Michael Armacost | |
|---|---|
 Armacost in 1987 | |
| United States Ambassador toJapan | |
| In office May 15, 1989 – July 19, 1993 | |
| President | George H. W. Bush Bill Clinton |
| Preceded by | Mike Mansfield |
| Succeeded by | Walter Mondale |
| ActingUnited States Secretary of State | |
| In office January 20, 1989 – January 25, 1989 | |
| President | George H. W. Bush |
| Preceded by | George Shultz |
| Succeeded by | James Baker |
| 13thUnder Secretary of State for Political Affairs | |
| In office May 18, 1984 – March 2, 1989 | |
| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Lawrence Eagleburger |
| Succeeded by | Robert M. Kimmitt |
| United States Ambassador tothe Philippines | |
| In office March 12, 1982 – April 18, 1984 | |
| President | Ronald Reagan |
| Preceded by | Richard W. Murphy |
| Succeeded by | Stephen W. Bosworth |
| President of theBrookings Institution | |
| In office October 2, 1995 – July 1, 2002 | |
| Preceded by | Bruce K. MacLaury |
| Succeeded by | Strobe Talbott |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Michael Hayden Armacost (1937-04-15)April 15, 1937 Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | March 8, 2025(2025-03-08) (aged 87) nearSan Francisco,California, U.S. |
| Education | Carleton College (BA) Columbia University (PhD) |
| Occupation | Diplomat |
Michael Hayden Armacost (April 15, 1937 – March 8, 2025) was an American diplomat, who was actingUnited States Secretary of State during the early days of the administration of PresidentGeorge H. W. Bush, before SecretaryJames Baker was confirmed by the Senate. Armacost also served as United States Ambassador to Japan and thepresident of theBrookings Institution from 1995 to 2002. He was later a fellow atStanford University'sFreeman Spogli Institute from 2002 to 2021.
Armacost was born inOhio on April 15, 1937.[1][2]
In the 1960s, Armacost taught international relations and foreign policy atPomona College.[3]
Armacost was aWhite House Fellow in 1969–1970. Founded in 1964, the White House Fellowship is one of America’s most prestigious programs for leadership and public service. The Fellowship, awarded on a strictly non-partisan basis, offers exceptional young leaders first-hand experience working at the highest levels of federal government.
In January 1977, Armacost was selected as a member of theNational Security Council to handleEast Asian andChinese affairs under theCarter administration until July 1978, when he was replaced byNicholas Platt. Years later, he was appointed to be theUnited States Ambassador to Japan from 1989 to 1993,Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs from 1984 to 1989, andUnited States Ambassador to the Philippines from 1982 to 1984, during a critical period of political upheaval during theFerdinand Marcos presidency.[4]
Armacost served as ActingSecretary of State from January 20, 1989, to January 25, 1989. Between 1995 and 2002, he served as president of theBrookings Institution.
Armacost had received the President's Distinguished Service Award, the Defense Department's Distinguished Civilian Service Award, and the Secretary of State's Distinguished Services Award.
Armacost was the author of three books, the most recent of which,Friends or Rivals?, was published in 1996 and draws on his tenure as ambassador. He also co-edited, with Daniel Okimoto,The Future of America's Alliances in Northeast Asia, published in 2004 byStanford Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center.[5] Armacost has served on numerous corporate and nonprofit boards, includingTRW,AFLAC,Applied Materials,USEC, Inc.,Cargill, Inc,Carleton College, andThe Asia Foundation.
Armacost received aBachelor of Arts ininternational relations (1958) and an honorary degree[6] (1989) from Carleton College. He was an international fellow of theSchool of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University in 1961.[7] He earned his Ph.D. fromColumbia University in 1965.
Armacost was a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration.[citation needed] He was chairman of Carleton College's board of trustees from 2004 to 2008.[8]
Armacost died at his home near San Francisco, on March 8, 2025, at the age of 87.[1]
،Order of the Rising Sun, Grand Cordon, 2007 (Japan).[9]| Diplomatic posts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | U.S. Ambassador to Philippines 1982–1984 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | U.S. Ambassador to Japan 1989–1993 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs 1984–1989 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | United States Secretary of State Acting 1989 | Succeeded by |
| Non-profit organization positions | ||
| Preceded by Bruce K. MacLaury | President of theBrookings Institution 1995–2002 | Succeeded by |
| Resident Minister | |
|---|---|
| Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary | |
| Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary | |
 | ||
