Gaston J. Sigur Jr.
Gaston Joseph Sigur, Jr. (pronounced Seeg-YOOR; November 13, 1924 – April 26, 1995) [1] was the United States Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs from 1986 to 1989.
Early Biography
Gaston J. Sigur, Jr. was born in Franklin, Louisiana. His post-secondary education began at Louisiana State University and was completed at the University of Michigan where he earned a B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. in History. He met Estelle Smotrys, a nursing student, while at the University of Michigan pursuing his doctorate and the two were married prior to him completing his studies.
Shortly after World War II, Sigur served in the United States Army during the Occupation of Japan. After which he worked with The Asia Foundation from 1956 to 1959 and as a research scholar at Sophia University in Tokyo from 1959 to 1961. In 1962, Sigur moved his family to Afghanistan where he served as the Asia Foundation representative to Afghanistan. In 1972, he became professor of international affairs and director of the Institute of Sino-Soviet Studies at George Washington University.
Reagan Administration
Sigur was appointed to the United States National Security Council in July of 1982, and in July of 1983 he became Special Assistant to the President for Asian affairs. In 1986, at the urging of United States Secretary of State George P. Shultz, President of the United States Ronald Reagan nominated Sigur as Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs. After Senate confirmation, Sigur held this office from March 12, 1986 until February 21, 1989.
A key foreign policy goal of the Reagan Administration was the promotion of democracy abroad[2]. In step with this goal, Sigur pushed for more openness and a transition to democracy in Asia-Pacific nations throughout his tenure as Assistant Secretary of State. Sigur applied a cautious approach to diplomacy, which he based on his knowledge of the cultural sensitivities and history of the East. This approach, colleagues have noted, allowed him to argue his points with foreign diplomats without offending them. However, others have criticized him for not taking a more bold and innovative stance towards foreign governments. [3]
South Korea
In 1987, the authoritarian government of South Korea was facing a constitutional crisis which Sigur helped nudge towards democracy. He delivered a speech in February of 1987 expressing American support for a transition to democracy, urging South Korea to "civilianize" its government. As President Reagan’s envoy to Seoul in the midst of the crisis[4], Sigur applied key diplomatic pressure on the South Korean government to keep it from instituting martial law or a military coup.[5]
Other Efforts with the Reagan Administration
During his time in office, Sigur sought trade concessions from Japan which included improved access to and openness in the Japanese market, a correction of the yen-dollar exchange rate, and other economic issues[6]. Sigur was involved in U.S. diplomatic work with the government of the Philippines in their transition to democracy and struggles with communist rebel groups[7]. He was also involved in talks with the Soviet Union concerning the withdrawal of Vietnamese troops from Cambodia[8] and he worked to continue the liberalizing trend in Taiwan.
While promoting political openness and democracy in Asian nations throughout his career with the Reagan Administration, Sigur also sought to promote and encourage economic growth and open markets in the region. While conceding that the manufactured goods produced by cheap labor and the raw material exports of the region would pose serious competition to American companies, he argued that if economic growth is accompanied by openness in East Asian markets, it would contribute to regional political stability and ultimately to U.S. security.[9]
Iran-Contra Affair
Sigur was questioned extensively by joint Congressional committees for his knowledge relating to the Iran-Contra affair. Members of Congress examined his interactions with Colonel Oliver North and other individuals who were named as being interested in providing financial assistance to the Nicaraguan contras. Although Sigur did engage his contacts (specifically Taiwan[10]) as requested by other Reagan Administration officials, he was not aware of any illicit activities between the United States government and the contras, nor did he comply with the illegal transfer of money to the contras.[11]
Later Life
At the close of the Reagan presidency, Sigur returned to George Washington University in 1989 as Distinguished Professor of East Asian studies. He advised President George H. W. Bush on Asian affairs, accompanying the president on his trip to China. As a political conservative and highly respected authority on East Asia and the Pacific, he continued to serve the Republican White House as a part-time adviser throughout Bush’s presidency.
In 1991, in recognition for his profound impact and mark on American international policy towards East Asia, the Gaston Sigur Center for East Asian Studies at George Washington University was named in his honor. Sigur served as senior consultant of the Center until his death in 1995.
Along with authoring various scholarly works on international affairs, Sigur contributed to and co-edited Asia and the Decline of Communism with Dr. Young C. Kim. Sigur and Kim also coauthored and co-edited Japanese and U.S. Policy in Asia. Sigur was co-editor of the Journal of Northeast Asian Studies.
On April 26, 1995 Gaston J. Sigur, Jr. died of cardiac arrest at his home in Bethesda, Maryland.
References
- ^ Saxon, Wolfgang. "Gaston J. Sigur Jr., 70, Adviser To Reagan on Japan and Korea". The New York Times.
- ^ "June 8, 1982 address by President Reagan to the British Parliament".
- ^ Engelberg, Stephen. "Man in the News: Gaston Joseph Sigur Jr". The New York Times.
- ^ Katsiaficas, George (2012). Asia's Unknown Uprisings Volume 1: South Korean Social Movements in the 20th Century. PM Press. p. 278. ISBN 978-1-60486-457-1.
- ^ Kondracke, Morton. "Seoul Searching". The New Republic.
- ^ "Vitality and possibility on the Pacific rim - Gaston J. Sigur, Jr.'s address before a conference sponsored by Meridian House International for business executives on Dec. 3, 1986".
- ^ "The situation in the Philippines - Gaston J. Sigur Jr.'s statement before the Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Oct. 8, 1987".
- ^ "Gaston J. Sigur; Assistant Secretary of State Under Reagan". The Los Angeles Times. May 10, 1995.
- ^ "Vitality and possibility on the Pacific rim - Gaston J. Sigur, Jr.'s address before a conference sponsored by Meridian House International for business executives on Dec. 3, 1986".
- ^ McManus, Doyle (May 13, 1987). "The Iran-Contra Hearings: NSC Aide Requested Donation, Sources Say: Taiwan Gave $2 Million to Contras". The Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Report of the Congressional Committees Investigating the Iran-Contra Affair, Appendix B, Volume 25 - Depositions. 1987.