R. W. Scott McLeod
Encyclopedia
Robert Walter Scott McLeod (1914-1961) was United States
Assistant Secretary of State for Security and Consular Affairs from 1953 to 1957 and United States Ambassador to Ireland
from 1957 to 1961.
on June 17, 1914. He was educated at Grinnell College
, graduating with a B.A.
in 1937.
After college, McLeod took a job selling advertising for the Des Moines Register and Tribune. In 1938, he took a job as a reporter for the Cedar Rapids Gazette
. He joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation
in 1942 and worked as an F.B.I. agent until 1949. During his time as an F.B.I. agent, he also served as an administrative assistant for Sen.
Styles Bridges
(R
—NH).
When John Foster Dulles
became United States Secretary of State
in 1953, he was adamant that he did not want another Alger Hiss
case in the United States Department of State
. On the recommendation of Under Secretary of State for Management Donold Lourie
, Dulles designated McLeod as the first-ever Assistant Secretary of State for Security and Consular Affairs, holding this office from March 3, 1953 until March 9, 1957. McLeod fired some 300 State Department employees on suspicion they were Communist sympathizers. McLeod was critical of the decision to appoint Charles E. Bohlen
as United States Ambassador to the Soviet Union, echoing criticisms made by Sen. Joseph McCarthy
(R—WI). However, McLeod denied charges that he had ever been personally close with McCarthy.
During the backlash against McCarthyism
in the late 1950s, several Washington figures called for McLeod to be fired. President Dwight Eisenhower appointed McLeod United States Ambassador to Ireland
. McLoeod held this post from July 17, 1957, until March 15, 1961, when President John F. Kennedy
chose Edward G. Stockdale as his replacement.
McLeod died of a heart attack in Concord, New Hampshire
on November 6, 1961, at the age of 47.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Assistant Secretary of State for Security and Consular Affairs from 1953 to 1957 and United States Ambassador to Ireland
United States Ambassador to Ireland
There have been a total of 30 Ambassadors of the United States to Ireland meaning the Republic of Ireland. All except one, Frederick A. Sterling, have been non-career appointees, while there were three under President George W. Bush.-List of Ambassadors:...
from 1957 to 1961.
Biography
R. W. Scott McLeod was born in Davenport, IowaDavenport, Iowa
Davenport is a city located along the Mississippi River in Scott County, Iowa, United States. Davenport is the county seat of and largest city in Scott County. Davenport was founded on May 14, 1836 by Antoine LeClaire and was named for his friend, George Davenport, a colonel during the Black Hawk...
on June 17, 1914. He was educated at Grinnell College
Grinnell College
Grinnell College is a private liberal arts college in Grinnell, Iowa, U.S. known for its strong tradition of social activism. It was founded in 1846, when a group of pioneer New England Congregationalists established the Trustees of Iowa College....
, graduating with a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1937.
After college, McLeod took a job selling advertising for the Des Moines Register and Tribune. In 1938, he took a job as a reporter for the Cedar Rapids Gazette
The Gazette (Cedar Rapids)
The Gazette is a daily newspaper published in the American city of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The first paper was published as an evening journal, as the Evening Gazette on Wednesday January 10, 1883 and sold for 3¢; it presently sells for 75¢. The newspaper is distributed throughout northeast and east...
. He joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
in 1942 and worked as an F.B.I. agent until 1949. During his time as an F.B.I. agent, he also served as an administrative assistant for Sen.
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Styles Bridges
Styles Bridges
Henry Styles Bridges was an American teacher, editor, and Republican Party politician from Concord, New Hampshire. He served one term as 63rd Governor of New Hampshire before a twenty-four year career in the United States Senate.Bridges was born in West Pembroke, Maine. He attended the public...
(R
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
—NH).
When John Foster Dulles
John Foster Dulles
John Foster Dulles served as U.S. Secretary of State under President Dwight D. Eisenhower from 1953 to 1959. He was a significant figure in the early Cold War era, advocating an aggressive stance against communism throughout the world...
became 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...
in 1953, he was adamant that he did not want another Alger Hiss
Alger Hiss
Alger Hiss was an American lawyer, government official, author, and lecturer. He was involved in the establishment of the United Nations both as a U.S. State Department and U.N. official...
case in the United States Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
. On the recommendation of Under Secretary of State for Management Donold Lourie
Donold Lourie
Donold B. Lourie was an American businessman, government official, and college football player. He served for many years as the president of the Quaker Oats Company, and held various other executive positions there and for several other businesses. President Dwight D...
, Dulles designated McLeod as the first-ever Assistant Secretary of State for Security and Consular Affairs, holding this office from March 3, 1953 until March 9, 1957. McLeod fired some 300 State Department employees on suspicion they were Communist sympathizers. McLeod was critical of the decision to appoint Charles E. Bohlen
Charles E. Bohlen
Charles Eustis “Chip” Bohlen was a United States diplomat from 1929 to 1969 and Soviet expert, serving in Moscow before and during World War II, succeeding George F. Kennan as United States Ambassador to the Soviet Union , then ambassador to the Philippines , and to France...
as United States Ambassador to the Soviet Union, echoing criticisms made by Sen. Joseph McCarthy
Joseph McCarthy
Joseph Raymond "Joe" McCarthy was an American politician who served as a Republican U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin from 1947 until his death in 1957...
(R—WI). However, McLeod denied charges that he had ever been personally close with McCarthy.
During the backlash against McCarthyism
McCarthyism
McCarthyism is the practice of making accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason without proper regard for evidence. The term has its origins in the period in the United States known as the Second Red Scare, lasting roughly from the late 1940s to the late 1950s and characterized by...
in the late 1950s, several Washington figures called for McLeod to be fired. President Dwight Eisenhower appointed McLeod United States Ambassador to Ireland
United States Ambassador to Ireland
There have been a total of 30 Ambassadors of the United States to Ireland meaning the Republic of Ireland. All except one, Frederick A. Sterling, have been non-career appointees, while there were three under President George W. Bush.-List of Ambassadors:...
. McLoeod held this post from July 17, 1957, until March 15, 1961, when President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
chose Edward G. Stockdale as his replacement.
McLeod died of a heart attack in Concord, New Hampshire
Concord, New Hampshire
The city of Concord is the capital of the state of New Hampshire in the United States. It is also the county seat of Merrimack County. As of the 2010 census, its population was 42,695....
on November 6, 1961, at the age of 47.