Hugh H. Smythe
Hugh H. Smythe | |
|---|---|
| United States Ambassador to Malta | |
| In office December 29, 1967 – August 16, 1969 | |
| President | Lyndon Johnson Richard Nixon |
| Preceded by | George Joseph Feldman |
| Succeeded by | John Charles Pritzlaff |
| United States Ambassador to Syria | |
| In office October 28, 1965 – June 8, 1967 | |
| President | Lyndon Johnson |
| Preceded by | Ridgway Brewster Knight |
| Succeeded by | Thomas James Scotes |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 19, 1913 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | June 22, 1977 (aged 63) Manhattan, New York, U.S. |
| Spouse | Mabel M. Smythe (1939-1977) |
| Alma mater | Virginia State University Atlanta University Northwestern University |
| Profession | Diplomat, professor, sociologist |
Hugh Heyne Smythe (August 19, 1913 – June 22, 1977) was an American author, sociologist, diplomat and professor. He was an authority on African anthropology and East Asian studies. He served as the United States Ambassador to Syria and Malta.
Smythe was the tenth African-American U.S. ambassador and the first to a Middle Eastern country. His tenure coincided with the Six Day War and the severing of diplomatic ties with the United States. He later became notorious for the "Smythe Telegram" that he wrote during the increasing tensions before the war, where he demanded that the U.S. return to a pro-Arab foreign policy and said that the U.S. should ignore previous promises to Israel that Egypt would not be allowed to ban Israeli ships from transiting the Straits of Tiran. He left the country on June 8, 1967.
References
- United States Department of State: Chiefs of Mission for Malta
- United States Department of State: Chiefs of Mission for Syria
- Smythe Biographical Notes
- Papers of Hugh H. Smythe and Mabel M. Smythe, circa 1895-1997
- Hugh Smythe in-depth bio
- Hugh Smythe Video on YouTube
| International | |
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| National | |
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