Richard F. Pedersen
{{Short description|American diplomat (1925–2011)}}
{{Infobox Officeholder
| name = Richard F. Pedersen
| image =
| office = President of the American University in Cairo
| term_start = January 20, 1977
| term_end = January 20, 1990
| predecessor = Cecil K. Byrd
| successor = Donald McDonald
| order2 = United States Ambassador to Hungary
| lieutenant2 =
| term_start2 = July 24, 1973
| term_end2 = March 26, 1975
| predecessor2 = Alfred Puhan
| successor2 = Eugene V. McAuliffe
| president2 = Richard M. Nixon
Gerald Ford
| office3 = 16th Counselor of the United States Department of State
| term_start3 = January 24, 1969
| term_end3 = July 26, 1973
| predecessor3 = Robert R. Bowie
| successor3 = Helmut Sonnenfeldt
| president3 = Richard M. Nixon
| birth_name = Richard F. Pedersen
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1925|2|21|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Miami, Arizona, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2011|7|11|1925|2|21|mf=y}}
| death_place = Greenport, New York, U.S.
| party =
| spouse =
| children =
| profession = Diplomat
| alma_mater = College of the Pacific (BA)
Stanford University (MA)
Harvard University (PhD)
| signature =
| signature_alt =
| website =
| branch = 44th Infantry
| serviceyears =
| rank =
| unit =
}}
Richard Foote Pedersen (February 21, 1925 – July 11, 2011) was an American diplomat who was a career Foreign Service Officer in the United States State Department and President of the American University in Cairo.
Early life
Pedersen was born in Miami, Arizona and served with the 44th Infantry in the European Theater of Operations during World War II. After the war, he earned a bachelor's degree in international relations from the College of the Pacific, followed by a master's degree from Stanford University and a doctorate from Harvard University.{{cite news|last1=Slotnick|first1=Daniel E.|title=Richard F. Pedersen, Cold War Era Diplomat, Dies at 86|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/01/us/01pedersen.html?_r=0|accessdate=5 March 2016|work=The New York Times|date=1 August 2011}}
Diplomatic career
From 1953 to 1969, Pedersen served in the United States Mission to the United Nations to the United Nations alongside Charles W. Yost. He served at the U.N. under five ambassadors, including Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. and Adlai Stevenson. From January 23, 1969 until July 26, 1973, Pedersen served as Counselor of the United States Department of State, during the Nixon Administration. In 1970, his phones were bugged by the Nixon White House, as part of an effort to investigate leaks about the Invasion of Cambodia.
=United States Ambassador to Hungary=
On July 24, 1973, Pedersen was appointed United States Ambassador to Hungary, and he presented his credentials on September 10, 1973. He left the post on March 26, 1975.{{cite web|title=Richard Foote Pedersen (1925–)|url=https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/pedersen-richard-foote|website=U.S. Department of State Office of the Historian|accessdate=5 March 2016}}
American University of Cairo
From 1977 until 1990, Pedersen served as the President of the American University of Cairo, and led efforts to have the University receive full higher education accreditation. During his tenure the university expanded.
Later years and death
Pederson died in Greenport, New York on July 11, 2011, at the age of 86.
References
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{{succession box|title=United States Ambassador to Hungary|before=Alfred Puhan|after=Eugene V. McAuliffe|years=1973–1975}}
{{succession box|title=President of The American University in Cairo|before=Cecil K. Byrd|after=Donald McDonald|years=1977-1990}}
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Category:United States Army soldiers
Category:United States Army personnel of World War II
Category:Nixon administration personnel
Category:Ambassadors of the United States to Hungary
Category:University of the Pacific (United States) alumni
Category:Stanford University alumni
Category:Harvard University alumni
Category:People from Miami, Arizona
Category:People from Greenport, Suffolk County, New York