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Biography
Warren Minor Christopher (1925–2011) was born in Scranton, North Dakota. He graduated from the University of Southern California and Stanford University Law School. As a lawyer, he consulted on and helped negotiate numerous international treaties for the United States. He was deputy attorney general in the administration of Lyndon Johnson and deputy secretary of state in the administration of Jimmy Carter. President Bill Clinton appointed Christopher secretary of state.
As secretary, Christopher preferred negotiation over confrontation. He encouraged Israel, the Palestinians, and Jordan to sign peace treaties, resulting in the 1993 Oslo Accords and the Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty of 1994. Christopher promoted the Partnership for Peace Program, which advocated the expansion of NATO eastward into the former Soviet bloc nations. In 1995 he convinced President Clinton to officially restore diplomatic relations with Vietnam, which had been unified under communist rule. Later that year, Christopher conducted negotiations between Serbia and Bosnia that ended the conflict in the region.
In retirement Christopher continued to serve on boards related to national security and foreign policy, and he taught a seminar on international affairs at UCLA.