John Richardson Jr.
paratrooper
- February 4, 1921 · Milton
- December 26, 2014
- 93 years
About John Richardson Jr.
John Richardson Jr., 93, American political activist, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs (1969–1977).
Explore other notable deaths in 2014 or deaths in December 2014.
The Deaths Archive presents
How well do you know John Richardson Jr.?
Explore their life. Test your knowledge. Beat the challenge.
10 questions · One legacy · How much do you really know?
Challenge your friends
Play together in real-time.
Advertisement
Full Biography
|John Richardson Jr. (February 4, 1921 – December 26, 2014) was United States Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs from 1969 to 1977.
Biography
John Richardson Jr. was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts and educated at Harvard University. His parents were John Richardson, an attorney and Republican political figure and Hope Hemenway Richardson, the daughter of Augustus and Harriet Hemenway.
During World War II, Richardson served in the United States Army as a paratrooper. After the war, he became a lawyer at the Wall Street law firm of Sullivan & Cromwell. In 1955, he became an investment banker at Paine Webber. He joined the International Rescue Committee later in 1955, staying there until 1961. From 1961 to 1968, he was president of the National Committee for a Free Europe.
In 1969, President of the United States Richard Nixon nominated Richardson to be Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs and, after Senate confirmation, Richardson held that office from July 15, 1969, until March 7, 1977.
Upon leaving the United States Department of State in 1977, Richardon initially took a position with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, then served as president of Youth For Understanding from 1977 to 1986. In 1986, he became president of the United States Institute of Peace, holding that position until his retirement in 1989.
Death
On December 26, 2014, Richardson died at the age of 93 in Bethesda, Maryland. His wife, Thelma, had died less than a month prior. He was survived by his daughters, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
Interactive
Test Your Knowledge – Trivia Challenge
How well do you know this person's life and legacy?
No account needed to play. Sign in to keep your score on the leaderboard.
Articles & News
Reported coverage of John Richardson Jr.; each link opens the original article on the publisher's own site.
Books & Media
Find books, audiobooks and films about John Richardson Jr. on Amazon.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Richardson_Jr.
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- September 29, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from John Richardson Jr.'s archived record and the sources above.
1.In which city was John Richardson Jr. born and raised?
- A.Philadelphia
- B.Bostoncorrect
- C.Chicago
- D.New York City
John Richardson Jr. was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts.
Source: Biography section
2.What was the name of the university John Richardson Jr. attended?
- A.Princeton University
- B.Yale University
- C.Harvard Universitycorrect
- D.Columbia University
John Richardson Jr. was educated at Harvard University.
Source: Biography section
3.During which conflict did John Richardson Jr. serve as a paratrooper in the United States Army?
- A.Vietnam War
- B.World War I
- C.World War IIcorrect
- D.Korean War
During World War II, John Richardson Jr. served in the United States Army as a paratrooper.
Source: Biography section
4.What was the name of the law firm where John Richardson Jr. worked after World War II?
- A.White & Case
- B.Sullivan & Cromwellcorrect
- C.Davis Polk
- D.Skadden Arps
After the war, John Richardson Jr. became a lawyer at the Wall Street law firm of Sullivan & Cromwell.
Source: Biography section
5.In what year did John Richardson Jr. become an investment banker at Paine Webber?
- A.1951
- B.1960
- C.1965
- D.1955correct
In 1955, John Richardson Jr. became an investment banker at Paine Webber.
Source: Biography section
6.From 1961 to 1968, what position did John Richardson Jr. hold?
- A.President of the National Committee for a Free Europecorrect
- B.President of the United States Institute of Peace
- C.Assistant Secretary of State
- D.Investment banker at Paine Webber
From 1961 to 1968, John Richardson Jr. was president of the National Committee for a Free Europe.
Source: Biography section
7.Which United States President nominated John Richardson Jr. to be Assistant Secretary of State?
- A.Richard Nixoncorrect
- B.John F. Kennedy
- C.Gerald Ford
- D.Lyndon B. Johnson
In 1969, President of the United States Richard Nixon nominated John Richardson Jr. to be Assistant Secretary of State.
Source: Biography section
8.On what date did John Richardson Jr. begin his tenure as Assistant Secretary of State?
- A.March 7, 1977
- B.January 20, 1969
- C.December 26, 1969
- D.July 15, 1969correct
John Richardson Jr. held the office of Assistant Secretary of State from July 15, 1969, until March 7, 1977.
Source: Biography section
9.Following his service at the State Department, what position did John Richardson Jr. hold from 1977 to 1986?
- A.Attorney at Sullivan & Cromwell
- B.Consultant for the Center for Strategic and International Studies
- C.President of the United States Institute of Peace
- D.President of Youth For Understandingcorrect
John Richardson Jr. served as president of Youth For Understanding from 1977 to 1986.
Source: Biography section
10.When did John Richardson Jr. retire from his role as president of the United States Institute of Peace?
- A.1987
- B.1989correct
- C.1985
- D.1991
John Richardson Jr. held the position of president of the United States Institute of Peace until his retirement in 1989.
Source: Biography section
11.In what city did John Richardson Jr. die?
- A.Washington, D.C.
- B.Bethesda, Marylandcorrect
- C.Boston, Massachusetts
- D.New York, New York
On December 26, 2014, John Richardson Jr. died at the age of 93 in Bethesda, Maryland.
Source: Death section
12.What was the name of John Richardson Jr.'s wife?
- A.Augusta
- B.Hope
- C.Harriet
- D.Thelmacorrect
John Richardson Jr.'s wife, Thelma, had died less than a month prior to his own death.
Source: Death section
13.Who was John Richardson Jr.'s mother?
- A.Thelma Richardson
- B.Harriet Hemenway
- C.Hope Hemenway Richardsoncorrect
- D.Augustus Hemenway
John Richardson Jr.'s mother was Hope Hemenway Richardson.
Source: Biography section
14.What was the profession of John Richardson Jr.'s father?
- A.Attorneycorrect
- B.Paratrooper
- C.Diplomat
- D.Investment banker
John Richardson Jr.'s father was John Richardson, an attorney and Republican political figure.
Source: Biography section
15.How old was John Richardson Jr. when he passed away?
- A.89
- B.91
- C.93correct
- D.95
On December 26, 2014, John Richardson Jr. died at the age of 93.
Source: Death section
16.Which organization did John Richardson Jr. join later in 1955 after working at Paine Webber?
- A.Youth For Understanding
- B.United States Institute of Peace
- C.International Rescue Committeecorrect
- D.National Committee for a Free Europe
John Richardson Jr. joined the International Rescue Committee later in 1955, staying there until 1961.
Source: Biography section
Explore the archive
People who died on December 26
Related People
Spotted an error?
Help us keep the archive accurate. Report a correction with a source.
Report an error for John Richardson Jr. →Advertisement
