United States Ambassador to the Czech Republic

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For ambassadors to Czechoslovakia before the establishment of the Czech Republic, see United States Ambassador to Czechoslovakia.

Richard W. Graber, U.S. Ambassador to the Czech Repblic

Following the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian empire in 1918 at the end of The Great War, the Czechs, Moravians, and Slovaks united to form the new nation of Czechoslovakia. The United States recognized Czechoslovakia and commissioned its first ambassador on April 23, 1919.

Germany invaded Czechoslovakia in March 1939, establishing a German “protectorate.” By this time, Slovakia had already declared independence and had become a puppet state of Germany. German forces occupied Prague on March 15, 1939. The U.S. embassy was closed on March 21, 1939 and the ambassador left his post on April 6, 1939.

During World War II the U.S. maintained diplomatic relations with the government-in-exile of Czechoslovakia in London. Ambassador Anthony J. Biddle, Jr. established an embassy in London on September 17, 1941 and the embassy was maintained until the end of the war. Following the war the embassy in Prague was reopened on May 29, 1945.

In June 1992, the Slovak parliament voted to declare sovereignty and the Czech-Slovak federation dissolved peacefully on January 1, 1993. The United States recognized the Czech Republic and Slovakia as independent nations and moved to establish diplomatic relations. The previous ambassador to Czechoslovakia, Adrian A. Basora, continued as the ambassador to the Czech Republic and Theodore Russell, who served as deputy chief of mission under Ambassador Shirley Temple Black, became the first U.S. ambassador to Slovakia later that year.

1 Ambassadors
2 See also
3 Sources
4 External links

[edit] Ambassadors

Diplomatic Terms

Career FSO: After 1915, The United States Department of State began classifying ambassadors as career Foreign Service Officers (FSO) for those who have served in the Foreign Service for a specified amount of time.

Political appointee: A person who is not a career foreign service officer, but is appointed by the president; often to reward political friends.

Appointed: The date that the ambassador took the oath of office—also called “commissioning.” This follows confirmation of a presidential appointment by the Senate, or a congressional-recess appointment by the president. In the case of a recess appointment, the ambassador must be later confirmed by the Senate.

Presented Credentials: The date that the ambassador presented his letter of credence to the head of state or appropriate authority of the receiving nation. At this time the ambassador officially becomes the representative of his country. This would normally occur a short time after the ambassador’s arrival on station. The host nation may reject the ambassador by not receiving the ambassador’s letter, but this occurs only rarely.

Terminated mission: Usually the date that the ambassador left the country. In some cases a letter of recall is presented, ending the ambassador’s commission, either as a means of diplomatic protest or because the diplomat is being reassigned elsewhere and replaced by another envoy.

Chargé d’affaires: The person in charge of the business of the embassy when there is no ambassador commissioned to the host country. See chargé d’affaires.

ad interim: For the time being; in the meantime. See ad interim.

Adrian A. Basora – Career FSO
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: June 15, 1992
- Presented credentials: July 20, 1992
- Terminated mission: Left post, July 15, 1995
Jenonne R. Walker – Political appointee
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: June 27, 1995
- Presented credentials: August 31, 1995
- Terminated mission: Left post August 31, 1998
John Shattuck – Political appointee
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: October 22, 1998
- Presented credentials: December 10, 1998
- Terminated mission: Left post December 16, 2000
Craig Roberts Stapleton – Political appointee
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: August 7, 2001
- Presented credentials: August 28, 2001
- Terminated mission: Left post December 16, 2003
William J. Cabaniss – Political appointee
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: October 6, 2003
- Presented credentials: January 13, 2004
- Terminated mission: 2006
Richard W. Graber – Political appointee
- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: September 14, 2006
- Presented credentials: Unknown
- Terminated mission: Incumbent