Joseph C. Satterthwaite

Joseph Charles Satterthwaite (March 14, 1900 in Tecumseh, Michigan – November 19, 1990 in Washington, D.C.) was an American career diplomat.

Joseph C. Satterthwaite
United States Ambassador to South Africa
In office May 22, 1961 – November 17, 1965
President	John F. Kennedy
Preceded by	Philip K. Crowe
Succeeded by	William M. Rountree
1st Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs
In office September 2, 1958 – January 31, 1961
President	Dwight D. Eisenhower John F. Kennedy
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	G. Mennen Williams
United States Consul General to Morocco
In office September 8, 1953 – May 1, 1955
President	Dwight D. Eisenhower
Preceded by	John Carter Vincent
Succeeded by	Julius C. Holmes
Personal details
Born	Joseph Charles Satterthwaite March 14, 1900 Tecumseh, Michigan
Died	November 19, 1990 (aged 90) Washington, D.C.
Alma mater	University of Michigan (B.A., M.A.)
Occupation	Diplomat

Biography

Early life and positions

Sattherwaite was born in Tecumseh, Michigan on March 14, 1900. His family had first moved to that state in 1831.[1] He attended the University of Michigan, earning a B.A. degree in 1923 and a M.A. degree in 1924. His first job with the US Foreign Service was as a clerk in the Stuttgart consulate in 1926. From there, appointments followed in Guadalajara, Mexico City, Buenos Aires, Baghdad, Ankara and Damascus.[2] As part of a State Department special diplomatic mission, Satterthwaite presented a letter from President Harry S. Truman to King Tribhuvan, recognizing Nepal's independence, on April 21 1947.[3] This task proved difficult, as foreigners could only enter with consent of the Prime Minister, and the group had to travel by rail, road, pack train and sedan chair.[4]

Increasing seniority

Satterthwaite served as United States Ambassador to Sri Lanka from 1949 to 1952, Head of the U.S. Legation at Tangier from 1953 to 1955, and as United States Ambassador to Burma from April 1955 to April 1957. For a brief period between May 6, 1957 and September 1, 1958, he was Director General of the Foreign Service.[5] He then served as the first Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs between 1958 and 1961. One of his duties in that role was hosting an African Regional Conference from June 9–11, 1959 in Lourenco Marques (now Maputo).[6]

South Africa and later career

Sattherwaite was reappointed as an ambassador, this time to South Africa, from 1961 to 1965.[7] Following the Sharpeville massacre, the new administration was taking a renewed look at the country. Satterthwaite later recalled that President John F. Kennedy had told him "You can tell the prime minister of South Africa that I'm not sending you out there to point your finger at them, (the South Africans) but that they must realize the problems we have with their racial policy". While in South Africa, Satterthwaite learned of Kennedy's assassination from the Belgian ambassador (who had been listenening to the BBC World Service). This forced him to break off a dinner party he was holding and announce the news, bringing some of the South African guests to tears. His embassy held a Catholic memorial service shortly after.[1]

He spoke highly of his time under the Truman, Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations, saying in an interview that he "never had any pressure from the White House that was objectionable in the least. Obviously pressures were brought by Congress sometimes, but that's something else, that's just par for the course, you can expect that; but certainly not from the White House under either Truman or Eisenhower. I think this is true of Kennedy, too". [8]

After South Africa he retired from the Foreign Service, becoming a consultant on foreign affairs.[9]

He died in Washington, D.C. on November 19, 1990 at the age of 90, due to pneumonia.[10]

References

1. Moss, William W. (March 2, 1971). "Joseph C. Satterthwaite, recorded interview" (PDF). www.jfklibrary.org. John F. Kennedy Library Oral History Program. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
2. Satterthwaite, Joseph Charles. "Joseph Charles Satterthwaite papers: Biography". Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
3. "History of the U.S. and Nepal". U.S. Embassy in Nepal. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
4. Satterthwaite, Joseph C. (August 1947). "Mission to Nepal". American Foreign Service Journal. Washington, D.C.: American Foreign Service Association. 24 (8): 7–10, 32–40. ISSN 0146-3543.
5. "Joseph Charles Satterthwaite - People - Department History - Office of the Historian". history.state.gov. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
6. "Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Africa, Volume XIV - Office of the Historian". history.state.gov. 16. Editorial Note. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
7. "Burma". U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original on 2008-03-14.
8. McKenzie, Richard D. (November 13, 1972). "Joseph C. Satterthwaite Oral History Interview". Truman Library. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
9. SATTERTHWAITE, JOSEPH C. (May 1, 1972). "The Truman Doctrine: Turkey" (PDF). The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. 401 (1): 74–84. doi:10.1177/000271627240100109. ISSN 0002-7162. OCLC 1479265.
10. "Joseph C. Satterthwaite; Former Chief of Foreign Service". Los Angeles Times. 1990-11-28. Retrieved 2020-06-27.

External links

• Letter from Joseph M Levy recalling Satterthwaite's involvement in "Action on Relief for the Jews in Syria" in 1949
• Account of his time as Ambassador to South Africa, given in oral history interview for the JFK Library