
(1993-1997) under President Clinton. Early in his career he served in the Foreign Service and the Defense Department.
Between governmental posts Ambassador Lord has headed and helped direct many private organizations related to international affairs. He was co-Chairman of the International Rescue Committee, Chairman of the National Endowment for Democracy and President of the Council on Foreign Relations (1977-1985). He has served on many other boards.
Lord is the third of three sons born to Oswald Bates Lord (1903–1986) and Mary Pillsbury Lord
Mary Pillsbury Lord
Mary Pillsbury Lord was a civic worker and officer in several charitable organizations, as well as serving as a U.S. delegate to the United Nations General Assembly.-Early life:...
(of the flour family, Pillsbury) (1904–1978). His older brother, Richard, died in 1935, aged three months. The oldest brother is Charles Pillsbury Lord. His father was a leader in the textile industry. His mother served for eight years as United States Delegate to the United Nations and U.S. Representative to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights
United Nations Commission on Human Rights
The United Nations Commission on Human Rights was a functional commission within the overall framework of the United Nations from 1946 until it was replaced by the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2006...
and she was the recipient of many awards including International Rescue Committee's
International Rescue Committee
The International Rescue Committee is a leading nonsectarian, nongovernmental international relief and development organization based in the United States, with operations in over 40 countries...
Freedom Award
Freedom Award
The International Rescue Committee bestows its Freedom Award for extraordinary contributions to the cause of refugees and human freedom. According to the IRC, "The Freedom Award reveals the remarkable ability of an individual to shape history and change for the better a world moving toward freedom...
. Mary Pillsbury Lord was a survivor of the sinking of the Clyde-Mallory Line's passenger liner SS Mohawk off the New Jersey Coast in January, 1935.
He is married to best selling author and human rights activist Bette Bao Lord
Bette Bao Lord
Bette Bao Lord is a Chinese American writer and civic activist for human rights and democracy.-Biography:She was born in Shanghi, China. With her mother and father, Dora and Sandys Bao, she came to the United States at the age of eight when her father, a British-trained engineer, was sent there...
and has two children, Elizabeth Pillsbury and Winston Bao. He spoke to the USC U.S.-China Institute in November 2010 on the current state of U.S.-China relations.
After preparing at The Hotchkiss School, Lord graduated magna cum laude
Latin honors
Latin honors are Latin phrases used to indicate the level of academic distinction with which an academic degree was earned. This system is primarily used in the United States, Canada, and in many countries of continental Europe, though some institutions also use the English translation of these...
from Yale University
Yale 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 1959 and obtained an M.A. at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in 1960 (first in class). Among his honors were the Pentagon's Outstanding Performance Award and the State Department's Distinguished Service Award. He has honorary doctorate
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
degrees from Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
, Tufts University
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
, Dominican College
Dominican College
There are several current and former institutions of higher learning named Dominican College.-Higher education:*Dominican College , a four-year private college in Orangeburg, New York...
, Bryant College
Bryant University
Bryant University is a private university located in Smithfield, Rhode Island, U.S., that grants the degrees of bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, and master's degrees in business, taxation and accounting. Until August 2004, it was known as Bryant College...
, and Pepperdine University. He is a member of the Yale secret society Skull and Bones
Skull and Bones
Skull and Bones is an undergraduate senior or secret society at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut. It is a traditional peer society to Scroll and Key and Wolf's Head, as the three senior class 'landed societies' at Yale....
.
External links
- Interview with Winston Lord as part of Frontline Diplomacy: The Foreign Affairs Oral History Collection of the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training, a site at the Library of Congress. Complete oral history at ADST.org