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Walter John Stoessel Jr. (January 24, 1920 – December 9, 1986) was an Americandiplomat.
Born inManhattan, Kansas, Stoessel was the son of Katherine (Haston) and Walter John Stoessel Sr. and graduated fromBeverly Hills High School inCalifornia. The paternal side of his family had migrated to the United States from western Germany in the middle of 19th century. He graduated fromStanford University in 1941 and later undertook graduate studies atColumbia University.
A career officer of theUnited States Foreign Service, Stoessel served as the U.S. ambassador toPoland from 1968 to 1972, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs from 1972 to 1974, theU.S. ambassador to the Soviet Union between 1974 and 1976, and the ambassador toWest Germany from 1976 through 1980. During his term as ambassador to Poland, Stoessel initiated contact withChina and hosted talks on behalf of the United States, directly opening the door for PresidentRichard Nixon's famousvisit to China.[1]In 1981, while ambassador to West Germany, he joined the delegation, withWalter Mondale, greeting theU.S. hostages released by Iran when they deplaned.[2]
In 1982, PresidentRonald Reagan appointed Stoessel as theUnited States Deputy Secretary of State. During his term he served briefly as actingSecretary of State between the tenures ofAlexander M. Haig andGeorge P. Shultz.
He died in Washington, D.C., ofleukemia[3] and is buried atArlington National Cemetery. TheU.S. Department of State awards a Walter J. Stoessel Award for Distinguished Diplomatic Service in his honor.
| Government offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs 1972–1974 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | United States Deputy Secretary of State 1982 | Succeeded by |
| Diplomatic posts | ||
| Preceded by | United States Ambassador to Poland 1968–1972 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | United States Ambassador to the Soviet Union 1974–1976 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | United States Ambassador to West Germany 1976–1981 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs 1981–1982 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | ActingUnited States Secretary of State 1982 | Succeeded by |
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| Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary | ||
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