Clark T. Randt Jr.
Clark T. Randt, Jr. 雷德 | |
---|---|
![]() Ambassador Clark T. Randt, Jr. | |
United States Ambassador to China | |
In office July 23, 2001 – January 20, 2009 | |
President | George W. Bush |
Preceded by | Joseph Prueher |
Succeeded by | Jon Huntsman, Jr. |
Personal details | |
Born | Connecticut | January 1, 1945
Spouse | Sarah Talcott Randt |
Children | Clark Randt III Paull M. Randt Clare T. Randt |
Alma mater | Yale University University of Michigan |
Profession | Lawyer |
Clark T. Randt, Jr. (Chinese: 雷德; Pinyin: Léi Dé; born 1945) was the United States Ambassador to the People's Republic of China from July 23, 2001 to January 20, 2009, making him the longest-serving U.S. Ambassador to China. Randt was formerly a partner with the law firm of Shearman & Sterling in Hong Kong, where he headed the firm's China practice.
Education
After preparing at Hotchkiss School, Randt graduated from Yale University with a Bachelor of Arts in 1968 and received his Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan in 1975. He also attended Harvard Law School where he was awarded the East Asia Legal Studies Traveling Fellowship to China. While at Yale, he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity with George W. Bush.
Career
From 1968 to 1972, Randt served in the United States Air Force Security Service, and in 1974 he was the China representative of the National Council for United States-China Trade.
Randt was a resident of Beijing from 1982 through 1984 where he served as First Secretary and Commercial Attache at the U.S. Embassy. He then lived in Hong Kong for 18 years, most recently as a partner with the international law firm of Shearman and Sterling where he headed the firm's China practice. Randt was Governor and First Vice President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong. He is a member of the New York and Hong Kong bars and is a recognized expert on Chinese law. He is fluent in Mandarin Chinese.[1]
Randt was nominated U.S. Ambassador to China by President George W. Bush on April 30, 2001 and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on July 11, 2001. He was sworn in as U.S. Ambassador to China on July 17, 2001 and arrived in Beijing on July 23.
Randt has been an opponent to the sale of defensive weapons to the Republic of China (Taiwan) in the face of opposition from the Communist government in Beijing. [2]
Randt's term as ambassador has ended following the election of Barack Obama. President Obama nominated Jon Huntsman to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to China on May 16, 2009, and he was unanimously confirmed on August 4 of that year. Randt is currently a special advisor to Hopu Investment Management, a private equity fund.[3]
Personal life
Randt is married and has three children. His eldest son, Clark, currently resides in Beijing, China.
References
- ^ Biography Clark T. Randt, Jr US State Department
- ^ Washington Times - Inside the Ring
- ^ Wall Street Journal (2009). China Real Time Report - Former Ambassador Randt Advises on Chinese Private Equity. Retrieved November 24, 2009.