« I – Romania’s Ambassadors to the USA
Romania’s bilateral diplomatic relations with the United States of America extend nearly a century and a half back in time, 144 years to be exact (14 June 1880). Relations peaked after the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989.
The recent diplomatic history of the United States has shown that the foreign service has sought to maximize opportunities and efficiency to achieve the USA’s foreign policy goals.
The United States’ diplomatic representatives can be broken down into three main categories: ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiary, representatives plenipotentiary or special representatives, and chargés d’affaires.
In turn, US ambassadors fall into two broad categories: career diplomats and politically appointed diplomats. In those states where American interests are of utmost importance, the government preferred to dispatch politically appointed ambassadors, who took charge of developing close relations with the American executive, but also with other US decision-makers.
The primary task of an Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary is to represent the President of the United States of America directly and with full prerogatives.
Politically appointed diplomats are mandated for a period of 2 or 3 years, while career diplomats for a period of 4 years, with the possibility of extending the mandate if necessary.
Romania’s relations with the USA were resumed in 1948 and were deepened after 1989. Due to the new geopolitical and geostrategic realities, the Ambassadors of the United States in Bucharest were mainly politically appointed, with only 4 career diplomats taking office: John R. Davis Jr., Michael E. Guest, Hans G. Klemm, and Kathleen A. Kavalec.
It’s worth underscoring that, after 1989, the USA had 11 ambassadors in Bucharest and 3 chargés d’affaires ad-interim: Duane C. Butcher, Dean R. Thompson and David Muniz.
It’s also worth emphasizing the role of Mark Taplin, chargé d’affaires and deputy US Ambassador over 2005-2008, who helped strengthen the Atlantic profile of our country through seminars, conferences and other events of utmost importance.
On a side note, during the communist period, out of 12 ambassadors, only 3 were politically appointed. We can thus infer that the United States of America designates its politically appointed ambassadors based on the perceptions and strategic interests in a certain area.
We should recall the singular gesture of the US Ambassador, David B. Funderburk (term in office: 2 October 1981 – 13 May 1985; Credits: Wikipedia) who resigned from his position due to President Ronald Reagan, who considered him too permissive towards Nicolae Ceaușescu’s dictatorship, a gesture described in his book “Pinstripes and Reds: An American Ambassador Caught Between the State Department and the Romanian Communists, 1981-1985” (editions:1989, 1994).
Another landmark of Romanian-US relations is Ambassador Alan Green Jr.’s reception of the Distinguished Honor Award, the highest distinction in the history of the United States, awarded to very few personalities. Other recipients include Charles Yost, US Ambassador to the United Nations (1969-1971), Richard Armitage, US Under-Secretary of State (2001-2005), General David Petraeus, former director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), General Peter W. Chiarelli and George Jacobson, Head of the United States Mission in Saigon.
Of all the ambassadors appointed in Bucharest, the closest to the top of the American executive leadership were Jack Dyer Crouch II and Mark H. Gitenstein.
Ambassador Alfred H. Moses shared a deep connection with our country. Over 1976-1989, he was closely involved in the process of the departure of Jews from our country to the Holy Land. In turn, Mark Gitenstein was the first ambassador with Romanian origins to be posted in Romania as a diplomat. Another ambassador with Romanian origins, Henry T. Romertze, was the first American Consul in Galați, appointed in 1859. With regard to Mark Gitenstein, we can say he was the first ambassador since the officialization of Romanian-US relations, but also one of the three ambassadors of Jewish origin, alongside Alfred Moses and Adrian Zuckerman.
Due to the common history shared with the Jewish people and the deep ties between our two countries, it is worth highlighting that, during the development of the Romania-US Strategic Partnership, but also in the context of Romania’s integration into Euro-Atlantic structures, four American Jews were directly responsible for relations with Romania: Marc Grossman, Daniel Fiott, Philip Gordon and Victoria Nuland. Of these, it was Marc Grossman who implemented the idea of the Strategic Partnership, while Victoria Nuland, a former US Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs (3 May 2021 – 22 March 2024), contributed to the full integration and excellent cooperation between Romania’s national defense structures and those of the USA.
I once again want to emphasize the deep and long-lasting ties between our country, Israel, and the USA, and I wrote earlier about the possibility of creating such a trilateral.
The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States ensures the liaison between the US Department of State and the Government of Romania at general level. At representation level, he may be involved in activities carried out by the US Embassy jointly with the Romanian Parliament, the Government or the Presidential Administration. We must specify that the US Department of State has a dedicated office focused on European and Euro-Atlantic affairs, with a separate department devoted to Romania and related issues.
After the events of 1989 in Romania, the USA’s ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiary in our country were the following: (Credits: Find a Grave – 1; Wikipedia – 2, 4-5, 7-11; Covington & Burling LLP – 3; US Department of State – 6):
1. Alan “Punch” Green Jr. (1925-2001; term in office: 7 December 1989 – 11 January 1992)
A politically appointed ambassador, Alan Green Jr. officially presented his credentials on 10 December 1989, two weeks before the demise of Nicolae Ceaușescu. He was a figure of outstanding courage – during the Romanian Revolution, he spent 10 days in his office, helping save Embassy staff, as well as other people who called for his help.
For his acts of heroism, he was awarded the Distinguished Honor Award, an extremely rare decoration conferred by the United States Department of State.
2. John Roger Davis Jr. (b. 1927; term in office: 11 March 1992 – 9 August 1994)
A career diplomat, John Roger Davis Jr. was chargé d’affaires (1983-1987) and ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary in Poland (1988-1990). From these positions, he supported the “Solidarity” Trade Union and the democratic transition of this country. He was appointed ambassador to Romania on 2 December 1991. He greatly contributed to relaunching Romanian-US relations, which during his term in office entered an upward trajectory, peaking years later.
3. Alfred Henry Moses (b. 1929; term in office: 14 December 1994 – 11 August 1997)
Politically appointed on 29 September 1994, Alfred Moses holds pride of place in the history of Romanian-US relations, one might even say he played a pivotal role. After 1989, he was the first ambassador to share a deep connection with our country and, at the same time, the first of Jewish origin, followed later by Mark Gitenstein and Adrian Zuckerman. Close to the former National Security Advisors of President William “Bill” Jefferson Clinton, Samuel Berger and Anthony Lake, he was one of the architects behind the Strategic Partnership between Romania and the United States of America, launched during his term on 11 July 1997. We must not overlook the role played by Marc Grossman, assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs and, later, Under-Secretary of State, who took charge of the operationalization of this Partnership. Over 1976-1989, Ambassador Moses was directly involved in the process of assisting Jews in any action related to their departure from Romania and their arrival in the Holy Land.
A graduate of Georgetown University Law School (1956) and editor at “Georgetown Law Review”, Alfred Moses was a successful lawyer, very close to political elites, but also Jewish organizations at international level. He was the president of the American Jewish Committee (AJC).
He is the only American citizen decorated by the President of Romania with the “Star of Romania” National Order, Grand Cross class.
Alfred Moses is the author of an extremely interesting journal about the years of transition in Romania, “Bucharest Diary: Romania’s Journey from Darkness to Light” (2019).
4. James Carew Rosapepe (b. 1951; term in office: 4 February 1998 – 1 March 2001)
Politically appointed on 10 November 1997, a member of the Maryland House of Delegates (1987-1997), he was a prominent figure in the history of Romanian-US relations after 1989. Born in Rome, he was and is extremely close to the Romanian people due to his ancestry. He was a popular and highly appreciated figure in Romania. James Rosapepe was particularly involved in strengthening Romania’s Atlantic profile. During his term in office, he set up the Romania-USA Intergovernmental Committee for the implementation of the Strategic Partnership. At present, he is actively involved in organizing events and conferences that promote Romanian-US bilateral relations, as well as in the “Alliance” non-governmental organization, which comprises a wide array of personalities from both countries that foster Romania-US relations at cultural, economic and security levels.
5. Michael E. Guest (b. 1957; term in office: 4 September 2001 – 8 July 2004)
A career diplomat, Michael Guest was appointed Ambassador to Bucharest on 3 August 2001. He was a very active personality in the history of Romanian-US relations, which, after the tragic attacks of September 11, 2001, evolved towards a record-high. During his mandate, Romania deployed its first military contingent to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission, coordinated by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in Afghanistan. A champion of the equality of rights and a strong advocate against corruption, Guest’s mandate is marked by the acceptance of Romania country into NATO, but also by the change of perception at NATO level towards Romania’s role in Atlantic structures and at international level.
At the end of his mandate in Romania, he was awarded the “Faithful Service” National Order, Grand Cross class, “for his constant support for the promotion and development of Romanian-US relations” and “for his contribution to the NATO integration process of Romania”.
6. Jack Dyer Crouch II (b. 1958; term in office: 16 July 2004 – 28 February 2005)
Politically appointed on 25 May 2004, the holder of a PhD in International Relations from the University of Southern California, Jack Dyer Crouch II had a short but successful tenure. A close friend to President George W. Bush, he managed to bring Romania closer to the USA by preparing the signing of the Agreement of Access regarding the setup of US military facilities on the territory of Romania, according to which American military bases were to be located at Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base, the Babadag training base and Cincu and Smârdan training centers. During his mandate, on 28 June 2005, the American Corner opened its first branches in Romania, actually based on a partnership between the National Library of Romania and the US Embassy. The American Corner area venued at the National Library was the largest space devoted to books about the United States, with a total of 10 American Corner centers operating at present. Jack Dyer Crouch II was recalled and appointed Deputy National Security Advisor to the US President (31 January 2005 – 4 May 2007).
7. Nicholas Frank Taubman (b. 1935; term in office: 2 December 2005 – 3 December 2008)
A businessman and economist, Nicholas Tauman was appointed ambassador to Bucharest on 2 November 2005. He focused his education on becoming a successful entrepreneur. He was also a member of the Roanoke City Council, Virginia. During his mandate, the above-mentioned Agreement of Access regarding the setup of American military facilities on Romanian territory was ratified. Romania joined the European Union on 1 January 2007, while Bucharest hosted the NATO Summit of 2-4 April 2008. His close relationship with the Republican Party and President George W. Bush made it possible for the American President to visit Romania, and for the President of Romania, Traian Băsescu, to pay two official visits to the USA, in 2005 and 2006. The Daewoo Craiova plants were bought by Ford Motor Company in September 2007, boosting the Romanian car industry. Together with the Romanian ambassador to the USA, Adrian Cosmin Vierița, Ambassador Taubman organized the Ambassadorial Tour for the Promotion of Economic Opportunities in Romania.
8. Mark Henry Gitenstein (b. 1947; term in office: 28 August 2009 – 14 December 2012)
Politically appointed in Bucharest on 13 July 2009, Mark Gitenstein is the first US Ambassador of Romanian descent (his grandfather, born in Botoșani, moved to the United States at the end of the 19th century), as well as the second ambassador of Jewish origin, after Alfred H. Moses, to take up this office. A lawyer and long-term political advisor to the former US President Joseph R. Biden, (the new elect President is Donald J. Trump, he will take the Oval Office in January 21 st 2025) Mark Gitenstein took important steps to strengthen Romanian-US relations. On September 13, 2011, Romania and the USA signed the Joint Declaration on the Strategic Partnership for the 21st Century, a document that lays out a set of specific goals for boosting cooperation between both states. The two countries also signed the Agreement between the United States of America and Romania on the Deployment of the United States Ballistic Missile Defense System in Romania, which led to the creation of Military Base 99 Deveselu in Olt County. Mark Gitenstein was the first and only American ambassador to visit a Romanian military contingent in Afghanistan. He is currently an active participant in NATO programs, jointly with other former US ambassadors to Bucharest. He advocated closer economic, cultural, security and national defense ties, and also militated for the lifting of visas for Romanian citizens.
Alongside ambassadors J. Rosapepe, J.D. Crouch II and M. Guest, in August 2013, Mark Gitenstein wrote an article for “Washington Post”, calling for the relaxation of the visa regime for Romania. He is currently the USA’s Ambassador to the European Union, a post he took up on January 24, 2022.
After his recall as Ambassador to Romania, the United States Embassy was led by two chargés d’affaires ad-interim as heads of mission: Duane Clemens Butcher (interim term in office: 14 December 2012 – July 2014) and Dean Richard Thompson (interim term in office: July 2014 – 21 September 2015).
9. Hans George Klemm (b. 1957; term in office: 21 September 2015 – 14 December 2019)
A career diplomat and economist, he was previously Ambassador to East Timor (2007-2010), Principal Assistant Secretary of the State Department’s Bureau of Human Resources (2012-2015), Senior Advisor to the Under-Secretary for Management of the Department of State (January – September 2015). He was posted in Romania on August 7, 2015. During his mandate, the Strategic Partnership further developed, a process of modernization and reform of the national defense system began and, on 12 May 2016, the operationalization of Military Base 99 Deveselu was confirmed. Thus, the anti-missile shield in Romania was the only one in Europe until the completion of the one in Poland. At the same time, during this term in office, the President of Romania made three official visits to the USA, holding meetings with the President and the Vice-President. Ambassador Klemm supported the relaxation of visa conditions for Romanians and for the expansion of the American Corner program in several libraries, by inaugurating new collections in the country’s libraries – worth mentioning is the “Panait Istrati” Library in Brăila.
At the end of his tenure, in a ceremony hosted by the Romanian Presidency, the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, awarded HE Amb. Hans Klemm the “Star of Romania” National Order, Grand Cross class, “as a sign of high recognition and appreciation for his personal involvement in the development of relations between our country and the United States of America, for the consolidation of the Strategic Partnership Romania – USA”.
Previously, on 21 September 2018, on the sidelines of a function hosted by the Royal House of Romania devoted to the United States of America, marking three years since Ambassador Klemm took up his position as US Ambassador to Romania, the Custodian of the Romanian Crown, HRH Margareta, awarded the US diplomat the Royal Decoration of “Nihil Sine Deo”, “for his activity in Romania, where he fostered the development of Romanian civil society, education and national culture, but especially the deepening of political, military and economic relations between the two countries”.
10. Adrian Zuckerman (b. 1956; term in office 17 December 2019 – 20 January 2021)
The holder of a PhD from New York School of Law (1983) and a member of the New York Bar (1984), Adrian Zuckerman was the first ambassador of the United States born in Romania, in Bucharest, and the third of Jewish origin. He emigrated at the age of 9 to the USA together with his parents. On 24 July 2018, he was nominated for the position of ambassador and appointed politically on 21 November 2019. His term in office was characterized by the consolidation of Romanian-US relations in the context of the SARS-COV2 pandemic, Ambassador Zuckerman being closely involved in bringing aid to Romania and helping boost cooperation between the two states. During his tenure, Romania and the USA signed the Intergovernmental Cooperation Agreement for the modernization of a reactor at the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant and a 10-year Roadmap for cooperation in the field of defense and security. Ambassador Zuckerman came up with the idea of building a North-South corridor between Poland and Romania, which I called the Steel Curtain in an earlier essay.
At the end of his mandate, in a ceremony hosted by the Presidency, President Klaus Iohannis bestowed HE Amb. Adrian Zuckerman the “Star of Romania” National Order, Grand Cross class, as a sign of “in special recognition for the entire activity carried out during his mandate in Romania, as well as for his substantial involvement in the development and deepening of the Strategic Partnership between Romania and the United States of America”.
After his recall, the Embassy was headed by chargé d’affaires ad-interim David Muniz (interim term I office 20 January 2021 – 14 February 2023).
11. Kathleen Ann Kavalec is the current US Ambassador in Bucharest. She was appointed on 16 December 2022 and started her mandate on 14 February 2023 (in the image below, with President Klaus Iohannis, upon presenting her diplomatic credentials – Credits: The Romanian Presidency).
A career diplomat (she is the holder of a BA in Political Science from Berkeley University in California and an MS in Foreign Policy from Georgetown University), Kathleen Kavalec was the first woman to be appointed US Ambassador to Bucharest. According to the official website of the US Embassy, she previously served as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau for European and Eurasian Affairs (EUR) of the US Department of State and later as Head of the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina (2019-2022).
Throughout her career, she has held a variety of diplomatic positions, including: Director of the Office for Russian Affairs, Deputy Chief of the US Mission to UNESCO (Paris), Deputy Coordinator for US Assistance in Europe, Eurasia and Central Asia, and Director for Conflict Prevention of Conflicts in the Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization, Legislative Management Officer in the Bureau of Legislative Affairs of US Department of State. In Romania, she also held the position of cultural attaché (2005-2008).
Finally, it’s worth highlighting a remarkable landmark for the history of US-Romania diplomatic relations: on 11 July 2022, eight former ambassadors of the United States of America to Romania, namely, Alfred H. Moses, James C. Rosapepe, Michael E. Guest, Jack Dyer Crouch II, Nicholas F. Taubman, Mark Gitenstein, Hans G. Klemm and Adrian Zuckerman conveyed an open letter, celebrating the 25th anniversary since the launch of the Strategic Partnership between Romania and the United States of America.
The Ambassadors praised the Partnership as one of the best US investments in Europe, describing our country as one of America’s closest, most reliable and capable allies in Central and Eastern Europe, “a true friend” which “sets an example in promoting democratic values, fundamental human rights, the rule of law and good governance”.
In the document, the eight diplomats emphasized Romania’s “decisive role in defending and strengthening NATO’s Eastern Flank, as well as in strengthening stability and security throughout the Black Sea region”, also underlining the importance of including our country in the Visa Waiver program.
