William vanden Heuvel

William vanden Heuvel is an American diplomat, lawyer, and author known for his long career in public service and Democratic politics. He served as a key advisor to Robert F. Kennedy and later as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva and the European Office of the United Nations. A prominent figure in New York City civic life, he has also been a leading advocate for human rights and historical preservation, notably founding the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park on Roosevelt Island.

Early life and education

He was born in Rochester, New York, to a family of Dutch descent. After his father's death, he moved with his mother to New York City, where he attended the Riverdale Country School. He earned his undergraduate degree from the College of Arts and Sciences at Cornell University and subsequently graduated from Cornell Law School. His early interest in public affairs was shaped by the legacy of Franklin D. Roosevelt and the events of World War II.

Career

Following law school, he clerked for a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit before joining the prestigious New York law firm Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy. He later became a partner at the firm Stroock & Stroock & Lavan. His legal career was consistently paralleled by deep engagement in political and humanitarian causes, including work with the International Rescue Committee and advocacy concerning the Nuremberg trials and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Political and diplomatic service

His political service began in the administration of New York Governor W. Averell Harriman, where he worked as an assistant counsel. He became a close aide and friend to Robert F. Kennedy, serving as his deputy during Kennedy's tenure as United States Attorney General and later as a campaign advisor during Kennedy's 1968 Senate campaign and his presidential bid. In 1977, President Jimmy Carter appointed him as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations Office at Geneva and the European Office of the United Nations, a post he held until 1979. In this role, he focused on issues of international law and human rights.

Later life and legacy

In his later years, he has been a prolific author and historian, writing on subjects including Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and the Holocaust. His most enduring legacy is his decades-long effort to establish the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park on Roosevelt Island in New York City, which was dedicated in 2012. He has served as chairman of the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute and remains a trustee of the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation. He is also a former president of the International Rescue Committee and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Personal life

He was first married to journalist Christine Sadler from 1955 until her death in 1992; they had four children, including journalist Katherine vanden Heuvel. In 1995, he married Courtney Ross, the widow of Time Warner chairman Steven J. Ross. He maintains residences in New York City and Bridgehampton, New York. A noted art collector, he has been involved with numerous cultural institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the New-York Historical Society.

Category:1930 births Category:American diplomats Category:Ambassadors of the United States to the United Nations Category:Cornell University alumni Category:People from Rochester, New York Category:American human rights activists