United States Department of State. Office of the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs

<p>7. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs</p>
<p>Appointed: August 12, 1959</p>
<p>Entry on Duty: August 14, 1959</p>
<p>Termination of Appointment: December 3, 1959</p>

<p>The Under Secretary for Political Affairs was the Department's day-to-day manager of overall regional and bilateral policy issues, and was responsible for integrating political, economic, global, and security issues into the United States' bilateral relationships. There were a number of geographically-defined bureaus and one functional bureau that reported to the Under Secretary. The Assistant Secretaries of the geographic bureaus and office advised the Under Secretary and guided the operation of the U.S. diplomatic missions within their regional jurisdiction. They were assisted by Deputy Assistant Secretaries, office directors, post management officers, and country desk officers. These officials worked closely with U.S. embassies and consulates overseas and with foreign embassies in Washington, D.C.</p>
<p>Under Secretaries of State for Political Affairs include Robert D. Murphy, August 14, 1959 - December 3, 1959; Livingston T. Merchant, December 4, 1959 - January 31, 1961; George C. McGhee, December 4, 1961 - March 27, 1963; W. Averell Harriman, April 4, 1963 - March 17, 1965; Eugene Victor Rostow, October 14, 1966 - January 20, 1969; U. Alexis Johnson, February 7, 1969 - February 1, 1973; William J. Porter, February 2, 1973 - February 18, 1974; Joseph J. Sisco, February 19, 1974 - June 30, 1976; Philip C. Habib, July 1, 1976 - April 1, 1978; David D. Newsom, April 19, 1978 - February 27, 1981; Walter J. Stoessel, Jr., February 28, 1981 - January 26, 1982; Lawrence S. Eagleburger, February 12, 1982 - May 1, 1984; Michael Hayden Armacost, May 18, 1984 - March 2, 1989; Robert Michael Kimmitt, March 2, 1989 - August 23, 1991; Arnold Lee Kanter, October 4, 1991 - January 20, 1993; Peter Tarnoff, March 11, 1993 - April 18, 1997; Thomas R. Pickering, May 27, 1997 - December 31, 2000; and Marc Isaiah Grossman, March 26, 2001 - .</p>

Congress first authorized the position of Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs in the Department of State Organization Act of July 30, 1959 (P.L. 86–117; 73 Stat. 265), which allowed the President to appoint either an Under Secretary for Political Affairs or an Under Secretary for Economic Affairs, as the third-ranking officer in the Department. For most of the period, 1959–1972, the incumbent of this position served as the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs. In an Act of July 13, 1972, Congress established separate and permanent positions at the Under Secretary of State level for Economic Affairs and for Political Affairs in the Foreign Relations Authorization Act (Public Law 92-352; 86 Stat. 490). The Under Secretary for Political Affairs, assists the Secretary and Deputy Secretary (previously the Under Secretary) in the formulation and conduct of U.S. foreign policy, and assists the Deputy Secretary in giving overall direction to the substantive functioning of the Department, including coordination of relations with other departments and agencies and interdepartmental activities of the U.S. Government overseas. Specific duties, responsibilities, and assignments have varied over time. Each incumbent is commissioned with a functional designation as part of his title.