Donald McHenry

Donald McHenry
Donald McHenry
Born	Donald Franchot McHenry 13 10, 1936
Birthplace	St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Diplomat, educator, corporate director
Known for	15th United States Ambassador to the United Nations
Education	Georgetown University (M.S.)
Awards	Order of Lincoln (2020)

Donald Franchot McHenry (born October 13, 1936) is an American diplomat, educator, and corporate director who served as the 15th United States Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations from September 1979 to January 20, 1981, under President Jimmy Carter. Succeeding Andrew Young, who resigned amid controversy, McHenry navigated a complex period in international relations that included debates over apartheid in South Africa, the Iran hostage crisis, and Cold War tensions at the United Nations Security Council. A graduate of Illinois State University, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and Georgetown University, McHenry built a career that spanned the U.S. State Department, academia, and the corporate boardroom. Following his tenure at the United Nations, he joined the faculty of Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, where he served as a professor and later had a visiting professorship established in his name. Throughout his career, McHenry has been recognized as a diplomat, scholar, and educator whose work touched on some of the most consequential foreign policy challenges of the late twentieth century.

Early Life

Donald Franchot McHenry was born on October 13, 1936, in St. Louis, Missouri. He grew up during a period of racial segregation in the United States, and his early life in Missouri shaped his awareness of both domestic and international issues. Details about his parents and childhood remain limited in publicly available records, but McHenry's trajectory from St. Louis to the halls of the United Nations reflected a path marked by academic achievement and public service.

McHenry's formative years in the Midwest instilled in him values that he would carry throughout his diplomatic career. In later public addresses, he emphasized the connection between domestic conditions in the United States and the nation's ability to conduct effective foreign policy, a theme he traced to his own experiences growing up in America.

Education

McHenry attended Illinois State University (then Illinois State Normal University), where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1957. He subsequently pursued graduate studies at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. McHenry then continued his education at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., where he completed a master's degree.

His time at Illinois State University proved to be a lasting connection. The university later recognized McHenry as a Distinguished Alumnus, and he returned to campus on multiple occasions to deliver lectures and engage with students and faculty. In 2023, Illinois State University established the Donald F. McHenry Visiting Professorship in Diplomacy and International Affairs, with former U.S. Ambassador Geeta Pasi appointed as the inaugural holder of the position. The creation of the professorship underscored the university's recognition of McHenry's contributions to diplomacy and international affairs.

Career

Early State Department Career

After completing his graduate education, McHenry entered the United States Department of State, where he built expertise in African affairs and international organizations. His work at the State Department focused on issues related to the African continent and multilateral diplomacy, positioning him as a specialist in areas that would become central to American foreign policy debates during the 1970s.

McHenry's career at the State Department spanned a period of significant change in international relations, including the decolonization of Africa, the civil rights movement in the United States, and the evolving dynamics of the Cold War at the United Nations. His expertise in these areas brought him increasing responsibility within the department and the broader foreign policy establishment.

United States Ambassador to the United Nations

On September 23, 1979, McHenry was appointed by President Jimmy Carter as the United States Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, succeeding Andrew Young, who had resigned from the position. Young's departure had followed controversy over his unauthorized meeting with a representative of the Palestine Liberation Organization, and McHenry stepped into the role at a moment of considerable diplomatic sensitivity.

As Ambassador, McHenry confronted a range of international crises and policy challenges. The period of his tenure, from late 1979 through January 1981, coincided with the Iran hostage crisis, during which 52 American diplomats and citizens were held captive in Tehran. McHenry worked within the United Nations framework to address the crisis and garner international support for the American position.

McHenry also dealt extensively with issues related to southern Africa, including the international response to apartheid in South Africa and efforts to achieve independence for Namibia (then South-West Africa). His background in African affairs made him particularly suited to navigate the complex multilateral negotiations surrounding these issues at the United Nations.

During his tenure, McHenry was involved in deliberations at the United Nations Security Council on a range of matters, including peacekeeping operations, arms control discussions, and the ongoing Cold War competition between the United States and the Soviet Union that permeated much of the United Nations' work during this era.

McHenry's tenure as Ambassador ended on January 20, 1981, with the inauguration of President Ronald Reagan. He was succeeded by Jeane Kirkpatrick, who brought a markedly different approach to American engagement at the United Nations.

A Time magazine profile during his time at the United Nations examined McHenry's diplomatic style and the challenges he faced in the role. Another Time article provided further coverage of his work at the United Nations during this period.

Post-Government Career

Academia

Following his departure from the United Nations, McHenry joined the faculty of Georgetown University's Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, where he served as a professor. His academic work focused on diplomacy, international organizations, and foreign policy. At Georgetown, McHenry taught courses and mentored students pursuing careers in international affairs and public service.

McHenry also participated in an oral history project conducted by the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training (ADST), providing a detailed account of his career in diplomacy and the foreign service.

Corporate Governance

In addition to his academic career, McHenry served on the boards of directors of several major corporations, establishing himself as a figure in corporate governance. BlackPast.org described him as a "diplomat, scholar, corporate governor and educator." His board service reflected the common pattern of former senior government officials transitioning into advisory and governance roles in the private sector.

Arms Control and Foreign Policy Advocacy

McHenry continued to engage with foreign policy and arms control issues after leaving government. In 2004, he was among a group of diplomats and military commanders who signed an open statement related to foreign policy matters. The statement, which was documented by the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation's "Waging Peace" initiative, reflected the ongoing engagement of former senior officials in debates over American foreign policy and national security. A Los Angeles Times article in June 2004 also covered the involvement of diplomats and military figures, including McHenry, in foreign policy discussions during that period.

Continued Public Engagement

McHenry remained active in public discourse well into the 2020s. In November 2022, he returned to Illinois State University to deliver the Adlai E. Stevenson Memorial Lecture, a prominent speaking engagement at the university. During his addresses that week, McHenry urged the United States to address its domestic challenges in order to strengthen its position on the world stage. He argued that effective foreign policy begins with a strong domestic foundation, emphasizing the interconnection between the nation's internal health and its international credibility.

The Stevenson Lecture had originally been scheduled for spring 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When McHenry finally delivered the lecture in November 2022, he engaged in a conversation with WGLT's Charlie Schlenker as part of the event at the Center for the Performing Arts Concert Hall.

An earlier announcement from Illinois State University in November 2022 provided details about the upcoming lecture and McHenry's background.

Recognition

McHenry has received a number of honors and awards throughout his career. Illinois State University recognized him as a Distinguished Alumnus, reflecting his contributions to public service and diplomacy.

In 2020, McHenry was named a laureate of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois, receiving the Order of Lincoln, which is the state's highest honor. The award, announced by Governor J.B. Pritzker, recognized McHenry's contributions in his field.

The establishment of the Donald F. McHenry Visiting Professorship in Diplomacy and International Affairs at Illinois State University in 2023 represented a further institutional recognition of his legacy. The professorship was designed to bring experienced diplomats to the university to teach and engage with students, with former U.S. Ambassador Geeta Pasi serving as the inaugural appointee.

McHenry's career and public service have also been documented through various institutional records, including entries in the Library of Congress authority files, the Virtual International Authority File (VIAF), the German National Library, and the National Archives and Records Administration.

Legacy

Donald McHenry's career as a diplomat, educator, and public servant has left a mark on American foreign policy and international relations. As the second consecutive African American to serve as United States Ambassador to the United Nations—following Andrew Young—McHenry's appointment represented a continued commitment to diversity in American diplomatic representation during the Carter administration.

His work at the United Nations during a period marked by the Iran hostage crisis, Cold War tensions, and the struggle against apartheid in southern Africa placed him at the center of some of the most significant international events of the late twentieth century. McHenry's expertise in African affairs and multilateral diplomacy contributed to American engagement on issues of decolonization and human rights during a transformative period in global politics.

At Georgetown University, McHenry trained a generation of students who went on to careers in diplomacy, international organizations, and public policy. His transition from government service to academia exemplified a model of continued public contribution through education and scholarship.

The creation of the Donald F. McHenry Visiting Professorship at Illinois State University in 2023 formalized his legacy within his alma mater. The professorship ensures that McHenry's emphasis on diplomacy, international engagement, and the connection between domestic strength and foreign policy effectiveness continues to influence future generations of students.

In his 2022 Stevenson Lecture at Illinois State University, McHenry articulated a view that has characterized much of his post-government commentary: that the United States' ability to lead internationally depends on its capacity to address its own internal challenges. This perspective, rooted in decades of diplomatic experience, has remained a consistent theme in his public engagement.