Robert Fred Ellsworth
Encyclopedia
Robert Fred Ellsworth was a United States
' legislator and diplomat. He served as the United States Permanent Representative to NATO
(an ambassadorial level appointment) between 1969 and 1971. He had previously served three terms as a Republican Member of Congress from Kansas
, from 1961 to 1967, and as an Assistant to the President during the presidency of Richard Nixon
; under President Gerald Ford
, he was Deputy Secretary of Defense. Ellsworth also served as assistant to the chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission
.
Ellsworth was born in Lawrence, Kansas
, and was educated in the public schools of that city. He served in the United States Navy
during World War II
and the Korean War
. In 1945, he was graduated with a baccalaureate
in engineering from the University of Kansas
, where he had been a member of the Alpha Nu chapter of the Beta Theta Pi
collegiate fraternity
. He then studied law at the University of Michigan
, from which he was graduated in 1949; he practiced law in Lawrence, Kansas, and in Springfield, Massachusetts
.
The retired ambassador was admitted to the Order of Saint John as a knight of honor in 1995.
On November 9, 2010, Ellsworth provided commentary to KFMB
regarding an unexplained missile launch off the coast of Los Angeles. He cautioned the news crew to wait for definitive answers from the military, then went on to speculate, "It could be a test firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile from a submarine, an underwater submarine, to demonstrate, mainly to Asia, that we could do that."
Ellsworth died in Encinitas, California
: near the small city of Solana Beach, California
, where he had founded and directed a research firm, Hamilton BioVentures.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
' legislator and diplomat. He served as the United States Permanent Representative to NATO
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...
(an ambassadorial level appointment) between 1969 and 1971. He had previously served three terms as a Republican Member of Congress from Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, from 1961 to 1967, and as an Assistant to the President during the presidency of Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
; under President Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
, he was Deputy Secretary of Defense. Ellsworth also served as assistant to the chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission
Federal Maritime Commission
The United States Federal Maritime Commission is an independent federal agency, based in Washington D.C., responsible for the regulation of oceanborne transportation in the foreign commerce of the U.S.-Mission:The FMC:...
.
Ellsworth was born in Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence is the sixth largest city in the U.S. State of Kansas and the county seat of Douglas County. Located in northeastern Kansas, Lawrence is the anchor city of the Lawrence, Kansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Douglas County...
, and was educated in the public schools of that city. He served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. In 1945, he was graduated with a baccalaureate
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in engineering from the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
, where he had been a member of the Alpha Nu chapter of the Beta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi
Beta Theta Pi , often just called Beta, is a social collegiate fraternity that was founded in 1839 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, USA, where it is part of the Miami Triad which includes Phi Delta Theta and Sigma Chi. It has over 138 active chapters and colonies in the United States and Canada...
collegiate fraternity
Fraternity
A fraternity is a brotherhood, though the term usually connotes a distinct or formal organization. An organization referred to as a fraternity may be a:*Secret society*Chivalric order*Benefit society*Friendly society*Social club*Trade union...
. He then studied law at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, from which he was graduated in 1949; he practiced law in Lawrence, Kansas, and in Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
.
The retired ambassador was admitted to the Order of Saint John as a knight of honor in 1995.
On November 9, 2010, Ellsworth provided commentary to KFMB
KFMB
KFMB may refer to:* KFMB , a radio station licensed to San Diego, California, United States* KFMB-FM, a radio station licensed to San Diego, California, United States...
regarding an unexplained missile launch off the coast of Los Angeles. He cautioned the news crew to wait for definitive answers from the military, then went on to speculate, "It could be a test firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile from a submarine, an underwater submarine, to demonstrate, mainly to Asia, that we could do that."
Ellsworth died in Encinitas, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
: near the small city of Solana Beach, California
Solana Beach, California
Solana Beach is a city in San Diego County, California. The population was 12,867 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Solana Beach is located at ....
, where he had founded and directed a research firm, Hamilton BioVentures.