Gordon Giffin
Encyclopedia
Gordon D. Giffin became the thirty-fourth Ambassador of the United States
to Canada
on September 17, 1997.
Born in Springfield, Massachusetts
, Gordon Giffin moved to Canada before his first birthday. He lived in Montreal
and Toronto
for 17 years, attending Valois Park Elementary School in Pointe Claire and Richview Collegiate in Etobicoke. Giffin earned a B.A. from Duke University
in 1971 and a J.D.
from Emory University School of Law
in Atlanta, Georgia
in 1974.
The Ambassador was nominated for his position by President
Bill Clinton
on July 1, 1997, and confirmed by the full United States Senate on July 31. Unique among U.S. envoys to Canada, he spent seventeen years of his childhood growing up in Canada.
Prior to his appointment, Giffin practiced law as a senior partner in the firm of Long, Aldridge & Norman (now McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP). He has since returned to McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP and heads the firm's Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs department. From 1975-1979, he was Legislative Director and Chief Counsel to U.S. Senator Sam Nunn
in Washington, D.C.
He is only the second U.S. envoy to Canada in history to have come from the southern part of the United States (the first, William Walton Butterworth
of Louisiana, served from 1962 to 1968; David Wilkins
of South Carolina
served from 2005 to 2009.)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
on September 17, 1997.
Born in Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
, Gordon Giffin moved to Canada before his first birthday. He lived in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
and Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
for 17 years, attending Valois Park Elementary School in Pointe Claire and Richview Collegiate in Etobicoke. Giffin earned a B.A. from Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
in 1971 and a J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from Emory University School of Law
Emory University School of Law
Emory University School of Law is a first-tier US law school that is part of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. It is ranked #30 among ABA-approved law schools by the 2012 U.S. News & World Report...
in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
in 1974.
The Ambassador was nominated for his position by President
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....
Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
on July 1, 1997, and confirmed by the full United States Senate on July 31. Unique among U.S. envoys to Canada, he spent seventeen years of his childhood growing up in Canada.
Prior to his appointment, Giffin practiced law as a senior partner in the firm of Long, Aldridge & Norman (now McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP). He has since returned to McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP and heads the firm's Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs department. From 1975-1979, he was Legislative Director and Chief Counsel to U.S. Senator Sam Nunn
Sam Nunn
Samuel Augustus Nunn, Jr. is an American lawyer and politician. Currently the co-chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nuclear Threat Initiative , a charitable organization working to reduce the global threats from nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, Nunn served for 24 years as a...
in Washington, D.C.
He is only the second U.S. envoy to Canada in history to have come from the southern part of the United States (the first, William Walton Butterworth
William Walton Butterworth
William Walton Butterworth was a U.S. diplomat. He was born in New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, September 7, 1903.-Biography:...
of Louisiana, served from 1962 to 1968; David Wilkins
David Wilkins
David Horton Wilkins is an American attorney and a former U. S. Ambassador to Canada during the administration of President George W. Bush. Prior to the appointment, he practiced law for 30 years while serving in the South Carolina House of Representatives for 25 of those years. He was speaker of...
of South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
served from 2005 to 2009.)