Sisco, Joseph John, 1919-2004

Joseph John Sisco was born October 31, 1919 in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois in 1941 and served in the United States Army in the Pacific during World War II. He returned to academic studies at the University of Chicago after the war. In 1950 he joined the Central Intelligence Agency before moving to the Department of State to serve as a foreign affairs officer in 1951. He was appointed as Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs September 1, 1965; then as Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs February 7, 1969; and finally as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs February 11, 1974 where he served until his retirement in 1976. During his career in the Department of State he was regularly involved in formulating and pursuing the United States' policies towards countries in the Middle East.

Following his retirement from the United States govenment Joseph Sisco was president of American University from 1976 to 1980. In 1981 he joined his wife, Jean Sisco, in her international management and consulting firm. He also gave lectures and contributed opinions to news organizations concerning foreign affairs. He died November 23, 2004 in Chevy Chase, Maryland.