Faith Whittlesey Explained

Faith Whittlesey
Office:United States Ambassador to Switzerland
President:Ronald Reagan
Term Start:May 31, 1985
Term End:June 14, 1988
Predecessor:John Davis Lodge
Successor:Philip D. Winn
President1:Ronald Reagan
Term Start1:October 23, 1981
Term End1:February 28, 1983
Predecessor1:Richard D. Vine
Successor1:John Davis Lodge
Office2:Director of the Office of Public Liaison
President2:Ronald Reagan
Term Start2:March 3, 1983
Term End2:March 19, 1985
Predecessor2:Liddy Dole
Successor2:Linda Chavez
State House3:Pennsylvania
District3:166th
Term Start3:1973
Term End3:1976
Predecessor3:George Johnson
Successor3:Stephen Freind
Birth Name:Faith Amy Ryan
Birth Date:21 February 1939
Birth Place:Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
Death Place:Washington, D.C., U.S.
Spouse:Roger Whittlesey
Children:3
Education:Wells College

Faith Amy Whittlesey (Ryan; February 21, 1939 – May 21, 2018) was an American Republican politician, White House Senior Staff member, and author. She was noted for her efforts to communicate Ronald Reagan's entire policy agenda to U.S. opinion leaders and for bringing together for the first time in the Reagan White House evangelical, Catholic, and other conservative religious groups who opposed legalized abortion and were concerned about moral and cultural decline and the break-up of the family. These groups became a significant component of the Reagan coalition as they grew more politically self-conscious in the 1980s.[1]

She organized the White House Central American Outreach Group at the direction of Chief of Staff James Baker to provide information about Reagan's anti-communist policies in the region and was an active supporter of Reagan's defense buildup and the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI).

Whittlesey served twice for a total of nearly 5 years as U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland and also served for 2 years on the Reagan White House Senior Staff as Assistant to the President for Public Liaison.

Early life and education

Faith Amy Ryan was born in 1939 in Jersey City, New Jersey, to Martin Roy Ryan and Amy Jerusha (Covell). She grew up in Williamsville, New York.

Her father was a "Catholic in the Irish tradition" and it was incorrectly assumed that Faith grew up as a Catholic,[2] when her mother's family did not approve of her father's Catholicism. "[S]o he left the Catholic Church", Whittlesey wrote in her memoir. "He attended the Methodist Church with my mother and brother, Tom, and me. I was thus raised as a Methodist. As a family we went to the Williamsville, New York, Methodist Church every Sunday. I went to regular Sunday school and sang in the choirs." However, she converted to Roman Catholicism in 2000.[3]

She earned a full-tuition scholarship to attend Wells College in Aurora, New York, where she graduated in 1960. She earned a full-tuition scholarship to the law school at the University of Pennsylvania.

Career

To earn money while in law school, Whittlesey became a substitute teacher in the City of Philadelphia (1962–64) because "[i]n my last year of law school [the female students] were advised by the law school administration not to even come to the [law firm job] interviews because we would not be hired". She was admitted to the bar of Pennsylvania in 1964.[4]

Pennsylvania State Representative

In 1972 she was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives representing the 166th Legislative District in Delaware County. She had canvassed door-to-door for this race while pregnant with her third child, William. In 1974, she was reelected to the Legislature. In 1975, she was elected to the Delaware County Board of Commissioners, now known as the Delaware County Council and reelected in 1979.[5] (Delaware County was at the time larger in population than 5 states of the Union.) She served alternately as Chairman and Vice Chairman. She lost the 1978 Republican primary for Lt. Governor of Pennsylvania.

While serving in the Delaware County government, Whittlesey briefly held her first job in the private sector, taking a part-time job at the law firm Wolf, Block, Schorr & Solis-Cohen LLP in Philadelphia.

Ambassador to Switzerland

Whittlesey served as U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland from 1981 to 83.[6] In her first term as Swiss Ambassador she initiated negotiations in an acrimonious dispute between the U.S. and Switzerland that later led to the signing of a "Memorandum of Understanding on Insider Trading", the first major changing of the strict tradition of Swiss banking secrecy. Of this memorandum, Ambassador Jean Zwahlen, later a Member of the Governing Board of the Swiss National Bank, wrote her: "I still keep a vivid memory of your skill to help delicate negotiations in the 80s."

White House Liaison Office

Whittlesey was named Assistant to the President for Public Liaison in 1983 at the suggestion of Ronald Reagan's Ambassador to Austria and personal assistant Helene von Damm,[7] and at the urging of White House Chief of Staff James Baker and Deputy Chief of Staff Michael Deaver.[8]

Her tenure was marked by initiatives to improve the access of conservative religious believers to the American political process and national policymaking. She was considered their most "aggressive ally" in the White House.[9]

She wrote a memo in October 1983[10] that fundamentalist and evangelical groups had done "little organizational work" for "the 1984 election period" and that to maintain Ronald Reagan's "credibility" with those groups, Catholics in particular, "the tuition tax credit bill must come up for Senate floor action this fall". She noted that school prayer was "not unlike the tuition tax credit issue. Politically we win if we get votes on the Senate floor".[11]

In 1985, she sent the anti-abortion film The Silent Scream, which was a documentary of an ultrasound abortion at three months produced in 1984 by anti-abortion activist and former NARAL founder Bernard Nathanson, to every member of Congress and arranged for a screening at the White House at which Nathanson presented the film.[12]

At its height, her office included 38 people. She developed White House outreach to labor leaders, "Reagan Democrats", and Jewish leaders. She clashed with some other members of the Reagan White House senior staff whom she regarded as "largely Washington permanent government party functionaries not very committed to advocating the President's policies in a serious or consistent way."[8]

While she was the Director of the Liaison Office (1983–85), there were conflicts with the staff of Reagan's Chief of Staff James A. Baker III and his deputy Michael Deaver, which led to Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) and others urging her to take a federal judgeship on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. After careful consideration, she declined the nomination.[13]

A judicial appointment would have effectively removed her from the public policy and political arena. She had taken the job of Public Liaison because of "a profound sense of obligation to the grassroots voters who had elected Reagan believing him to be a man of deep principle and traditional faith."[14]

She returned to Switzerland after Donald Regan became Chief of Staff, replacing James A. Baker.[9]

Iran-Contra

At the direction of White House Chief of Staff James Baker, Whittlesey spent a great deal of her time as assistant to the President for Public Liaison organizing communication of information about Reagan's policies in Central America and, in particular, the anticommunist "Contras" in Nicaragua.[15]

In 1983, she established the White House Outreach Working Group on Central America to help increase private sector understanding of Reagan's policies,[16] including working with, among many other individuals and groups, the American Security Council Foundation, to produce anti-Sandinista propaganda (what she would call "truth-telling") films, and the [17] Council for National Policy to produce materials that revealed the Marxist–Leninist orientation of the Sandanista movement.[18]

Among the groups that participated in the Outreach Group effort was the AFL-CIO because "the Sandinistas were against free labor unions."[19] Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Constantine Menges cited "the very effective public outreach staff headed by Ambassador Faith Whittlesey"[20] in his reflections on Reagan foreign policy.

Despite its effectiveness, Whittlesey says the Outreach Group was shut down in 1985 when Donald Regan took over as Chief of Staff and the White House "started the brown bag operation with Ollie North. What we were doing was completely open and above board. It was an honest effort to change minds and hearts and to provide a forum for truth telling".[21] According to Whittlesey, "the Washington establishment, especially Democratic but also most of the Republican, was opposed to, wanted to downplay, or gave the silent treatment to Reagan's Central American anti-communist policies."[8]

Later, when asked about Iran-Contra she said: "I had no knowledge of the Iran-Contras connection. I had no involvement in it, nor was I asked to be a part of it."[22] The final House report on Iran-Contra concluded that Whittlesey unsuccessfully attempted to help Oliver North obtain a U.S. passport for a fake Saudi prince who claimed to have knowledge of the locations of hostages being held in Lebanon.[23]

Whittlesey emphatically denied the claim, for which she maintained no proof was produced, as a politically motivated attempt by a Democrat-dominated House to discredit her White House Outreach Group initiative, which had been "a legitimate and in every respect legal attempt to communicate Reagan's anti-communist policy in Central America."[8]

Of her association with Oliver North, she asserted, "We worked closely together. That's why I was investigated. That's why I was hauled before a congressional panel and investigated. They were criminalizing policy differences."[24]

Return to Switzerland

She resumed her duties representing the U.S. in Bern for a second term in 1985.

After the Democrats took control of the Senate in 1986, giving them control of both Houses of Congress, allegations were made to Attorney General Edwin Meese that Whittlesey had granted diplomatic favors for private contributions to her State Department-administered representational fund and that she had also obstructed justice. Meese "found no 'reasonable grounds' to pursue allegations that", in contravention of the independent counsel statute, Whittlesey had "mishandled entertainment funds at the embassy or improperly aided contributors to the funds".[25] [26]

Hearings into the claims were held by a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee,[27] but the hearings failed to produce substantiation of the charges.[28] [29] Whittlesey resigned as ambassador in 1988.

Post-government career

After leaving Switzerland, Whittlesey joined the New York-based law firm of Myerson & Kuhn[30] until its 1990 bankruptcy filing[31] She also served as president of the American Swiss Foundation.[8]

Whittlesey's diplomatic career resumed briefly in 2001 when she was named by President George W. Bush to be an At-Large Member of the U.S. Delegation to the United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects.[32]

She also founded a consulting firm, Maybrook Associates. She served on several corporate boards, including the U.S. Advisory Board for Nestle. From 1989 through 2012 she served as a board member of Schindler Elevator Corporation. She also served on the board of directors of Christian Freedom International, an organization dedicated to assisting persecuted Christians around the world. For several years she served on the Newsmax International Advisory Board. In 2016, she became a member of the Diplomatic Advisory Board and Special Advisors to the World War I Centennial Commission. On June 17–18, 2017, she participated as a judge of the 2017 Miss District of Columbia Pageant, part of the Miss America competition.[33]

Involvement in Russia-Trump affair

She arranged for convicted Russian spy Maria Butina to meet Jeffrey Gordon on September 29, 2016, at the Swiss Ambassador's residence.[34] [35] and later, in October 2016, attended J. D. Gordon's birthday party with Butina.[35]

Personal life

In 1963, she married Roger Weaver Whittlesey of Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania. Whittlesey was an advertising executive. They had three children and ten grandchildren.[36] The marriage lasted 11 years, not ending until Roger Whittlesey committed suicide in March 1974.[21] Their son Henry, who was subject to depression, committed suicide in 2012.

An enthusiastic gardener, Whittlesey was presented with a new Tea Rose variety named Faith Whittlesey for her. Whittlesey was also an accomplished classical pianist.

Death

Faith Whittlesey died in Washington on May 21, 2018, aged 79, of cancer.[37] [38]

Writings about and by Whittlesey

Quotations

Books and forewords

Articles

Collected papers

Whittlesey's Collected Papers are housed at the Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center, Boston University.

External links

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Notes and References

  1. FoxNews, "Interview with Faith Whittlesey," June 11, 2004.
  2. Kristin E. Heyer, Mark J. Rozell, Michael A. Genovese (2008) Catholics and Politics: The Dynamic Tension Between Faith and Power. Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press;
  3. https://www.inquirer.com/philly/obituaries/faith-ryan-whittlesey-79-top-reagan-aide-and-two-time-ambassador-to-switzerland-20180522.html%3foutputType=amp Obituary
  4. News: Faith Ryan Whittlesey. July 25, 2009. Avvo Lawyer Search.
  5. News: Valassis Corporate Bio. July 25, 2009. Valassis Communications.
  6. Web site: 7 December 1988 . The Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training Foreign Affairs Oral History Project Women Ambassadors Series AMBASSADOR FAITH RYAN WHITTLESEY . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240716021536/https://adst.org/OH%20TOCs/Whittlesey,%20Faith.toc.pdf . 16 July 2024 . 6 August 2024 . Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training.
  7. Von Damm, Helene (1988) At Reagan's Side. New York: Doubleday, p. 248
  8. "Memoirs of Faith Whittlesey", Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center, Boston University.
  9. Martin, William(1996) With God On Our Side: The Rise of the Religious Right in America. New York: Broadway. pg. 235
  10. Faith Whittlesey to James A. Baker III, et al., "The Fundamentalist and Evangelical Groups" and "Tuition Tax Credits, School Prayer, and Pornography", October 11, 1983, Faith Ryan Whittlesey Files, box 7F, Reagan Library
  11. Lichtman, Allan J. (2000) White Protestant Nation: The Rise of the American Conservative Movement. New York: Atlantic Monthly Press, p. 376.
  12. Hudson, Deal W. (2008) Onward Christian Soldiers: The Growing Political Power of Catholics and Evangelicals in the United States, New York: Threshold Editions, pg. 236;
  13. Simpson, Peggy (1988) Working woman. New York MacDonald Communications Corp. pg. 34
  14. Hudson, Deal W. (2008) Onward Christian Soldiers: The Growing Political Power of Catholics and Evangelicals in the United States. New York: Threshold Editions, pg. 235;
  15. Dent, David W. (1995) U.S.-Latin American Policymaking: A Reference Handbook. Santa Barbara, CA: Greenwood Press, pg. 153;
  16. Sklar, Holly (1995) Washington's War on Nicaragua. Cambridge, MA: South End Press, p. 244;
  17. Russ Bellant (1999) Old Nazis, the New Right, and the Republican Party: Domestic fascist networks and their effect on U.S. cold war politics. Cambridge, MA: South End Press. pp. 48-51;
  18. News: North was member of private group once based in Baton Rouge: Powerful conservative organization formed to influence Congress, impact foreign policy. July 25, 2009. Baton Rouge State Times.
  19. [Lane Kirkland]
  20. Constantine Menges, Inside the National Security Council, p. 172
  21. News: The Foreign Affairs Oral History Collection of the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training: Interview with Faith Ryan Whittlesey. July 25, 2009. Library of Congress. Ann Miller Morin.
  22. News: House Probers Eye Whittlesey-North Ties. December 12, 1986. Philadelphia Daily News. Bennett. Susan. 5.
  23. U.S. Representative Lee H. Hamilton & U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye's 1987 Report of the Congressional Committees Investigating the Iran/Contra Affair. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, pg. 111;
  24. Patti Mengers, "Keeping Faith: Former Haverford politician is the focus of new biography", Main Line News, October 8, 2012.
  25. News: Whittlesey Absolved In Funds Case. December 6, 1986. The Philadelphia Inquirer. Wagenveld. Mark. A1.
  26. Greenberg, Gerald S. (2000) Historical encyclopedia of U.S. independent counsel investigations. Santa Barbara, CA: Greenwood Press, pg. 227;
  27. News: Panel Plans Inquiry On Whittlesey. December 11, 1986. The Philadelphia Inquirer. Newman. Bud. A1.
  28. News: Did Faith Call In IOUs To Blunt Probe Of Fund?. December 19, 1986. Philadelphia Daily News. Associated Press. 57.
  29. Committee on Foreign Affairs. Subcommittee on International Operations (1988) Investigation of the U.S. ambassador to Switzerland. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.
  30. News: Washington Talk: Briefing; Diplomatic Decision. Charlotte Evans & Richard Halloran. July 25, 2009. The New York Times. July 20, 1988.
  31. News: Can a Tarnished Star Regain His Luster?. July 25, 2009. The New York Times. Margolick. David. February 25, 1990.
  32. Letter, June 29, 2001, Herb Calhoun, Deputy Director, U.S. Department of State, to The Honorable Faith Whittlesey.
  33. 2017 Miss District of Columbia Pageant: 64th Annual Pageant Competition Book.
  34. News: Helderman . Rosalind S. . Rosalind S. Helderman . Trump associate socialized with alleged Russian agent Maria Butina in final weeks of 2016 campaign . . August 3, 2018 . October 7, 2020 . August 4, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180804002404/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-associate-socialized-with-alleged-russian-agent-maria-butina-in-final-weeks-of-2016-campaign/2018/08/03/d87c1d84-96a6-11e8-80e1-00e80e1fdf43_story.html.
  35. Web site: Scarborough . Rowan . Ex-Trump adviser bemoans 'smear campaign' against GOP, NRA over Maria Butina connections . . August 3, 2018 . October 7, 2020 . August 4, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180804000949/https://amp.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/aug/3/ex-trump-adviser-bemoans-smear-campaign-over-russi/?__twitter_impression=true.
  36. News: Council of American Ambassadors. 2004. August 9, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20100917132920/http://americanambassadors.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Members.view&memberid=239. September 17, 2010. dead.
  37. News: Hallow . Ralph . May 21, 2018 . Faith Ryan Whittlesey, Reagan White House alum and ambassador, dead at 79. June 5, 2018 . The Washington Times.
  38. News: Roberts . Sam. May 24, 2018 . Faith Whittlesey, Conservative Voice and Reagan Aide, Dies at 79. June 5, 2018 . The New York Times.
  39. Susan Faludi (2006) Backlash: The Undeclared War Against Women. New York: Crown. pg. xii
  40. Sylvia Ann Hewlett (1986) A Lesser Life: The Myth of Women's Liberation in America. New York: William Morrow & Co., pg. 280;
  41. News: List of Websites That Have Attributed Thaves' Line to Whittlesey. July 25, 2009.
  42. "WHITTLESEY: Seeking 'monsters' to kill abroad", The Washington Times, October 14, 2009.
  43. News: Ronald Reagan's Ginger Rogers: Ambassador Faith Whittlesey. The Washington Times Communities. Timothy W. Coleman. October 8, 2012. January 21, 2013.