Charles A. Meyer
Encyclopedia
Charles Appleton Meyer was a United States
executive
who served as Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs from 1969 to 1973.
, graduating in 1935. He then attended Harvard College
, graduating in 1939.
After college, Meyer took a job with Sears in Chicago
. Meyer rose through the ranks at Sears to become Vice President responsible for Sears' operations in Latin America
. His first foray into government service came in 1960 when President of the United States
Dwight D. Eisenhower
appointed Meyer as one of six members of the National Advisory Committee on Inter-American Affairs. This committee, headed by Milton S. Eisenhower
, was designed to be Eisenhower's "eyes and ears" in Latin America and traveled throughout the region meeting with Latin American leaders.
Meyer continued working as a Sears executive until March 1969, when President Richard Nixon
appointed him Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs. Meyer held this office from April 2, 1969 until March 2, 1973. As Assistant Secretary, Meyer has been accused of intervening in the 1970 Chilean election; Meyer denied that this was the case, saying that the U.S. State Department "financed no candidates, no political parties before or after September 4 [1970]."
Meyer left the State Department in 1973 and returned to Sears, where he worked as an executive until his retirement in 1980. He also served on the board of directors of Lake Forest College
. Lake Forest College awarded Meyer an honorary degree
in 1983.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
executive
Executive officer
An executive officer is generally a person responsible for running an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization.-Administrative law:...
who served as Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs from 1969 to 1973.
Biography
Meyer was born in 1918 and attended Phillips AcademyPhillips Academy
Phillips Academy is a selective, co-educational independent boarding high school for boarding and day students in grades 9–12, along with a post-graduate year...
, graduating in 1935. He then attended Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
, graduating in 1939.
After college, Meyer took a job with Sears in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. Meyer rose through the ranks at Sears to become Vice President responsible for Sears' operations in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
. His first foray into government service came in 1960 when President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
appointed Meyer as one of six members of the National Advisory Committee on Inter-American Affairs. This committee, headed by Milton S. Eisenhower
Milton S. Eisenhower
Milton Stover Eisenhower, served as president of three major American universities: Kansas State University, the Pennsylvania State University, and the Johns Hopkins University. He was the younger brother of U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Edgar N. Eisenhower, and Earl D...
, was designed to be Eisenhower's "eyes and ears" in Latin America and traveled throughout the region meeting with Latin American leaders.
Meyer continued working as a Sears executive until March 1969, when President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
appointed him Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs. Meyer held this office from April 2, 1969 until March 2, 1973. As Assistant Secretary, Meyer has been accused of intervening in the 1970 Chilean election; Meyer denied that this was the case, saying that the U.S. State Department "financed no candidates, no political parties before or after September 4 [1970]."
Meyer left the State Department in 1973 and returned to Sears, where he worked as an executive until his retirement in 1980. He also served on the board of directors of Lake Forest College
Lake Forest College
Lake Forest College, founded in 1857, is a private liberal arts college in Lake Forest, Illinois. The college has 1,500 students representing 47 states and 78 countries....
. Lake Forest College awarded Meyer an honorary degree
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
in 1983.