Diplomatic Reception Rooms, U.S. Department of State

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Web Property of the U.S. Department of State

Portrait of Lawrence S. Eagleburger, 62nd Secretary of State under President George H. W. Bush

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Object Details

Maker
Ned Bittinger (American, b. 1951)
Date
1995
Geography
Unknown
Culture
North American
Medium
oil on canvas
Dimensions
Overall: 45 1/2 in x 39 1/2 in; 115.57 cm x 100.33 cm
Provenance
Undocumented
Inscriptions
Signed "Bittinger 95'" lower right
Credit Line
The Diplomatic Reception Rooms, U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C.
Collection
The Diplomatic Reception Rooms, U.S. Department of State, Washington, D.C.
Accession Number
RR-1995.0003

Biography

Lawrence Sidney Eagleburger (1930–2011) was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin, served in the U.S. Army, and entered the Foreign Service. He held a number of positions in the Department of Defense and Department of State before President Jimmy Carter appointed him ambassador to Yugoslavia. Eagleburger was later under secretary of state and deputy secretary of state, and when President George H. W. Bush asked him to be secretary of state, his career service enabled him to bring valuable experience and knowledge to U.S. diplomacy.

Most notably, Eagleburger served as President Bush’s primary adviser during Yugoslavia’s disintegration following the demise of communism in Eastern Europe. He also played a key role during the First Persian Gulf War.

In his retirement, Eagleburger remained a strong voice on international and political issues and continued to comment on U.S. policy toward the Middle East.