Diplomat. Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs (1975 to 1977), United States Ambassador to Israel (1977 to 1985), Director of Policy Planning (1993 to 1994), Head of the United States Institute of Peace (1987 to 1993). From 1955 to 1959, he was a political officer and acting principal officer in Florence, Italy. From 1959 to 1961, he was officer in charge of Italian Affairs in the State Department. From 1961 to 1962, he served as Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of State. His term as Ambassador to Israel under Presidents Carter and Reagan was the longest anyone has ever held that post. In 1966 he received the Meritorious Honor Award from the State Department. Mr. Lewis had a major role in negotiating the Camp David peace talks in 1978 that resulted in the historic treaty between Egypt and Israel called the Camp David Accords. According to Aaron David Miller, a former U.S. Middle East negotiator, Ambassador Lewis aided in President Carter's understanding of Begin, allowing him to gain Begin's confidence and setting the stage for what is thought to be the most important act of diplomacy by an American president ever in the Middle East. "Nothing was more important than this heroic act of diplomacy," Miller said. "There was a time when American ambassadors had the will, skill and power to make a difference in diplomacy. Sam was, bar none, one of the best."
Diplomat. Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs (1975 to 1977), United States Ambassador to Israel (1977 to 1985), Director of Policy Planning (1993 to 1994), Head of the United States Institute of Peace (1987 to 1993). From 1955 to 1959, he was a political officer and acting principal officer in Florence, Italy. From 1959 to 1961, he was officer in charge of Italian Affairs in the State Department. From 1961 to 1962, he served as Special Assistant to the Under Secretary of State. His term as Ambassador to Israel under Presidents Carter and Reagan was the longest anyone has ever held that post. In 1966 he received the Meritorious Honor Award from the State Department. Mr. Lewis had a major role in negotiating the Camp David peace talks in 1978 that resulted in the historic treaty between Egypt and Israel called the Camp David Accords. According to Aaron David Miller, a former U.S. Middle East negotiator, Ambassador Lewis aided in President Carter's understanding of Begin, allowing him to gain Begin's confidence and setting the stage for what is thought to be the most important act of diplomacy by an American president ever in the Middle East. "Nothing was more important than this heroic act of diplomacy," Miller said. "There was a time when American ambassadors had the will, skill and power to make a difference in diplomacy. Sam was, bar none, one of the best."
Bio by: Daddy♥s Girl
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