Helene A. von Damm
Encyclopedia
Helene von Damm was a Republican political figure, diplomat and former United States Ambassador to Austria
.
An emigrant from Ulmerfeld, Austria
herself, originally named Helene Winter, her father died from tuberculosis
when she was 12 years old. She emigrated to the United States
in 1959 as the 21-year-old wife of an American soldier whom she met in Erlangen
, West Germany
.
She immersed herself in American
politics. She was personal secretary to Ronald Reagan
beginning with his California gubernatorial campaign in 1966, continuing through his two terms as governor, acting as his executive assistant during his business years, and as northeast regional finance director in the 1980 Presidential campaign.
When Reagan was elected President, she was named his Director for Presidential Personnel in 1981, and served in a like capacity until her appointment as US Ambassador to Austria in 1983.
Within two years, she had divorced her third husband, Byron Leeds, a Morris County, New Jersey
computer industry consultant, and married her fourth husband, Peter Gürtler, owner of Vienna
's luxurious Sacher Hotel (himself very recently divorced). In June 1985, she cabled Reagan her intent to resign, and by December a replacement was selected. She divorced Guertler in 1986; he committed suicide in 1990.
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
.
An emigrant from Ulmerfeld, Austria
Amstetten (district)
Bezirk Amstetten is a district of the state ofLower Austria in Austria.-Municipalities:Towns are indicated in boldface; market towns in italics; suburbs, hamlets and other subdivisions of a municipality are indicated in small characters.*Allhartsberg**Angerholz, Kröllendorf, Kühberg, Maierhofen,...
herself, originally named Helene Winter, her father died from tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
when she was 12 years old. She emigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1959 as the 21-year-old wife of an American soldier whom she met in Erlangen
Erlangen
Erlangen is a Middle Franconian city in Bavaria, Germany. It is located at the confluence of the river Regnitz and its large tributary, the Untere Schwabach.Erlangen has more than 100,000 inhabitants....
, West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
.
She immersed herself in American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politics. She was personal secretary to Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
beginning with his California gubernatorial campaign in 1966, continuing through his two terms as governor, acting as his executive assistant during his business years, and as northeast regional finance director in the 1980 Presidential campaign.
When Reagan was elected President, she was named his Director for Presidential Personnel in 1981, and served in a like capacity until her appointment as US Ambassador to Austria in 1983.
Within two years, she had divorced her third husband, Byron Leeds, a Morris County, New Jersey
Morris County, New Jersey
Morris County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, about west of New York City. According to the United States 2010 Census, the population was 492,276. It is part of the New York Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Morristown....
computer industry consultant, and married her fourth husband, Peter Gürtler, owner of Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
's luxurious Sacher Hotel (himself very recently divorced). In June 1985, she cabled Reagan her intent to resign, and by December a replacement was selected. She divorced Guertler in 1986; he committed suicide in 1990.
List of positions
- US Ambassador to Austria (1983-86)
- White House Staff Assistant to the President for Presidential Personnel (1982-83)
- White House Staff Director of Presidential Personnel (1981-82)
- United Service Organization World Board of Governors (past)
- Coro Foundation Public Affairs Leadership training
- American Medical AssociationAmerican Medical AssociationThe American Medical Association , founded in 1847 and incorporated in 1897, is the largest association of medical doctors and medical students in the United States.-Scope and operations:...
Secretary, AMA PAC (1965)