Richard S. Williamson
Encyclopedia
Richard Salisbury Williamson (born May 9, 1949) is an American
lawyer
, diplomat
and pedagogue. He currently serves as Special Envoy to Sudan
as of January 7, 2008. Williamson is a partner at Winston & Strawn and was also Thomas J. Sharkey Distinguished Visiting Scholar at Seton Hall's Whitehead School of Diplomacy.
. He received a J.D. in 1974 from the University of Virginia School of Law
, where he was executive editor of the Virginia Journal of International Law
.
, Williamson, who has broad foreign policy and negotiating experience, served as Ambassador to the United Nations for Special Political Affairs
and in 2004 as United States Ambassador to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.
Williamson has played a role in the slow resolution of the conflict in the Darfur
region of Sudan.
Previously, he served in senior foreign policy positions under Presidents Ronald Reagan
and George H.W. Bush, including as Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs
at the Department of State, and an Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs
in the White House. In 1992, he was nominated by the Republican Party
for United States Senate
, but lost to Democrat Carol Moseley-Braun, the first black female to be elected to U.S. Senate. He later served as Chairman of the Illinois Republican Party
.
Williamson is active in a wide variety of civic organizations, serving on the board of directors of the International Republican Institute
; the board of the Committee in Support of Russian Civil Society; a member of the advisory committee for the International Human Rights Center at DePaul University
, and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations
. Williamson is currently the Roberta Buffett Visiting Professor of International Studies at Northwestern University
in Evanston, Illinois.
Williamson has authored seven books and edited three. He has written more than 175 articles in professional and popular periodicals.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
and pedagogue. He currently serves as Special Envoy to Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
as of January 7, 2008. Williamson is a partner at Winston & Strawn and was also Thomas J. Sharkey Distinguished Visiting Scholar at Seton Hall's Whitehead School of Diplomacy.
Education
Williamson received an A.B., cum laude, in 1971 from Princeton UniversityPrinceton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
. He received a J.D. in 1974 from the University of Virginia School of Law
University of Virginia School of Law
The University of Virginia School of Law was founded in Charlottesville in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson as one of the original subjects taught at his "academical village," the University of Virginia. The law school maintains an enrollment of approximately 1,100 students in its initial degree program...
, where he was executive editor of the Virginia Journal of International Law
Virginia Journal of International Law
The Virginia Journal of International Law is a law review that was established in 1959 at the University of Virginia School of Law. It is among the world's most influential international law journals, and its pieces have been cited by the Supreme Court of the United States, multiple U.S...
.
Career
Mr. Williamson is also a practicing partner in the law office of Winston and Strawn. Earlier in the George W. Bush AdministrationGeorge W. Bush administration
The presidency of George W. Bush began on January 20, 2001, when he was inaugurated as the 43rd President of the United States of America. The oldest son of former president George H. W. Bush, George W...
, Williamson, who has broad foreign policy and negotiating experience, served as Ambassador to the United Nations for Special Political Affairs
and in 2004 as United States Ambassador to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.
Williamson has played a role in the slow resolution of the conflict in the Darfur
Darfur
Darfur is a region in western Sudan. An independent sultanate for several hundred years, it was incorporated into Sudan by Anglo-Egyptian forces in 1916. The region is divided into three federal states: West Darfur, South Darfur, and North Darfur...
region of Sudan.
Previously, he served in senior foreign policy positions under Presidents 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....
and George H.W. Bush, including as Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs
The Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs is the head of the Bureau of International Organization Affairs within the American Department of State that creates and executes policy in international organizations such as the United Nations...
at the Department of State, and an Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs
White House Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs
The Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs is a unit of the White House Office within the Executive Office of the President of the United States...
in the White House. In 1992, he was nominated by the Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
for United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, but lost to Democrat Carol Moseley-Braun, the first black female to be elected to U.S. Senate. He later served as Chairman of the Illinois Republican Party
Illinois Republican Party
The Illinois Republican Party is the state-level affiliate of the Republican Party in Illinois. Since August 20, 2009, it has been chaired by Pat Brady...
.
Williamson is active in a wide variety of civic organizations, serving on the board of directors of the International Republican Institute
International Republican Institute
Founded in 1983, the International Republican Institute is an organization, funded by the United States government, that conducts international political programs, sometimes labeled 'democratization programs'....
; the board of the Committee in Support of Russian Civil Society; a member of the advisory committee for the International Human Rights Center at DePaul University
DePaul University
DePaul University is a private institution of higher education and research in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by the Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from the 17th century French priest Saint Vincent de Paul...
, and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
. Williamson is currently the Roberta Buffett Visiting Professor of International Studies at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
in Evanston, Illinois.
Williamson has authored seven books and edited three. He has written more than 175 articles in professional and popular periodicals.