Walter J. Stoessel, Jr. (1973-1976)

Walter J. Stoessel, Jr.

Ambassador Stoessel presided over a continuing improvement in Soviet-American relations during President Nixon's second term. Stoessel, the son of a U.S. Army Calvary officer, joined the Foreign Service in 1942, and served in Venezuela, Paris, Washington, and two tours in Moscow. President Johnson named him Ambassador to Poland in 1968. When President Nixon began his second term, he named Stoessel to the Moscow Embassy. After serving in Moscow, he became Ambassador to West Germany, and Deputy Secretary of State under President Reagan. During his time in Moscow a series of meetings between President Nixon and General Secretary Brezhnev led to reduced tensions and progress in reducing strategic weapons. In 1973, the U.S. opened a Consulate in Leningrad, and Russia opened a Consulate in San Francisco. The U.S. also began major grain exports to Russia. In 1974 the U.S. Congress passed the Jackson-Vannick Amendment, linking expanded trade with Russia with progress toward easier emigration from Russia.