Pete Peterson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Ambassador of the United States of America to Vietnam | |
| In office April 11, 1997 – July 15, 2001 | |
| President | Bill Clinton George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Inaugural holder |
| Succeeded by | Raymond Burghardt |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromFlorida's2nd district | |
| In office January 3, 1991 – January 3, 1997 | |
| Preceded by | Bill Grant |
| Succeeded by | Allen Boyd |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Douglas Brian Peterson (1935-06-26)June 26, 1935 (age 89) Omaha, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Citizenship | American,[1] Australian (since 2002)[2] |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Nickname | "Pete" |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1954–1980 |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit | 433rd Tactical Fighter Squadron |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War (WIA) |
| Awards | Silver Star (2) Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star Medal (3) Purple Heart |
Douglas Brian "Pete"Peterson (born June 26, 1935) is an American politician and diplomat. He served as aUnited States Air Force pilot during theVietnam War and spent over six years as a prisoner of theNorth Vietnamese army after his plane was shot down. He served three terms in theUnited States House of Representatives from 1991 to 1996 and returned toHanoi when he became the firstUnited States Ambassador to Vietnam in 1997. He was an ambassador until July 2001, after which he devoted himself to philanthropic work.
Peterson grew up inMilton, Iowa, and attended college at theUniversity of Tampa. He joined theUnited States Air Force and served in the Vietnam War, where hisF-4 Phantom II fighter was shot down on September 10, 1966. He spent six years in prison, a period he described as "hours and hours of boredom, spliced with moments of stark terror."[2] He was released on March 4, 1973.
After the Vietnam War, Peterson remained in the Air Force and retired in 1981 as a colonel with 26 years of service. After retirement he established a general contracting firm inTampa, Florida and later a small computer company inMarianna, Florida called CRT Computers. He served for 5 years on the faculty ofFlorida State University inTallahassee, Florida.
In 1990, Peterson ran as aDemocrat for a seat in theUnited States House of Representatives inFlorida's 2nd congressional district. He defeated Bill Grant, the incumbent congressman who had grown unpopular after switching from the Democratic Party to theRepublican Party in the middle of his second term. Peterson won and served three terms from 1991 to 1996.[3]
Jason Altmire, who later became a three-term congressman himself, was a staffer during Peterson’s first campaign and time in Congress.[4]
Peterson declined to run for a fourth term (he was succeeded byAllen Boyd) and was asked by PresidentBill Clinton to become the United States's first post-war ambassador to Vietnam.[2] He was confirmed by the Senate and began his tenure in 1997. His primary goals were securing an account of those still listed as missing in action from the war and helping to resolve theVietnam War POW/MIA issue.
On November 17, 2000, he was presented with thePresidential Citizens Medal by President Clinton.[5]
Since retiring as ambassador, Peterson foundedThe Alliance for Safe Children, TASC, which aims to lower preventable injuries to children worldwide, and focuses specifically on such issues as drowning in Asia.[6][7] With his wife he started a company whose aim it is to promote American business in Southeast Asia.[8]
Peterson later was a senior advisor forAlbright Stonebridge Group, an international strategic consulting firm.[9]
Peterson's first wife died in 1995. Two weeks after his installation inHanoi, he met Vi Le, Australia's senior trade commissioner, born in Vietnam, whom he married. In 2002, he moved toMelbourne, Australia, so they could be closer to her family.[2]
In 2009, Peterson acquired Australian citizenship.[2]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | U.S. Representative Florida's 2nd congressional district 1991–1997 | Succeeded by |
| Diplomatic posts | ||
| Preceded by new office | United States Ambassador to Vietnam 1997–2001 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded byas Former US Representative | Order of precedence of the United States as Former US Representative | Succeeded byas Former US Representative |
 Republic of Vietnam(1950–1975) | |
|---|---|
 Socialist Republic of Vietnam(1997–present) | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
