US Diplomat. He graduated from Yale University in 1916 and became President of his family's business, the National Sugar Refining Company. In 1951 he was named Ambassador to Argentina, and Ambassador to Italy in 1952. He served as President of the American Red Cross from 1954 until being named Ambassador to Nepal in 1956. Bunker served in diplomatic posts until his 1978 retirement, including Ambassador to India (1957-1961), Ambassador at Large (1961-1964, 1966-1967, 1973-1978), Ambassador to the Organization of American States (1964-1966), and Ambassador to South Vietnam (1967-1973). After the 1964 death of his first wife, in 1967 Bunker married diplomat Caroline Clendening Laise. He was instrumental in resolving the 1965 Dominican Republic crisis by convincing rivals Juan Bosch and Joaquin Balaquer to agree to elections. Bunker supported the interventionist Vietnam policy of Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon, but later presided over US negotiators during the Paris meetings that ended the war. In 1977 Bunker played a key role in transferring the Panama Canal to Panama. After his retirement, he was Chairman of Georgetown University's Institute for the Study of Public Diplomacy. He was a two-time recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the first to receive it more than once. His 1963 award recognized his work at the Red Cross and his diplomatic achievements in the 1950s, and his 1967 medal recognized his efforts in the Dominican Republic and South Vietnam.
US Diplomat. He graduated from Yale University in 1916 and became President of his family's business, the National Sugar Refining Company. In 1951 he was named Ambassador to Argentina, and Ambassador to Italy in 1952. He served as President of the American Red Cross from 1954 until being named Ambassador to Nepal in 1956. Bunker served in diplomatic posts until his 1978 retirement, including Ambassador to India (1957-1961), Ambassador at Large (1961-1964, 1966-1967, 1973-1978), Ambassador to the Organization of American States (1964-1966), and Ambassador to South Vietnam (1967-1973). After the 1964 death of his first wife, in 1967 Bunker married diplomat Caroline Clendening Laise. He was instrumental in resolving the 1965 Dominican Republic crisis by convincing rivals Juan Bosch and Joaquin Balaquer to agree to elections. Bunker supported the interventionist Vietnam policy of Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon, but later presided over US negotiators during the Paris meetings that ended the war. In 1977 Bunker played a key role in transferring the Panama Canal to Panama. After his retirement, he was Chairman of Georgetown University's Institute for the Study of Public Diplomacy. He was a two-time recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the first to receive it more than once. His 1963 award recognized his work at the Red Cross and his diplomatic achievements in the 1950s, and his 1967 medal recognized his efforts in the Dominican Republic and South Vietnam.
Bio by: Bill McKern
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