William Tapley Bennett Jr. (April 1, 1917 – November 29, 1994) was an American diplomat who served as Ambassador to the Dominican Republic during the 1965 civil war.
Born in Griffin, Georgia, Bennett attended the University of Georgia where he was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. Bennett earned a law degree from George Washington University, then joined the Foreign Service in 1941. He served as a United States Army intelligence officer during World War II. Bennett held posts in embassies in Vienna, Rome and Athens before Lyndon Johnson appointed him Ambassador to the Dominican Republic.[1]
He was also Ambassador to Portugal from 1966 through 1969 and United States Permanent Representative to NATO from 1977-1983. After retiring in 1985 he served as adjunct professor of international law at the University of Georgia. He died in Washington D.C.
| Diplomatic posts | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John Bartlow Martin |
U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic 1964–1966 |
Succeeded by John Hugh Crimmins |
| Preceded by George W. Anderson, Jr. |
U.S. Ambassador to Portugal 1966–1969 |
Succeeded by Ridgway B. Knight |
| Preceded by Robert Strausz-Hupé |
U.S. Ambassador to NATO 1977–1983 |
Succeeded by David Manker Abshire |
| Government offices | ||
| Preceded by Powell A. Moore |
Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs November 17, 1983 – January 4, 1985 |
Succeeded by William L. Ball |