"I love Vermont because it was there I was born and . . . prepared . . . to humbly serve in the greatest cause mankind has ever known -- in the relations of nations, to hasten the day when 'men shall beat their swords into plowshares' and live in security and peace."
- Warren Austin (1877 - 1962)
About Warren Austin
 | |
A photo of Warren Austin autographed with a note from Austin to President Truman in 1947. Click on the image to view it larger.
|
Warren Austin (November 12, 1877 -- December 25, 1962) was an American politician and statesman who served as United States Senator from Vermont and US Ambassador to the United Nations. He was born in Highgate, Vermont.
President Truman appointed Austin ambassador to the United Nations where Austin served from 1947 until 1953.
"The post war years when he was UN Ambassador were challenging times -- for the fledgling UN and around the world. For example, in 1947 the UN considered partitioning Palestine to separate Jews and Arabs. And India and Pakistan were partitioned -- resulting in a religious bloodbath.
"In 1948, there was a Communist coup in Czechoslovakia, the Soviets blockaded Berlin, thus precipitating the Berlin Airlift, and the US Congress passed the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe. In 1949, the North American Treaty Organization was established, Israel was admitted to the UN, Mao Tse-tung established the People's Republic of China, and Chiang Kai-shek fled to Formosa. In 1950, Communist China occupied Tibet and North Korean forces invaded South Korea, two crises quickly taken up by the UN." 1.)
An amateur orchardist, Austin tended to his trees and pursued other hobbies while living in retirement in Burlington. He died in 1962 at the age of 85. Austin is buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Burlington.
SOURCES AND INTERESTING LINKS
 1.) Warren Austin, VPR Commentary by Peter Gilbert, 09/07/05 Warren R. Austin Collection, University of Vermont Special Collections
|
