Misplaced Pages

Charles William Maynes (December 9, 1938 – June 2, 2007) was a United States diplomat and long-time editor of Foreign Policy magazine.

Biography

Charles W. Maynes was born in Huron, South Dakota, on December 9, 1938. He was educated at Harvard College, receiving a bachelor's degree in history in 1960. He was then awarded a Rhodes Scholarship and studied at Merton College, Oxford, receiving a master's degree in politics, philosophy, and economics in 1962. Maynes was fluent in French and Russian.

Maynes joined the United States Foreign Service in 1962 after graduating from Oxford. Over the next nine years, he served as a Foreign Service Officer in Laos and the Soviet Union. In 1972, he left the foreign service to join the staff of Sargent Shriver, the running mate of Democratic candidate George McGovern in the 1972 presidential election. In the early 1970s, he also served on the staffs of Sen. Fred R. Harris (D—OK) and Rep. Frank B. Morse (D—MA-5). From 1972 through 1977, Maynes was secretary of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

In 1977, President of the United States Jimmy Carter nominated Maynes as Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs and, after Senate confirmation, Maynes held this office from April 14, 1977, until April 9, 1980. During his time in office, Maynes helped draft agreements that led to the independence of Namibia from South Africa. He also oversaw U.S. efforts related to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.

Leaving government service in 1980, Maynes became editor of Foreign Policy magazine, a position he would hold until 1997.

From 1997 through 2007, Maynes was president of the Eurasia Foundation.

Mayne died of cancer at his home in Chevy Chase, Maryland, on June 2, 2007.

References

1. Levens, R.G.C., ed. (1964). Merton College Register 1900-1964. Oxford: Basil Blackwell. p. 525.
2. "The Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training Foreign Affairs Oral History Project Foreign Affairs Series AMBASSADOR CHARLES WILLIAM MAYNES" (PDF). Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training. 14 August 1998. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 June 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2024.

• Matt Schudel, "Charles W. Maynes, 68; Foreign Policy Expert at State Department", Washington Post, June 7, 2007
• Interview with Ambassador Charles William Maynes (1998)

• 1938 births
• United States Assistant Secretaries of State
• People from Huron, South Dakota
• Harvard College alumni
• Alumni of Merton College, Oxford
• American Rhodes Scholars
• 2007 deaths
• People from Chevy Chase, Maryland