Richard T. McCormack
Encyclopedia
Richard Thomas "Dick" McCormack (b. 1941) was United States Ambassador to the Organization of American States
from 1985 to 1989 and United States
Under Secretary of State for Economic and Agricultural Affairs from 1989 to 1991.
on March 6, 1941. He was educated at Georgetown University
, receiving a B.A.
in 1963. He then attended the University of Fribourg
, receiving a Ph.D.
in 1966.
After graduate school, McCormack initially took a job on the staff of the Peace Corps
. In 1968, he joined Philco-Ford as Director of Operations Research for South Vietnam
. In early 1969, McCormack served as special assistant to former Governor of Pennsylvania William Scranton
at the Intelsat
negotiations at the United States Department of State
. Later in 1969, he joined the Executive Office of the President of the United States
, serving in a number of capacities, including as a member of the President's Advisory Council on Executive Organization. He was largely responsible for drawing up the plans that created the White House Council on International Economic Policy. He left the Executive Office of the President in 1971, but remained a consultant to the White House Council on International Economic Policy. He spent 1974 as Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for International Economic Affairs. He then served as a consultant to the White House Office of the Special Trade Representative, here he analyzed potential international commodity agreement
s..
McCormack spent 1975-77 as a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute
. In 1979, he became legislative assistant
to Sen.
Jesse Helms
(R
—NC).
McCormack joined the United States Department of State
as an international trade consultant. In 1982, President of the United States
Ronald Reagan
nominated McCormack as Assistant Secretary for Economic and Business Affairs, and McCormack held this office until 1985. At that time, President Reagan named McCormack United States Ambassador to the Organization of American States
. In 1989, President George H. W. Bush
nominated McCormack as Under Secretary of State for Economic and Agricultural Affairs, and McCormack subsequently held this office from April 14, 1989 until May 3, 1991.
In the early 2000s, McCormack was a counselor of the Center for the Study of the Presidency
and from 2004 to 2006 was a Senior Adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies
. In 2006, he became Vice Chairman of Merrill Lynch
.
United States Ambassador to the Organization of American States
The following is a list of people who have served as United States Ambassador to the Organization of American States, or the full title, Representative of the United States of America to the Organization of American States, with the rank and status of Ambassador Extraordinary and...
from 1985 to 1989 and United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Under Secretary of State for Economic and Agricultural Affairs from 1989 to 1991.
Biography
Richard T. McCormack was born in Bradford, PennsylvaniaBradford, Pennsylvania
Bradford is a small city located in rural McKean County, Pennsylvania, in the United States 78 miles south of Buffalo, New York. Settled in 1823, Bradford was chartered as a city in 1879 and emerged as a wild oil boomtown in the Pennsylvanian oil rush in the late 19th century...
on March 6, 1941. He was educated at 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...
, receiving 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 1963. He then attended the University of Fribourg
University of Fribourg
The University of Fribourg is a university in the city of Fribourg, Switzerland.The roots of the University can be traced back to 1582, when the notable Jesuit Peter Canisius founded the Collège Saint-Michel in the City of Fribourg. In 1763, an Academy of law was founded by the state of Frobourg...
, receiving a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in 1966.
After graduate school, McCormack initially took a job on the staff of the Peace Corps
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...
. In 1968, he joined Philco-Ford as Director of Operations Research for South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
. In early 1969, McCormack served as special assistant to former Governor of Pennsylvania William Scranton
William Scranton
William Warren Scranton is a former U.S. Republican Party politician. Scranton served as the 38th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1963 to 1967. From 1976 to 1977, he served as United States Ambassador to the United Nations.-Early life:...
at the Intelsat
Intelsat
Intelsat, Ltd. is a communications satellite services provider.Originally formed as International Telecommunications Satellite Organization , it was—from 1964 to 2001—an intergovernmental consortium owning and managing a constellation of communications satellites providing international broadcast...
negotiations at 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...
. Later in 1969, he joined the Executive Office of the President of the United States
Executive Office of the President of the United States
The Executive Office of the President consists of the immediate staff of the President of the United States, as well as multiple levels of support staff reporting to the President. The EOP is headed by the White House Chief of Staff, currently William M. Daley...
, serving in a number of capacities, including as a member of the President's Advisory Council on Executive Organization. He was largely responsible for drawing up the plans that created the White House Council on International Economic Policy. He left the Executive Office of the President in 1971, but remained a consultant to the White House Council on International Economic Policy. He spent 1974 as Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for International Economic Affairs. He then served as a consultant to the White House Office of the Special Trade Representative, here he analyzed potential international commodity agreement
International commodity agreement
An international commodity agreement is an undertaking by a group of countries to stabilize trade, supplies, and prices of a commodity for the benefit of participating countries. An agreement usually involves a consensus on quantities traded, prices, and stock management...
s..
McCormack spent 1975-77 as a scholar at the American Enterprise Institute
American Enterprise Institute
The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research is a conservative think tank founded in 1943. Its stated mission is "to defend the principles and improve the institutions of American freedom and democratic capitalism—limited government, private enterprise, individual liberty and...
. In 1979, he became legislative assistant
Legislative assistant
A legislative assistant is a legislative staffer who works for a legislator by monitoring pending legislation, conducting research, drafting legislation, giving advice and counsel, and making recommendations....
to 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...
Jesse Helms
Jesse Helms
Jesse Alexander Helms, Jr. was a five-term Republican United States Senator from North Carolina who served as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee from 1995 to 2001...
(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...
—NC).
McCormack joined 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...
as an international trade consultant. In 1982, President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
nominated McCormack as Assistant Secretary for Economic and Business Affairs, and McCormack held this office until 1985. At that time, President Reagan named McCormack United States Ambassador to the Organization of American States
United States Ambassador to the Organization of American States
The following is a list of people who have served as United States Ambassador to the Organization of American States, or the full title, Representative of the United States of America to the Organization of American States, with the rank and status of Ambassador Extraordinary and...
. In 1989, President George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush
George Herbert Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 41st President of the United States . He had previously served as the 43rd Vice President of the United States , a congressman, an ambassador, and Director of Central Intelligence.Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts, to...
nominated McCormack as Under Secretary of State for Economic and Agricultural Affairs, and McCormack subsequently held this office from April 14, 1989 until May 3, 1991.
In the early 2000s, McCormack was a counselor of the Center for the Study of the Presidency
Center for the Study of the Presidency
The Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress is a non-profit, non-partisan policy and education organization located in Washington, D.C...
and from 2004 to 2006 was a Senior Adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies
Center for Strategic and International Studies
The Center for Strategic and International Studies is a bipartisan Washington, D.C., foreign policy think tank. The center was founded in 1962 by Admiral Arleigh Burke and Ambassador David Manker Abshire, originally as part of Georgetown University...
. In 2006, he became Vice Chairman of Merrill Lynch
Merrill Lynch
Merrill Lynch is the wealth management division of Bank of America. With over 15,000 financial advisors and $2.2 trillion in client assets it is the world's largest brokerage. Formerly known as Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., prior to 2009 the firm was publicly owned and traded on the New York...
.