David K. E. Bruce
Encyclopedia
David Kirkpatrick Este Bruce (February 12, 1898 - December 5, 1977) was an American diplomat, and the only American to serve as Ambassador to France, the Republic of Germany and the United Kingdom.
in 1920.
On May 29, 1926, Bruce married Ailsa Mellon, the daughter of the banker and diplomat
Andrew W. Mellon
. They divorced on April 20, 1945. Their only daughter, Audrey, and her husband, Stephen Currier, were presumed dead when a plane in which they were flying in the Caribbean disappeared on January 17, 1967, after requesting permission to fly over Culebra, a U. S. Navy installation. No trace of the plane, pilot, or passengers were ever found. Audrey and Stephen Currier left three children: Andrea, Lavinia, and Michael.
Bruce married Evangeline Bell (1914-1995) on April 23, 1945, three days after his divorce. They had two sons and one daughter, Alexandra (called Sasha). She died under mysterious circumstances (possibly murder or suicide) in 1975 at age 29 at the Bruce family home in Virginia.
During World War II, he served with the Office of Strategic Services
operation in London and observed the invasion of Normandy landing there the day after the initial invasion.
He served as the United States Ambassador to France
from 1949 to 1952, United States Ambassador to West Germany
from 1957 to 1959, and United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom
from 1961 to 1969. He was an American envoy at the Paris peace talks between the United States and North Vietnam
in 1970 and 1971. Bruce also served as the first United States emissary to the People's Republic of China
from 1973 to 1974. He was the ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
from late 1974 to 1976. Bruce was a candidate for director of its successor the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in 1950. He is said to have written a secret report on the CIA for President Dwight D. Eisenhower
in 1956 that was highly critical of its operation under Allan Dulles's leadership.
Bruce purchased and restored Staunton Hill, his family's former estate in Charlotte County, Virginia
. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom
in 1976.
Bruce served as the Honorary Chair on the Board of Trustees of the American School in London during his diplomatic career in the United Kingdom. The David K.E. Bruce Award was established in 2007 at the school.
He died on December 5, 1977 of a heart attack at Georgetown University Medical Center
.
Biography
Bruce graduated from the University of VirginiaUniversity of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
in 1920.
On May 29, 1926, Bruce married Ailsa Mellon, the daughter of the banker and diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
Andrew W. Mellon
Andrew W. Mellon
Andrew William Mellon was an American banker, industrialist, philanthropist, art collector and Secretary of the Treasury from March 4, 1921 until February 12, 1932.-Early life:...
. They divorced on April 20, 1945. Their only daughter, Audrey, and her husband, Stephen Currier, were presumed dead when a plane in which they were flying in the Caribbean disappeared on January 17, 1967, after requesting permission to fly over Culebra, a U. S. Navy installation. No trace of the plane, pilot, or passengers were ever found. Audrey and Stephen Currier left three children: Andrea, Lavinia, and Michael.
Bruce married Evangeline Bell (1914-1995) on April 23, 1945, three days after his divorce. They had two sons and one daughter, Alexandra (called Sasha). She died under mysterious circumstances (possibly murder or suicide) in 1975 at age 29 at the Bruce family home in Virginia.
During World War II, he served with the Office of Strategic Services
Office of Strategic Services
The Office of Strategic Services was a United States intelligence agency formed during World War II. It was the wartime intelligence agency, and it was a predecessor of the Central Intelligence Agency...
operation in London and observed the invasion of Normandy landing there the day after the initial invasion.
He served as the United States Ambassador to France
United States Ambassador to France
This article is about the United States Ambassador to France. There has been a United States Ambassador to France since the American Revolution. The United States sent its first envoys to France in 1776, towards the end of the four-centuries-old Bourbon dynasty...
from 1949 to 1952, United States Ambassador to West Germany
United States Ambassador to Germany
The United States has had diplomatic relations with the nation of Germany and its predecessor nation, the Kingdom of Prussia, since 1835. These relations were broken twice while Germany and the United States were at war...
from 1957 to 1959, and United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom
United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom
The office of United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom was traditionally, and still is very much so today due to the Special Relationship, the most prestigious position in the United States Foreign Service...
from 1961 to 1969. He was an American envoy at the Paris peace talks between the United States and North Vietnam
North Vietnam
The Democratic Republic of Vietnam , was a communist state that ruled the northern half of Vietnam from 1954 until 1976 following the Geneva Conference and laid claim to all of Vietnam from 1945 to 1954 during the First Indochina War, during which they controlled pockets of territory throughout...
in 1970 and 1971. Bruce also served as the first United States emissary to the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
from 1973 to 1974. He was the ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
United States Permanent Representative to NATO
The United States Permanent Representative to NATO is the official representative of the United States to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The Representative has the rank of full ambassador and is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate...
from late 1974 to 1976. Bruce was a candidate for director of its successor the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in 1950. He is said to have written a secret report on the CIA for President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
in 1956 that was highly critical of its operation under Allan Dulles's leadership.
Bruce purchased and restored Staunton Hill, his family's former estate in Charlotte County, Virginia
Charlotte County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,472 people, 4,951 households, and 3,435 families residing in the county. The population density was 26 people per square mile . There were 5,734 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile...
. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Presidential Medal of Freedom
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award bestowed by the President of the United States and is—along with thecomparable Congressional Gold Medal bestowed by an act of U.S. Congress—the highest civilian award in the United States...
in 1976.
Bruce served as the Honorary Chair on the Board of Trustees of the American School in London during his diplomatic career in the United Kingdom. The David K.E. Bruce Award was established in 2007 at the school.
He died on December 5, 1977 of a heart attack at Georgetown University Medical Center
Georgetown University Medical Center
Georgetown University Medical Center is the medical campus at Georgetown University. It is also a $225 million biomedical research and educational organization. The Medical Center contains over 80% of Georgetown University's sponsored research funding and is led by Howard J...
.
Publications
Bruce wrote a book of biographical essays on the American presidents originally published as Seven Pillars of the Republic (1936). He later expanded it as Revolution to Reconstruction (1939) and again revised it as Sixteen American Presidents (1962).Further reading
- Lankford, Nelson D. The Last American Aristocrat: The Biography of David K. E. Bruce, 1898–1977 (1996).
- Lankford, Nelson D., ed. OSS against the Reich: The World War II Diaries of Colonel David K. E. Bruce (1991).
External links
- First Chapter of 'The Last American Aristocrat' published by the Washington Post with permission of the author
- Review of the book, "The Last American Aristocrat" from The Washington Monthly magazine
- Oral history interview with David K. E. Bruce, 1 March 1972, at the Truman Presidential Museum and Library