| Robert J. McCloskey | |
| Order1: | 54th |
| Ambassador From1: | United States |
| Country1: | the Netherlands |
| Term Start1: | October 22, 1976 |
| Term End1: | March 10, 1978 |
| Predecessor1: | Kingdon Gould Jr. |
| Successor1: | Geri M. Joseph |
| President1: | Gerald Ford Jimmy Carter |
| Ambassador From2: | United States |
| Country2: | Cyprus |
| Term Start2: | May 20, 1973 |
| Term End2: | January 14, 1974 |
| Predecessor2: | David H. Popper |
| Successor2: | Rodger Davies |
| Office3: | United States Ambassador to Greece |
| Term Start3: | 1978 |
| Term End3: | 1981 |
| Predecessor3: | Jack B. Kubisch |
| Successor3: | Monteagle Stearns |
| President3: | Jimmy Carter |
| Birth Date: | 25 November 1922 |
| Birth Place: | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Chevy Chase, Maryland, U.S. |
| Office4: | 14th Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs |
| Term Start4: | February 21, 1975 |
| Term End4: | September 10, 1976 |
| Preceded4: | A. Linwood Holton |
| Succeeded4: | Douglas J. Bennet |
| Office5: | 4th Spokesperson for the United States Department of State |
| Term Start5: | 1964 |
| Term End5: | 1973 |
| Preceded5: | Lincoln White |
| Succeeded5: | Carl E. Bartch |
Robert James McCloskey (November 25, 1922 – November 28, 1996) was an American diplomat, ombudsman, and relief services executive.
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Thomas McCloskey and Anna Wallace,[1] he was spokesperson for the United States Department of State from 1964 to 1973 but after a short stint (June 20, 1973, to January 14, 1974) as United States Ambassador to Cyprus, he was asked to return to his old job as spokesperson. From February 21, 1975, to September 10, 1976, he served as Assistant Secretary of State for Congressional Relations. He later served as United States Ambassador to the Netherlands and to Greece.[2] His government career was followed by a stint as ombudsman at the Washington Post, then as senior vice president of International Catholic Relief Services.
He married Anne Taylor Phelan on July 8, 1961. They had two daughters, Lisa and Andre. He died of leukemia in 1996 in Chevy Chase, Maryland at age 74.[3]