Peter Tarnoff
Encyclopedia
Peter Tarnoff served as the Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs during the first Clinton
term, from 1993 to 1997. In May 1997, United States Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright
presented him the Department of State's highest award, the Distinguished Service Award for extraordinary service in advancing American interests through creative and effective diplomacy.
Tarnoff was President of the Council on Foreign Relations
from 1986 to 1993. Before taking up that position, he served as Executive Director of the World Affairs Council of Northern California
and President of the International Advisory Corporation. While on sabbatical from the Department of State in 1982-1983, Tarnoff was a lecturer at Stanford University
and Georgetown University
.
During his career as a Foreign Service Officer, Tarnoff served as Executive Secretary of the Department of State and Special Assistant to Secretaries of State Edmund Muskie
and Cyrus Vance
(1977–1981); Director, Office of Research and Analysis for Western Europe (1975–76); Special Assistant to Ambassador-at-Large
Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr.
(1967); and Nigerian Analyst in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (1966–67). His Foreign Service assignments abroad included Deputy Chief of Mission at the American Embassy in Luxembourg (1973–75); one year's study (1970) at the National School of Administration in Paris, followed by assignment as Principal Officer at the American Consulate General in Lyon, France (1971–73); Special Assistant to the U.S. Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany (1969); Special Assistant to the Chief of the American Delegation to the Paris Talks on Vietnam (1968); Special Assistant to the Deputy U.S. Ambassador (1964–65) and to the U.S. Ambassador (1965–66), Saigon, Vietnam; and Political Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Lagos, Nigeria (1962–64).
Tarnoff received a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Colgate University
in 1958 and pursued postgraduate studies at the University of Chicago
and the University of Paris
. He lives in San Francisco, California
with his wife, Mathea Falco
, and has two sons, Alexander and Benjamin.
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
term, from 1993 to 1997. In May 1997, United States Secretary of State
United States Secretary of State
The United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
Madeleine Albright
Madeleine Albright
Madeleine Korbelová Albright is the first woman to become a United States Secretary of State. She was appointed by U.S. President Bill Clinton on December 5, 1996, and was unanimously confirmed by a U.S. Senate vote of 99–0...
presented him the Department of State's highest award, the Distinguished Service Award for extraordinary service in advancing American interests through creative and effective diplomacy.
Tarnoff was President of the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
from 1986 to 1993. Before taking up that position, he served as Executive Director of the World Affairs Council of Northern California
World Affairs Council of Northern California
The World Affairs Council of Northern California, founded in 1947 and headquartered in San Francisco, CA, offers a forum where diverse audiences engage in critical issues that inform their actions...
and President of the International Advisory Corporation. While on sabbatical from the Department of State in 1982-1983, Tarnoff was a lecturer at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
and Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
.
During his career as a Foreign Service Officer, Tarnoff served as Executive Secretary of the Department of State and Special Assistant to Secretaries of State Edmund Muskie
Edmund Muskie
Edmund Sixtus "Ed" Muskie was an American politician from Rumford, Maine. He served as Governor of Maine from 1955 to 1959, as a member of the United States Senate from 1959 to 1980, and as Secretary of State under Jimmy Carter from 1980 to 1981...
and Cyrus Vance
Cyrus Vance
Cyrus Roberts Vance was an American lawyer and United States Secretary of State under President Jimmy Carter from 1977 to 1980...
(1977–1981); Director, Office of Research and Analysis for Western Europe (1975–76); Special Assistant to Ambassador-at-Large
Ambassador-at-large
An ambassador-at-large is a Diplomat of the highest rank or a Minister who is accredited to represent his country internationally.Unlike an ambassador-in-residence who is usually limited to a country and/or embassy, the ambassador-at-large is entrusted to operate in several usually neighboring...
Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr.
Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr.
Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. was a Republican United States Senator from Massachusetts and a U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, South Vietnam, West Germany, and the Holy See . He was the Republican nominee for Vice President in the 1960 Presidential election.-Early life:Lodge was born in Nahant,...
(1967); and Nigerian Analyst in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research (1966–67). His Foreign Service assignments abroad included Deputy Chief of Mission at the American Embassy in Luxembourg (1973–75); one year's study (1970) at the National School of Administration in Paris, followed by assignment as Principal Officer at the American Consulate General in Lyon, France (1971–73); Special Assistant to the U.S. Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany (1969); Special Assistant to the Chief of the American Delegation to the Paris Talks on Vietnam (1968); Special Assistant to the Deputy U.S. Ambassador (1964–65) and to the U.S. Ambassador (1965–66), Saigon, Vietnam; and Political Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Lagos, Nigeria (1962–64).
Tarnoff received a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Colgate University
Colgate University
Colgate University is a private liberal arts college in Hamilton, New York, USA. The school was founded in 1819 as a Baptist seminary and later became non-denominational. It is named for the Colgate family who greatly contributed to the university's endowment in the 19th century.Colgate has 52...
in 1958 and pursued postgraduate studies at the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
and the University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
. He lives in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
with his wife, Mathea Falco
Mathea Falco
Mathea Falco is a leading expert in drug abuse prevention and treatment who served as the first U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs during the Carter Administration...
, and has two sons, Alexander and Benjamin.