William A. Crawford

William Avery Crawford (January 14, 1915 – December 14, 2001) was an American diplomat who served as the last Minister and first United States Ambassador to Romania, from 1962 to 1965.[1]

William A. Crawford
1st United States Ambassador to Romania
In office
December 24, 1964 – October 10, 1965
PresidentLyndon B. Johnson
Preceded byHimself
as Minister
Succeeded byRichard H. Davis
23rd United States Minister to Romania
In office
February 10, 1962 – December 24, 1964
PresidentJohn F. Kennedy
Lyndon B. Johnson
Preceded byClifton Reginald Wharton Sr.
Succeeded byHimself
as Ambassador
Personal details
Born(1915-01-14)January 14, 1915
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedDecember 14, 2001(2001-12-14) (aged 86)
Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.
Spouse(s)
Barbara Gardner
​
​
(m. 1940; died 1979)​

Gudrun Hadell
Children5
EducationHaverford College (BA)
OccupationDiplomat

Early life and education

Crawford was born on January 14, 1915;[2] the son of John Raymond Crawford, a professor of Greek and Latin at Lafayette College, and Pauline Avery.[3]

Educated abroad in France, he studied at Haverford College, and went abroad to Spain during the Spanish Civil War.[4] He graduated in 1936 with a Bachelor of Arts. He later studied at the Russian Institute, now known as the Harriman Institute, at Columbia University.[1]

After graduation, Crawford worked at a department store before joining the diplomatic corps.

Diplomacy

Crawford joined the United States Foreign Service in 1941, serving in Moscow, Paris, Havana, and Prague.[5] Although subjected to a loyalty investigation under Executive Order 9835 in 1951,[6] he passed,[6] and continued his work in the Foreign Service. He was chosen to be Minister in October 1961.[7]

In February 1962, he presented his credentials as Minister, serving until the post was upgraded to Ambassador in 1964.[8] During this time, he helped to support Romania-United States relations in the fields of trade and cultural exchange.[9]

He and his wife, Barbara, founded the American International School of Bucharest in 1962.[5]

Crawford left his post in October 1965.

Later career

After Romania, Crawford was an assistant to Lyman Lemnitzer, the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, from 1965 to 1967.[1] He retired from the Foreign Service in 1970.[5]

He then taught at the Landon School, worked at a marketing company,[5] finished his memoirs, and contributed to a biography on his mother.[10]

Personal life and death

Crawford was married twice: first to Barbara Gardner, from October 19, 1940,[11] till her death in September 1979;[12] and then to Gudrun Hadell.[1]

From his first marriage, he had five children: three sons and two daughters.[10]

Crawford died at his home on December 14, 2001, a month before his 87th birthday. He was survived by his children and his second wife.[5]

References
  1. Pace, Eric (December 26, 2001). "William Crawford, 86, Envoy From U.S. to Romania in 60's". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  2. "Brevities". The Evening Republican. January 19, 1915. p. 6. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  3. "Lafayette College Professor Ends Life". The Morning Call. April 16, 1929. p. 20. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  4. "Easton Couple Reported Safely Out of Spain". The Morning Call. July 30, 1936. p. 22. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  5. "William Crawford, 86; Soviet Expert Served in 5 U.S. Envoy Posts". Los Angeles Times. December 16, 2020. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  6. Lori Clune (April 8, 2016). Executing the Rosenbergs: Death and Diplomacy in a Cold War World. Oxford University Press. p. 211. ISBN 978-0-19-026589-2.
  7. "Envoy Reported Picked". The New York Times. October 27, 1961. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  8. "Rumanian Post Upgraded". The New York Times. December 6, 1964. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  9. "U.S. ACTS TO SPUR RUMANIAN TRADE; Nations Reach Accord That Opens Door to New Links With Eastern Europe". The New York Times. June 2, 1964. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  10. "William Avery Crawford, 86". Washington Post. December 16, 2001. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  11. "Miss Gardner Wed at Home; Daughter of Retired Officer in Army Becomes Bride of William A. Crawford". The New York Times. October 20, 1940. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  12. "Barbara Crawford". The Philadelphia Inquirer. September 14, 1979. p. 12. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
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