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A List
4/14/08
Ambassador Richard Hecklinger, SLU Graduate, To Speak On Campus
CANTON - A talk called "From Canton to Bangkok: An SLU Graduate's Reflections
on U.S. Foreign Policy" will be given by Ambassador Richard Hecklinger on
Monday, April 28, at 8 p.m. in the Common Room of Sykes Residence Hall.
Part of St. Lawrence's Contemporary Issues
Forum, this Alcoa Foundation
Cultural Affairs Program event is open to the public, free of charge.
In this talk, Hecklinger will discuss how his St. Lawrence education led
to a career in the U.S. Foreign Service and the Department of State. He'll
examine our foreign policy successes and shortcomings, from the Cold War
to the global economy, from Vietnam to Iraq, and the challenges facing
our next president.
Hecklinger, who graduated from St. Lawrence in 1965, joined the United
States Foreign Service in 1967. He started his career dealing with the
Soviet Union and completed it as ambassador to Thailand, where he
headed one of the largest U.S. embassies in the world. Hecklinger's
responsibilities in Thailand included supporting an important
military alliance; promoting trade, investment and educational
exchange; and partnering to address critical regional and global
problems such as the fight against HIV/AIDS, malaria and other
diseases; trafficking in illegal drugs; and international terrorism
and crime. Before Thailand, he held senior positions in the Department
of State dealing with international economic and energy policy and
European and Canadian affairs. In 1990-1991, he played a key role
in the U.S. response to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait.
In addition to his bachelor's degree from St. Lawrence, Hecklinger
earned a master's degree from the Johns Hopkins School of International
Studies (SAIS), and a degree from Harvard Law School. He was awarded
an honorary Doctor of Laws from St. Lawrence in 2001. He is married
to Carol Pratt Hecklinger '64, who also pursued a career in
public service, playing a leading role in U.S. refugee policy
at the Department of State.
Carol Hecklinger is a member of
the Board of Trustees at St. Lawrence.
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